Lots to see and do in Christchurch and Canterbury

Christchurch

Starting at the city centre, Cathedral Square, there’s plenty to see and do in Christchurch, "the Garden City". Breathe the fresh air in the Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park, go punting on, or have lunch by, the banks of the River Avon as it winds its way through the city. Eat multi-national culinary delights throughout the city, visit the Museum with its constantly updated exhibits, get information on anything from the iSite Visitors' Centre in the Square, and enjoy the night life on Oxford Terrace.

Take a tram ride to the Arts Centre and see art and craft galleries, studios and specialist shops, set in historic stone Gothic Revival buildings in which I went to the University of Canterbury. For an outdoor craft market and ethnic food stalls, go on Friday or Saturday.

Once you have hired your car (from Affordable Car Rentals, of course), take a trip up the Mt Cavendish Gondola. At its summit are an information centre and restaurant – and plenty of stunning views. Nearby are Ferrymead Historic Park and an extensive Maori Village, complete with haka (war dance) and hangi (food).

Christchurch hosts the finest Antarctic Centre exhibition in the world. Experience the wonder of the Great White South, including a real snow-storm, a Hagglund ride and penguins!

Christchurch’s Pacific coastline is popular at any time of year. Sumner Beach features a promenade, cafes and caves for the kids to explore. New Brighton Beach is a great spot for a walk, with its pier providing a good vantage point to watch surfers in action.

New Zealand’s Wildlife and endangered species from around the world can be seen at Orana Park, a “zoo without cages”. The Southern Encounter Aquarium and Kiwi House in the middle of Cathedral Square, feature sharks being fed and New Zealand’s native bird. Willowbank Wildlife Reserve also has a wide variety of New Zealand’s wildlife, including the kiwi, and is open in daytime and evening.

East

Near to Christchurch lies the old port town of Lyttelton, and its harbour–once the crater of a volcano that erupted about 11 million years ago. You can reach Lyttelton through a tunnel, or over the top of the Port Hills via the seaside village of Sumner–well worth a swim on a hot day. You can make a round trip by driving around the bays to Governor’s Bay and up the Port Hills to the top for a delicious coffee and cake experience at the Sign of the Kiwi. From there you can view the Canterbury Plains, mountains, and, with a 10 minute walk, the whole of Lyttelton Harbour.

A 1.5 hour drive across Banks Peninsula’s volcanic hills takes you to the picturesque French settlement of Akaroa. Enjoy the colonial architecture, craft stores, cafes and wineries, stop over at a French Farm or cruise out onto the harbour, for scenic, fishing and wildlife adventures. Those wanting a 2- or 4-day walking experience should try the world-renowned Banks Peninsula Walkway.

North

To the north of Christchurch, drive through the Waipara wine-growing region, where you can enjoy wine tasting and gourmet meals at one of several vineyard restaurants.

A little further north is the alpine thermal resort of Hanmer Springs. There, soak in hot pools and enjoy spa facilities or hydroslides. Take a walk up Conical Hill for a 360° view of the town, forests, river and mountains. Walk beside, or in, forest streams, take mountain-bikes for spin, while jet-boating and bungy-jumping are amongst many other outdoor pursuits available.

If traveling through the Lewis Pass, there are more Hot Springs at Maruia to warm the body.

Proceeding up State Highway 1, just over 2 hours from Christchurch, is the town of Kaikoura and its world-class whale watching facilities, bird colonies and seals. Beware of angry seals that might challenge you if you get too close!

West

Ski fields in winter and hot air balloons throughout the year are two of many outdoor attractions in the inland mid-Canterbury town of Methven. The skiing season runs from June to October. Mount Hutt, Craigieburn, Porter Heights are the best known local skifields. Forest walks and ridges climbed lead to glorious views across the plains and mountains.

Arthur’s Pass on State Highway 73 is just over half way to the West Coast. Several ski fields on either side of the pass, plus waterfalls, bush and mountain walks, and a classy Information Centre add to your trip.

By the time you reach the West Coast, you’ll have plans laid to visit Punakaiki, with its blow holes showering sea spray high in the air, and its pancake rocks; a one hour return bush walk in Runanga to the Coal Creek Falls; Greymouth’s Jade Boulder Gallery, selling greenstone carvings, and Shantytown, where you can pan for gold and experience life as the early Chinese and other settlers experienced it. Head south to Hokitika, with its glass-blowing factory and famous fish and chip shop, and the glaciers, Fox and Franz Joseph. Remember to keep to the marked tracks. Many who didn’t lost their lives from falling ice!

An early morning rise and short drive takes you to Lake Matheson with its mirror-image reflections of Mt Cook and the Southern Alps.

South

Ski fields in Lake Tekapo, Ohau, Mt Dobson, Wanaka and Queenstown beckon the fit and keen skiers and snow-boarders. Visit the historic Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo with its stunning view out of the church window across the lake to the mountains. Climb the hill above Benmore Hydro dam, the largest earth-built dam in the southern hemisphere when it was built 50 years ago. The view from the top is amazing–see Mt Cook, many lakes and rivers and mountains. See the stupendous 3 million-year old ‘Moeraki boulders’, south of Oamaru, on your way to the former Scottish settlement of Dunedin, home to a colony of the world’s largest birds, the albatross.

So, you see there’s plenty to see and do. All you need is an Affordable Car Rental to get there and enjoy it all!