Christchurch - Canterbury

Christchurch - Canterbury

Southern Alps

Canterbury’s landscape is dominated by New Zealand’s highest mountain Aoraki Mt Cook and the Southern Alps - a chain of mountains that’s bigger than its European namesake.

In the air, on water or in the mountains, Canterbury is an adventure and nature haven of unique outdoor experiences - huge sperm whales cruising the Kaikoura coast, dolphins playing in Akaroa harbour, and cheeky alpine parrots entertaining tourists at Arthur’s Pass.

Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city (pop: 350,000), is a ‘garden city’ of over 700 parks. It’s also home to two significant annual flower festivals in February and March.

The Alpine Triangle touring route - a scenic highway that traverses pastoral hill country and rugged seascapes - connects Hanmer Springs alpine spa, Waipara Valley wine region and coastal Kaikoura.

Heritage

According to oral tradition, Māori first arrived in the Canterbury region about a thousand years ago. Originally occupied by Ngāti Māmoe and Waitaha iwi (tribes), Ngai Tahu from the North Island eventually took over as the dominant South Island tribe.

Māori rock art sites throughout southern Canterbury provide a key to early Māori history.

Otautahi - the area where Christchurch sits - was a low-lying swampy region that attracted Māori to readily available foods like eel, inanga (whitebait), fish, pigeon and swamp fowl. Kaiapoi, one of the largest Māori settlements, was a major trading centre for West Coast pounamu (greenstone / jade).

Sealers and whalers were early European visitors, and in 1850 the first group of European settlers arrived in Lyttelton harbour. Christchurch became a ‘city by royal charter’ in 1856.

Nature and Wildlife

Between mountains and sea, Canterbury offers diverse wildlife and nature attractions.

Kaikoura - in spectacular coastal alpine scenery between Christchurch and Picton - translates as ‘a place to eat crayfish’. This little town with abundant seafood and marine life offers many eco-tourism activities such as whale watching tours, where visitors can see different species - including huge sperm whale - at different times of the year. Dusky and rare Hector’s dolphins, and fur seals are common, along with many sea birds and other marine life.

Dolphins often visit Banks Peninsula, and cruises from Akaroa - an old French town - encounter marine life that includes Hector’s dolphins, seabirds, seals, and white-flippered blue penguins. Some tours offer the swimming with dolphins.

Arthur’s Pass national park - the main alpine crossing between the east and west coasts - has impressive alpine scenery, unique native flora and fauna. The network of mountain tracks take walkers to native alpine plants and wildlife, including the cheeky kea - the world’s only alpine parrot.

Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook, in the Mackenzie Country, are the subject of a ground-breaking application to UNESCO for World Heritage status as a 'Starlight Reserve'. This area attracts ‘astro tourists’ drawn to one of few places on earth where it's still possible to view a starlit night sky devoid of light pollution.

Adventure / Outdoors

Canterbury’s vast plains, alpine and coastal landscape, and favourable atmospheric conditions make it one of New Zealand’s finest ballooning locations.

Aoraki Mt Cook national park is a world-renowned climbing and hiking destination. Glaciers cover 40 percent of the park and there are 23 peaks over 3,000m, including towering Aoraki Mt Cook. Mount Cook village, at the bottom of the mountain, is a base for climbers and hikers.

Hanmer Springs, north of Christchurch, has adventure and relaxation. Adventure activities include mountain biking and hiking trails, trout and salmon fishing, jet boating, bungy jumping and quad biking. At famed Hanmer Springs thermal pools and spa, visitors can relax in thermal sulphur and hot rock pools.

Art and Culture

Christchurch’s founders set the scene 150 years ago for today’s thriving art and culture scene when they planned a central cultural precinct providing for education, art, science, government, religion, history and recreation - all within an area of less than one square kilometre.

Canterbury museum, at the head of the cultural precinct, holds almost two million items of regional, national and international significance. The collection covers everything from Canterbury's first people - Moa hunter Māori - to European settlers' cultural and economic development, family and local history.

The Arts Centre of Christchurch - on the old University of Canterbury site - is one of New Zealand’s most significant historic and cultural attractions. The centre comes alive at weekends with an arts and craft market, live entertainment, and international food stalls.

Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu, an impressive modern building in the cultural precinct, has art collections, educational facilities, and a sculpture garden. Nearby attractions include the Centre of Contemporary Art, Botanic Gardens and iconic Christchurch Cathedral - all easily accessed on foot or by tram.

Seasonal Highlights

Canterbury has 10 main ski areas for skiers and snowboarders, all within easy distance from Christchurch. At the foot of the Southern Alps, Mt Hutt (2086m) is the largest, most developed ski field in the region, and claims New Zealand’s longest ski season.

Porters ski field, close to Christchurch, is a family-friendly mountain with runs suitable for everyone from beginners to extreme skiers and snowboard riders.

DID YOU KNOW

• Christchurch, known as ‘the garden city’, is home to 740 parks, covering about 3,000ha.
• Rakaia bridge, at 1.8km, is the southern hemisphere’s longest bridge.
• Aoraki Mt Cook (3,754m) is New Zealand’s highest mountain.
  
• Aoraki means ‘cloud piercer’.
• Canterbury, at 42,200 sq km, is New Zealand's largest region.