Christchurch

From the silvery beaches of the coast to the jagged peaks of the Southern Alps, the Canterbury landscape is impossible to ignore. Big scenery is the order of the day - huge panoramas of ocean or mountains, great sweeps of pastureland and massive amounts of sky.

Christchurch

The highest point of the region is the highest point of New Zealand. The spectacular Aoraki Mount Cook stands at 3754 metres (Aoraki is Maori for Cloud Piercer). At the other end of the scale, the submarine trenches off the coast of Kaikoura are thousands of metres deep, providing an ideal environment for the whales, dolphins and seals that live there permanently.

Between the mountains and the sea, the vast plains are patchworked with the patterns of rural life. Hundreds of years ago, Maori moa hunters worked these plains leaving a rock art record of their successes.

In the two cities of the region, Christchurch and Timaru, great care has been taken to preserve Canterbury’s colonial heritage. Grand architecture, historic homesteads and immaculate parks intermingle with the technology and style of modern life.

Spring provides idyllic, mild conditions for touring the region. Wander the gracious public and private gardens of Christchurch and Timaru, then drive to the high country through charming rural towns, where lambs, wildflowers and fresh pastures make for postcard-perfect scenery. In restaurants you’ll enjoy fresh asparagus and other seasonal specialities. The spring thaw makes it a wild time to ride the Waimakariri River in a jet boat, or drive up to Arthur’s Pass and watch the waterfalls.

Key Tips

  • Christchurch international airport receives flights from Australia, Asia, the UK and the USA, providing a convenient gateway to South Island destinations
  • Comfortable driving distances let you pack more into your holiday. In Canterbury it’s possible to go surfing and skiing on the same day!
  • Mount Hutt is usually the first New Zealand ski field to open and the last to close. Snowmakers keep the slopes in top shape
  • The city of Timaru has a domestic airport. Flights arrive daily from Wellington.

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