Christchurch is the capital city of Canterbury, New Zealand, and is known as "The Garden City". Being the largest city in New Zealand's South Island, it is the major starting point for visiting the rest of the area which includes the adventure-capital Queenstown, winter ski-destination Mount Hutt and surrounding vineyard regions. Much of the Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed in this region which features snow-capped, volcanic escapements, farm houses and, possibly, New Zealand’s most famous population - millions of sheep!

The South Island's largest city, Christchurch is perfect as a pleasant jumping-off point for the mountains, ocean beaches, rivers, lakes and wide-open spaces less than an hour from the city centre. But Christchurch is more than just a springboard.

Christchurch has a temperate climate, although summers can be hotter than the norm for the South Island. They are usually pretty dry too, thanks to the shelter of the nearby mountains. Winter temperatures can be cold, with snow at sea level not unheard of. Christchurch has its own notorious wind - a fiery springtime nor'wester - that can cause widespread damage when at gale force.

Christchurch has a temperate climate, although summers can be hotter than the norm for the South Island. They are usually pretty dry too, thanks to the shelter of the nearby mountains. Winter temperatures can be cold - 1-10°C (34-50°F) - with snow at sea level not unheard of. Missing the Mistral, the Sirocco or the Santa Ana? Christchurch has its very own notorious wind - a fiery springtime nor'wester - that is associated with increases in suicide and domestic violence, and can cause widespread damage when at gale force.

The peak travel time in New Zealand is the summer school holidays, from late December to late January - this is also the best time for beach weather. The warmer months (November to April) in general are busy, and you should consider booking accommodation in advance. The exception to this is, obviously, ski resorts, which get crowded in winter.

Arts Centre
The enclave of wonderful Gothic Revival buildings has been transformed into the excellent Arts Centre, where arts and craft outlets share the premises with theatres, restaurants and cafés. There's also a very good craft and food market (10:00 - 16:00, Sat & Sun) on weekends. The visitors centre (09:30 - 17:00), found inside the clock tower on Worcester St, provides details of free guided tours of the complex.
Web: www.artscentre.org.nz

Botanic Gardens
Tel: (03) 941 7590 (info)
The city's Botanic Gardens is comprised of 30 riverside hectares planted with 10,000-plus specimens of indigenous and introduced plants. There are conservatories and thematic gardens to explore, lawns to sprawl on, and a café at the Botanic Gardens visitors centre (09:00 - 16:00 Mon-Fri, 10:00 - 16:00 Sat & Sun). Kids can make full use of the playground adjacent to the café.
Web: www.ccc.govt.nz

Canterbury Museum
Tel: (03) 366 5000 (info)
The absorbing Canterbury Museum has amassed a wonderful collection of natural and manmade items of significance to NZ. Highlights include the Maori gallery, with some stunning pounamu (greenstone or jade) pieces; the coracle in the Antarctic Hall used by a group shipwrecked on Disappointment Island in 1907; and the child-oriented Discovery (admission NZ$2 ), with interactive displays and living exhibits such as docile tarantulas.
Web: www.cantmus.govt.nz

Cathedral Square
Cathedral Square is at Christchurch's heart and the best place to start exploring the city. The Cathedral, built in Gothic Revival style and symbolising the Church of England bedrock of this city, dominates Cathedral Square in Christchurch's heart. You can climb the cathedral spire for a small fee and get a great view of the city. In the centre of the square is the 18m-high Metal Chalice sculpture, created by Neil Dawson to acknowledge the new millennium.

Christchurch Art Gallery
Tel: (03) 941 7300 (info)
Set in an eye-catching metal-and-glass collage built in 2003, the city's Christchurch Art Gallery has an engrossing permanent collection divided into historical, 20th-century and contemporary galleries, plus temporary exhibitions featuring NZ artists. Guided tours are held at 11:00. Stop in at the spacious café-wine bar on-site, and browse the high-quality gift shop.
Web: www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz

International Antarctic Centre
Tel: (03) 353 7798 (info)
The International Antarctic Centre is part of a huge complex built for the administration of the NZ, US and Italian Antarctic programmes. Learn all about the icy continent via historical, geological and zoological exhibits, including videos of life on Scott Base, an aquarium of creatures gathered under the ice in McMurdo Sound, and an 'Antarctic Storm' chamber where you get a first-hand taste of -18°C wind chill. Visiting the centre is expensive, but worthwhile if you make the most of the Antarctic education on offer. You can reach it on the airport bus, as it's a short walk from the airport.
Web: www.iceberg.co.nz

Mona Vale
Tel: (03) 348 9660 (info)
Mona Vale is a charming Elizabethan-style homestead on 5½ riverside hectares of landscaped gardens, ponds and fountains. Dine in the café inside the homestead, wander the gorgeous grounds, or take a half-hour Avon River punt (per person at NZ$17).

Orana Wildlife Park
Tel: (03) 359 7109 (info)
Orana Wildlife Park has an excellent walk-through native bird aviary, a nocturnal kiwi house, and a reptile exhibit featuring the wrinkly tuatara. But most of the grounds are devoted to Africana, including lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, lemurs, oryx and cheetahs. Animal feeding times are scheduled daily and there's a 'farmyard' area where children can pet the more domesticated animals.
Web: www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz

Science Alive!
Tel: (03) 365 5199 (info)
Inside the city's old train station, Science Alive! is crammed with ever-changing interactive exhibits - stuff with a scientific bent, from optical illusions to things that kiddies can push, pull and climb. There's even a glow-in-the-dark minigolf course, the Black Hole (entry plus minigolf adult/child/family NZ$15 / NZ$10 / NZ$45). The city's free yellow shuttle bus runs along Moorhouse Ave.
Web: www.sciencealive.co.nz

Southern Encounter Aquarium & Kiwi House
Tel: (03) 359 0581 (info)
The Southern Encounter Aquarium & Kiwi House, accessed through the visitor information centre, exposes you to disturbingly large eels, seahorses, turtles and other marine life. It also has a touch tank, feeding times and a small swaying bridge that kids will love. Don't expect much from the kiwi enclosure; these endangered birds don't like light and are hypersensitive to sound.
Web: www.southernencounter.co.nz

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Tel: (03) 359 6226 (info)
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, about 6km north of the centre, is a good faunal reserve, with a focus on native NZ animals and hands-on enclosures that contain alpacas, wallabies and deer. Tours are held several times a day; Maori performances also take place here in the evenings.
Web: www.willowbank.co.nz

Arts Centre
Tel: (03) 363 2836 (info)
This has dozens of craft shops and art galleries selling pottery, jewellery, woollen goods, Maori carvings, handmade toys and more; in some cases you can see the craftspeople at work.
Web: www.artscentre.org.nz

Ballantynes
Tel: (03) 379 7400 (info)
Ballantynes is a venerable Christchurch department store with a respectful hushed atmosphere, selling everything from men's and women's fashions to cosmetics, travel goods and speciality NZ gifts.

Untouched World
Tel: (03) 962 6551 (info)
At the Arts Centre you can buy into the concept of this classy 'lifestyle store', where customers can procure quality NZ-made clothing and plant-extract skin care. Clothes may be made of 'mountainsilk' (machine-washable fine merino wool) or 'merinomink' (a blend of merino wool and possum fur).
Web: www.untouchedworld.com

Bailies Irish Bar
Tel: (03) 366 5159 (info)
Bailies Irish Bar – a convivial pub at Warners hotel with lovely large beer garden, pool tables, big-screen TVs, cheap food (particularly at lunchtime), a trivia night on Tuesday and live music later in the week.

Belgian Beer Café
Tel: (03) 377 1007 (info)
Are Belgian beer cafés the new Irish pub? They seem to be springing up everywhere, with the cosy wood-heavy interiors, pots of mussels and fabulous array of beers. This is a fine example of the genre, with a suitably old-world exterior and a good-looking beer menu you'd be happy to work through.

Dux de Lux
Tel: (03) 366 6919 (info)
You could easily settle in for a long, sunny afternoon drinking session at this Christchurch institution, sampling its home-brews. And you could feel somewhat virtuous too, as all the meals are 'vegaquarian' (ie vegetarian and seafood). There's often live music; if you want to get away from the rabble, there's a lounge bar upstairs.

Foam Bar
Tel: (03) 365 2926 (info)
A sophisticated little back-alley bar, worth seeking out for its chilled-out crowd, art-bedecked walls and DJ-spun tunes. There's also the occasional live band, usually on Thursday night.

Holy Grail
Tel: (03) 365 9816 (info)
Set in a converted Art Deco theatre, the Holy Grail is a multilevel complex that includes a 10m screen with its own set of padded bleachers, pool tables, balcony bars and a minimalist dance floor. Caters mainly to sport-lovers but there are also DJs most nights.

Indochine
Tel: (03) 365 7323 (info)
If you can't get a dinner reservation at this city hotspot, drop in for one of the enticing cocktails. The signature drink, 'Kingofsnake', is vodka based, with fresh ginger, palm sugar, chilli, lemon and honey - full of bite.

Jolly Poacher
Tel: (03) 379 5635 (info)
Jolly Poacher keeps dangerously long hours and so what starts off as a casual lunch could become a gruelling liquid marathon. There may be some consolation in knowing that beer-sopping food is always available.

Le Plonk
Tel: (03) 377 7724 (info)
Le Plonk is a cutely named wine bar, offering a grand selection of NZ tipples, lush leather lounges to sink into and regular live jazz. Very smooth.

Loaded Hog
Tel: (03) 366 6674 (info)
The Loaded Hog is a popular place with brewery equipment strewn along the walls (in testimony to its naturally brewed beers) and a fondness for major sports events, DJs, cover bands and, rather strangely, salsa nights (every Thursday).

Minx
Tel: (03) 374 9944 (info)
Newly opened in 2005, this sleek minimalist restaurant continues to win praise from industry types, while the basement Rootes bar makes the most of its underground outlook. Prop on a neonlit cube, sip a cocktail and admire the commissioned graffiti in the car park.

Twisted Hop
Tel: (03) 962 3688 (info)
In a revitalised part of town, two Englishmen have set up a 'real ale brewpub', where the beer is brewed in the traditional English manner. There are home-brews, including the wonderfully named Twisted Ankle, plus a huge range of microbrewed beers from NZ and abroad. Good food too, including a kids menu. Brewery tours and tastings available.

Caffe Roma
Address: 176 Oxford Tce
Tel: (03) 379 3879 (info)
This European-style café has a refined persona - the kind of place you'd take your parents for brunch. The generously proportioned breakfasts include homemade muesli, lamb kidneys or corn fritters with bacon, avocado and eggs. It's not too grown-up, however - tea and coffee come with a chocolate fish.

City Fish & Chips
Address: 265 Manchester St
Tel: (03) 377 4483 (info)
Handily situated for YHA-goers, City Fish & Chips offers the cheapest feed (one portion around NZ$3) in town.

Cook 'n' with Gas
Address: 23 Worcester St
Tel: (03) 377 9166 (info)
A favourite of local foodies, this exuberant cottage restaurant serves up NZ produce with prize-winning flair and the help of a great wine (and beer) list. You can't go wrong with lamb or beef, though seafood dishes are equally tempting.

Dux de Lux
Address: corner of Hereford & Montreal Sts
Tel: (03) 366 6919 (info)
This vivacious place is a long-standing crowd favourite for its hearty veg and seafood menu, with veg-packed curries and Mediterranean pizza served up alongside local mussels or Cajun-flavoured calamari. It also scores highly for its outdoor courtyards, house-brewed beer and generally festive vibe.

East in the City
Address: 266 High St
Tel: (03) 365 0168 (info)
Overlook the grungy interior and appreciate this place for what it is - a barnlike Asian food court where you can get your fix of cheap pad Thai, dim sum or gado gado from one of the 10 or so food outlets.

Indochine
Address: 209 Cambridge Tce
Tel: (03) 365 7323 (info)
Dripping in Sino-retro cool, Indochine makes for a gorgeous night out, and the hip Christchurch folk are flocking to the Asian-fusion dishes (dim sum for sharing, or all-to-yourself sizes) and fresh, interesting cocktails. The dim lighting, flocked wallpaper and lacquered screens create a rich, inviting interior.

Java Coffee House
Address: corner of High & Lichfield Sts
Tel: (03) 366 0195 (info)
A funky, paint-splattered place with groovin' music, hungover staff and leaflets for upcoming dance events. It's a good place for a late-morning serve of eggs any way you like them, and you can get your latte or chai tea in a cup or bowl.

Le Bon Bolli
Address: corner of Worcester & Montreal Sts
Tel: (03) 374 9444 (info)
A French-leaning menu is served within this brassiere's inspired interior, with one room daubed with frescoes; upstairs is a more formal dining space (open for dinner, mains around NZ$32). The Caesar salad here is excellent, as is the crème brûlée (even if they do say so themselves). You can stop by just for bubbly or coffee on the terrace too.

Lotus Heart
Address: 595 Colombo St
Meditative meat-free eatery, where Buddhist chanting or ethereal melodies may accompany your red-lentil dhal, vege burger or Mexican red-bean chilli. Also has organic coffee, fresh juices and smoothies.

Mainstreet Café
Address: 840 Colombo St
Tel: (03) 365 0421 (info)
This bright, art-filled, upstairs-downstairs affair serves vegan and veg food with panache - cafeteria-style during the day, à la carte in the evening. It's good for breakfast with the works, a plate of wholesome salads or kumara balls (the house speciality) after a late night.

Mum's
Address: corner of Colombo & Gloucester Sts
Tel: (03) 365 2211 (info)
Among Mum's happy diners is a steady stream of Japanese and Korean students, who surely appreciate the just-like-Mum-makes-at-home dishes and reasonable prices. Get a double hit of Asian flavours with options including sushi, sashimi and various noodle creations.

Retour
Address: Cambridge Tce
Tel: (03) 365 2888 (info)
Raised splendidly above the banks of the Avon on a small, canopied rotunda, intimate Retour is an accomplished practitioner of modern NZ cooking. Eat your way through crab and crayfish ravioli, braised leg of wild hare or loin of venison.

Savoy Brown
Address: 143 High St
Tel: (03) 365 7262 (info)
One of many fine, laid-back cafés on High St, in among the cool shops and galleries – Savoy Brown’s well worth a wander. Excellent coffee, bumper brekkies and homemade cakes are a feature; peak hour is weekend brunchtime.

Seafood Kitchen
Address: 819 Colombo St
Tel: (03) 365 6543 (info)
The small menu at this chic corner-store restaurant changes daily in order to present the freshest possible marine treats. You'll likely get to choose from sushi, shellfish, whole fish and other aquatic delights - choose a local white wine to accompany and you've got yourself a memorable meal.

Sticky Fingers
Address: Clarendon Towers, Oxford Tce
Tel: (03) 366 6451 (info)
Carnivores can go crazy here on aged beef fillet, twice-cooked duck or on numerous pizzas and pastas. Follow your main course with 'Love Handles' (kiwi-fruit pavlova with hokey-pokey ice cream) for a slice of sweet kiwiana.

Strawberry Fare
Address: 114 Peterborough St
Tel: (03) 365 4665 (info)
Weight-watchers enter at your peril - this place has around 20 dessert options. It's a stylish daytime café that becomes a casual night-time restaurant, with a menu catering to all comers.

Tap Room
Address: 124 Oxford Tce
Tel: (03) 365 0547 (info)
An accomplished member of the Oxford Tce clan - a mixture of historic building (with industrial embellishments), upmarket café-restaurant and outdoor area where punters down Monteith's beer and dine out on pizzas, Canterbury lamb rack and an assortment of seafood dishes.

Topkapi
Address: 185 Manchester St
Tel: (03) 379 4447 (info)
Grab yourself a cushioned, low-slung bench in the tapestry-draped interior and enjoy some great Turkish food, including a wide range of meat or veg kebabs and the all-important baklava finisher. The takeaway counter does brisk business.

Two Fat Indians
Address: 112-114 Manchester St
Tel: (03) 371 7273 (info)
Drawing backpackers and locals alike, this polished twin-room eatery lives by the tagline 'The art of pint and curry'. The extensive menu pleases both carnivores and vegetarians, and includes palak kofta (spinach dumplings) and a reliable chicken tikka masala, all with matching beer recommendations.

Vivace Espresso
Address: 86 Hereford St
Tel: (03) 365 8248 (info)
Vivace Espresso’s a long narrow space doling out seriously good coffee to loyal locals. Also serves hearty all-day breakfasts (how about crumpets with vanilla hazelnut honey?) and interesting lunch options.

Zydeco
Address: 57 Victoria St
Tel: (03) 365 4556 (info)
For something different, blackened lamb, spicy prawns and a hearty gumbo are just some of the Creole/Cajun dishes you can sample in this laid-back eatery. There's a balcony bar here too, with live music from Thursday to Saturday.

Spending a night in Christchurch is never easy – there are so many options to choose from! Right alongside the hotels, motels and hostels, there are also homestays, lodges, caravan parks and guesthouses. Whether it be a night in the city centre or the surrounding neighbourhoods, you won’t find accommodations in Christchurch lacking.

Christchurch is the main international gateway to the South Island, with flights to Australia and a limited number of other countries. The airport is 12km (7.5mi) from the city center. Both the international and domestic terminals have excellent facilities, including a bureau de change, ATMs, car rentals and left luggage. Air New Zealand is the main domestic carrier and there are daily direct flights between Christchurch and Auckland, Blenheim, Dunedin, Hamilton, Hokitika, Invercargill, Nelson, Queenstown, Wanaka and Wellington, with connections to other centres. Other carriers also offer daily direct flights to the bigger centres. Departure tax for international flights is payable at the airport.

Trains run to Picton via Blenheim with connections to the Interislander ferry to Wellington. The train station is 2km (1.2mi) southwest of the city centre. Regular coach services will get you south to Queenstown, Picton, Mt Cook and Dunedin and west to Greymouth and Hokitika via Arthur's Pass.

Trains run to Picton via Blenheim with connections to the Interislander ferry to Wellington. The train station is 2km (1.2mi) southwest of the city centre. There is a daily TransAlpine train service that runs from Christchurch to Greymouth via Arthur's Pass - dubbed one of the world's great train journeys. Regular coach services will get you north to Picton, south to Queenstown, Mt Cook and Dunedin and west to Greymouth and Hokitika via Arthur's Pass.

Christchurch's bus service is good, cheap and efficient. Most city buses run from the well-organised City Exchange, which can be accessed from Colombo Street. Christchurch's compact size and flat topography make it ideal for cycling, and hired bikes can be delivered to your accommodation. Taxis are plentiful, as are car rentals. Christchurch is the best place on the South Island to rent a car or a motor home.

GMT/UTC +12 (UTC/GMT)

Metric

230V 50Hz

+64

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