New Zealand
Upper North Island
+ Auckland
Bay of Islands
+ Bay of Islands
Rotorua
+ Rotorua
Taupo
+ Taupo
Lower North Island
+ Wellington
Napier
+ Napier
New Plymouth
+ New Plymouth
Upper South Island
+ Christchurch
Sights
Lower South Island
+ Queenstown
Dunedin
+ Dunedin
Walk/Drive
Food&Drink
In The Know
Did You Know?
Founded as a Church of England colony in 1850, much of the charm of Christchurch rests with those colonial beginnings, the graceful lines of some of its early Gothic stone buildings contrasting with those of more contemporary design. The city is named after England's Oxford University college, where the city's founding father was educated.
Much of interest lies in the compact downtown area, with the willow-lined Avon River, complete with ducks, ornate bridges, boatsheds, and punts, winding around its cathedral and lively central square. Beyond the city center numerous parks and gardens grace the flat suburbs, giving Christchurch the tag of Garden City. To the southeast, the Port Hills separate the city from its port at Lyttelton on Banks Peninsula and New Zealand's only French settlement, Akaroa.As the hub of the South Island's air, rail, and road services, the city also makes a good touring base. Many long-distance bus trips start and finish here, with options such as whale-watching at Kaikoura, swimming at Hanmer's hot springs, taking a train through the Alps, skiing in winter, or even visiting Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain, within a day's touring.
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