Stretching from the Canterbury Plains to the foothills of the Southern Alps, Mid Canterbury is easy to drive straight through. Slow down, though, and you'll find a creative café scene, a thriving arts hub and one of the South Island's most striking hot pools.

We've all heard of the warmth and deliciousness of good old-fashioned rural hospitality. What we might not know is that it can be found in abundance at the end of a long straight leaving Christchurch.Out in Mid Canterbury there's no luxury of consistent foot traffic or big city lights to draw in hungry patrons. It takes work, consistency and usually a hands-on approach. But once they're established in the community, the regulars remain loyal, and visitors pop by for a legend known throughout the land.Between the plains and the Southern Alps, a run of cafes, pubs and restaurants are doing the unglamorous work of feeding their towns properly all year round. Some have been at it for decades, others for a season or two. Here are ten worth the drive, starting in Ashburton and winding inland to Methven.