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39°F / 4°C
(Rain Showers. Broken Clouds. Chilly.)
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It is not surprising that Christchurch is called the Garden City; one third of its public land is devoted to reserves and parks. It was Anglican ideals that instigated this lavish spread of greenery, yet New Zealand's third largest city remains firmly rooted in the Antipodean soil. The city lies on the coastal hem of the vast, patch-worked Canterbury Plains, and is tantalisingly close to the adventure playground of the Southern Alps. Christchurch is regarded as one of the friendliest cities in the world. It is an easy place to get to know, just ask the locals!
Tour One: Orientation
To get your bearings, take a ride on the City Loop Tramway, or hop aboard the free Shuttle bus which circumnavigates the central city—you can get on and off both services as often as the mood takes you (do not miss the stop for the Canterbury Visitor Information Centre). From the bus terminus in Cathedral Square, buses run to every corner of the city. For an overview of the city, ride the Christchurch Gondola to the summit of Mt Cavendish on the Port Hills. For a unique view of the city, try a hot air balloon ride with Aoraki Balloon Safaris or a flight in a classic DC10 aircraft with Pionair.
Explorer Tourline and Christchurch Sightseeing Tours offer introductory bus tours of the city and surrounding areas, while Canterbury Leisure Tours also offers excursions to Kaikoura for whale-watching, pelagic bird-watching, and swimming with seals; Mount Cook/aoraki, the alpine thermal resort of Hanmer Springs; and the historic French settlement of Akaroa. A railway journey not to be missed is the TranzAlpine Experience, taking you across the mountainous spine of the South Island to the rainforest's of the West Coast.
Tour Two: Bike or Hike
Pancake-flat, Christchurch lends itself to exploring by foot or by cycle. The Historic Christchurch Walk takes you through some of the city’s magnificent architectural heritage, while the Writers’ Walkway lets you indulge in a more literary ramble of such famous local scribes as Ngaio Marsh. Take a stroll down Worcester Street, past the Arts Centre, the Canterbury Museum and the striking Peacock Fountain, and end up at the Botanic Gardens. Several short central city walks (around 45 minutes) are outlined in a brochure available from the Visitor Information Centre.
If you prefer an organized walk, Walkaway Tours offer several walks around the city and further afield to Banks Peninsula and the Southern Alps. Do-it-yourself explorers will find a wealth of walking tracks on the Port Hills—Godley Head Walk, Major Hornbrook Track, the Bridal Path—and on Banks Peninsula, Southern Bays Walkway, and Banks Peninsula Track--or far beyond the city limits at Geraldine, Peel Forest and Woolshed Creek.
The best way to explore the Avon River is to hire a bike, pack a lunch and set off downstream along the riverbank. A good starting point is Hagley Park where the river bends around the Botanic Gardens and past the Antigua Boatsheds. Take a Punt in the Park while you are passing time, before beginning the long, gentle meander to the Estuary.
Tour Three: Over the Hill
It is worth hiring a car for an excursion to the east coast, and over the Port Hills, where you will be introduced to some of the landscapes and historic places, which have defined Christchurch, from the central city drive, to Sumner Beach along the southern shore of the Estuary. Sumner is worthy of a day trip by itself, but before you begin the ascent of the Port Hills, take a detour to the top of Scarborough Hill. From the cliff top, one of New Zealand’s great vistas unfolds, across the clustered houses of Sumner to Southshore Spit and the long northern sweep of Pegasus Bay leading away toward the distant Seaward Kaikoura Range.
For a change of scene, take the Evans Pass Road to the summit of the Port Hills and down the other side to Lyttelton. Stop here for a view of Lyttelton Harbour at Windy Point then carry on down to the town, past the Timeball Station. Lyttelton is full of interesting historic buildings—outlined in the Historic Walk brochure available from the Information Centre—and is a colourful working port.
You can return to the city via the Road Tunnel or carry on along the edge of Lyttelton Harbour, past Corsair, Cass and Rapaki Bays, to Governors Bay then take Dyers Pass Road back up to the Crater Rim. From the Sign of the Kiwi either descend to the city through Cashmere or turn right along the Summit Road which will bring you, eventually, back to Sumner.
Tour Four: Proud to be Green
Along with the formal gardens of Mona Vale, Millbrook and the Botanic Gardens, there are literally thousands of private suburban gardens to be admired in Christchurch. Garden aficionados can pick up a Garden Drive leaflet from the Visitor Centre and tour the city’s plots, including the city cemeteries. Private gardens and heritage homes can be visited with Christchurch Sightseeing Tours.
Tour Five: Maritime Escapades
Canterbury Sea Tours offers a boat tour of Lyttelton Harbour while Christchurch Wildlife Cruises will introduce you to the harbour's unique marine fauna. You can swim with dolphins in Akaroa Harbour or take a cruise out to the Akaroa Heads aboard theCanterbury Cat. Aspiring mariners can even learn the ropes with the Jack Tar Sailing Co.
Tour Six: Thrills & Spills
Adventure buffs are well catered-for in Christchurch with activities to suit every adrenaline-charged whim. You can jump out of an airplane, be hurled skyward via a bungee cord, or take a ride on the Waimak Alpine Jetboat. Staunch thrill-seekers can experience terror and exhilaration at the same time rafting the Grade 5 rapids of the Rangitata River with Rangitata Rafts. Anglers will find fish aplenty in the turquoise waters of the Rangitata, Rakaia and Waimakariri rivers.
Whether you are looking for adventure, a cultural experience or simply a place to unwind, you will likely find something to your liking in Christchurch. As the locals promise, there is something "fresh each day."
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