Christchurch is known as The Garden City for its beautiful parks, open spaces and tree-lined avenues.
The city has been reimagined after a major earthquake in 2011 and now features eye-catching street art alongside innovative new designs like the pop-up Cardboard Cathedral and the Re:START shopping mall, made from brightly coloured shipping containers.
Popular attractions in and around the city include the International Antarctic Centre and punting on the Avon River – a boating experience that evokes shades of England as you are guided down the river by your very own Edwardian punter.
Outdoor types will love the ski fields and championship golf courses within easy reach of the city, while nature lovers won’t want to miss the chance to swim with the Hector’s dolphin in the quaint nearby town of Akaroa.