Christchurch

The Garden City of Christchurch is small enough to provide a relaxed lifestyle, but big enough to embrace all the trappings of big-city living, something the city has worked towards with much enthusiasm. The city has a multitude of shops, restaurants, bars and world-class visitor attractions, and Christchurch is New Zealand’s foremost festival city, hosting more than a dozen festivals annually.  Christchurch is entirely representative of New Zealand life, but the city’s Church of England founders dreamed of a city that would stand apart in the South Pacific.  Based on English society, they planned a class-structured settlement complete with a landed gentry and the city’s first organised settlers represented this ideal. As migrants from other countries arrived, however, Christchurch followed its own vision, but the city has been unable to completely shake off its reputation for being conservative and a little class conscious.

If you’ve ever lived in Christchurch or spent some time there, strolling along the banks of the picturesque Avon River probably evokes some of the strongest memories of the city. Nowadays elegant punts glide along the river and this most English of recreations, not to be confused with Venetian gondolas, conjures up romantic images of Oxford and Cambridge. The central city’s Anglican Cathedral, Gothic architecture and 158 hectares of beautiful parkland all reinforce the city’s English heritage.

Whilst English genteelness has made its mark on the appearance of this city, the new Christchurch Art Gallery is a testament to Christchurch following its own cultural path. Located in the central city, the striking metal-ribbed glass building contains an impressive collection of historical and contemporary Kiwi art. To take in all the central city’s attractions, buy an all-day pass on the historic tram; you can get on and off at Cathedral Square, the Aquarium of Discovery, art gallery, botanical gardens, Canterbury Museum, punting on the Avon and New Regent Street, with its pastel-coloured Spanish mission-style architecture.

For a 360-degree view of Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains and Lyttelton Harbour, head to the Port Hills for a ride on the gondola. There are fabulous walks and treks on the hills that also provide great views and the Christchurch information centre can provide you with detailed information.  If you’re not among the few people who have experienced the awesome beauty of Antarctica firsthand, you can experience its magic and atmosphere at the International Antarctic Centre next to Christchurch Airport. There is guaranteed snow and penguin viewing 365 days of the year.

For a night out, fashionable bars and restaurants can be found in the central city’s Lichfield  Street, the Strip on Oxford Terrace, the seaside suburb of Sumner, or head to the port of Lyttelton 30 minutes away to have a drink with a local in a fashionable bar or character pub. Be aware that the restaurants on the Strip tend to be taken over by the young set later at night.  If you’re in town when there’s a rugby game on at Jade Stadium, it’s worth catching just to soak up the atmosphere in this rugby-mad city.

Beyond Christchurch’s boundaries are day or overnight trips to some of the South Island’s most scenic destinations. An hour and a half’s drive away on Banks Peninsula is the French settlement of Akaroa where swimming with the dolphins is a local attraction and taking a stroll to admire some of the country’s best preserved architecture is popular. Head north and you’ll discover Waipara Valley, New Zealand’s fastest growing wine region, as well as world-renowned whale-watching at Kaikoura and the Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve, where you can soak away your cares in a stunning mountain setting.

Southwest of Christchurch, Lake Tekapo offers breathtaking scenery with the combination of the turquoise lake, the exquisite Church of the Good Shepherd and the snow-capped Southern Alps. Further west, Aoraki/Mt Cook Village is also perfectly positioned to take advantage of some very spectacular scenery, including Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand's highest peak at 3754 metres. If you enjoy skiing, there are no less than 10 ski fields within a 2.5-hour drive of Christchurch.

Editorial courtesy of Linda Ryan from AA Tourism
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