BackRoadsWest presents:

Christchurch

Being the second largest city in New Zealand, Christchurch prides itself in showing everyone that its major influence comes from Great Britain. It is the largest city in the South Island with a population of about 350,000 in 2007. Christchurch gets its name from the Christ Church cathedral, which is located inside Christ Church college at Oxford University, located in Great Britain. The region was populated beginning in the 1850s with pilgrims from Britain that were carefully picked. By 1855, there were roughly 3,500 migrants that made the journey over from England. Today, Christchurch is a mix of modern and British architectural styles. It is also known as the garden city as many residents take gardening seriously and there are many beautiful public gardens, the biggest being Hagley Park. Christchurch is a great stopping and ending point for any trip to the South Island of New Zealand.

Things to see and do:

	City life with a British charm
	International shopping
	World class botanical gardens at Hagley Park
	Museums and art centers

	Getting There
	Tell me What's There
	Show me the Maps

Show me the Slideshow

Show me the Photo Tour

	Downtown
	Hagley Park

Getting There

The air gateway into the city is Christchurch International Airport. Nonstop flights from several international destinations serve this airport. Seasonally, Air New Zealand offers nonstop flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco. Otherwise, most flights into Christchurch connect through Auckland on the North Island.

Christchurch also has a train station which offers train service to two different destinations. One, called the TranzAlpine, goes over the Southern Alps to Greymouth connecting both coasts of the South Island and is rated one of the world's most scenic train trips. The other, called TranzCoastal, offers service to the town of Picton and further connecting service to the North Island via ferry to Wellington.

Tourists can also rent cars from the airport and drive to their desired destinations. Christchurch boasts well maintained streets and it is quite easy to find your way around. Just like any other international city, public transportation and taxis are easy to access.

What's There

Similar to other large cities near a large body of water, downtown Christchurch [Google search] is located near a bay which connects to a main body of water; in this case, the Pacific Ocean. Suburbs spread out in all directions from the city's center. The streets of Christchurch are mostly flat which makes for easy walking. Most of the things to see are located in the downtown area which is easy walking distance from many of the city's hotels.

If you enjoy cities, then there is much to do in Christchurch. Museums, theaters, shopping and parks are all within two miles from from the city's center.

Cathedral Square

A good starting point for a walking tour of Christchurch is Cathedral Square. This is the center of the city. The centerpiece of the square is also Christchurch's most recognizable landmark: Christchurch Cathedral. The visitor's center is located in the square - ask anyone to point it out for you. Certainly, there is more information in the visitor's center then in most tour guides.

Construction of the cathedral itself began in 1864, but was stopped due to lack of funds. It wasn't until 1904 when the cathedral was finally finished. The cathedral is one of the only neo-Gothic styled churches found in the southern hemisphere. The square was once a major intersection at the center of Christchurch, but was closed off and converted to a pedestrian-only square around 1970.

The cathedral is open daily to visitors. The hours are typically 9am to 5pm and there is no charge. However, if you wish to ascend to the belfry for a great view of the city, there is a small fee.

Roaming Around The City

On foot, one can follow the square patterns of normal city blocks, or follow the streets and footpaths along the Avon River as it twists and turns around downtown. One can't help running into all kinds of interesting things from shops to galleries when walking along any of the streets in central Christchurch.

One fun way to grab your bearings of downtown is to take the Christchurch Tramway [see picture]. It makes a 1.5 mile (2.5 km) long rectangular loop around downtown. The total travel time around the loop is around 25 minutes. There are about ten stops where you can get on and off at your leisure. Tickets can be purchased from the tram's driver and they are good for two consecutive days. If you would like to try something really different, the tramway has a restaurant car which serves dinner as it circles around the city during the evening.

Boat (or what we would call gondola) rides can also be taken on the Avon River for a different view of the city. In Christchurch however, they call it "punting". For a small fee, you can sit in a small boat [see picture] as a "Edwardian punter" propels you along the river. As you enjoy the sites, the punter will describe the points of interest along the way.

Be sure to sample some of the local restaurants and pubs. What is the most popular style of food? You guessed it: British. Fish and Chips is real popular. Try it with some of the great local bears brewed on the South Island. Most restaurants will have a wide selection of the local beers.

Hagley Park

Christchurch is indeed a city of gardens. But the granddaddy of all gardens is located in Hagley Park [Google search]. Hagley Park is big - it is roughly the same size as the downtown area of Christchurch itself! It is located at the west end of the downtown area - only 3 blocks from Cathedral Square. Any visit to Christchurch should at least include a visit to the Botanical Gardens.

The Botanical Gardens are open from 7am until dusk. One doesn't need a guide or map to find beautiful and colorful sites. All one needs to do is follow any of the walking paths into the gardens and they will certainly be rewarded. Several greenhouses are located around the gardens which demand investigation as they will reveal exotic plants from a warmer climate. Different seasons bring different colors, but the fall (their spring) will most undoubtedly bring the biggest variety.

If you plan a visit to Hagley Park, realize that the Botanical Gardens are closest to downtown and takes up roughly 20% of the entire park. The remaining 80% includes large fields of green grass, including a golf course. Depending on your interest in plants and flowers, give yourself two to four hours to walk through the Botanical Gardens.

Photo Tour
Click on picture to enlarge

Downtown

	Flying into Christchurch International Airport (located in the upper left corner). View is to the west looking over the South Island's Southern Alps. The area between the coastline and the Alps is known as the Canterbury Plains. The large river that is visible in the top of the picture is the Waimakarini River, which the TranzAlpine train follows all the way into the alps.
	The Avon River twists all through Christchurch. The native Maori people call it Otakaro or Putare Kamutu. The river was named after the River Avon in Scotland in 1848 by the British.
	The Avon River passes by Victoria Square's fountain near central Christchurch.
	The Thomas Edmond Rotunda is also near central Christchurch.
	Walking closer to the city's center - the Christchurch Cathedral is seen in the distance.
	The Christchurch Tramway follows a loop shaped route through downtown making it a great way to tour the city.
	A typical downtown street scene at this five-street intersection.
	One of the biggest landmarks in the city: Christchurch Cathedral is located in appropriately named Cathedral Square.
	Cathedral Square with its unique "Inverted Cone" metallic sculpture.
	Another street scene in downtown Christchurch.
	Some of the classic British architecture found throughout Christchurch.
	Modern architectural styles are evident at the Christchurch Art Gallery.
	Both of these buildings are new, but one follows old or classic styling where taller building follows a more modern style. Even the mega-franchise Starbucks is scene all over New Zealand.
	And who can forget a classic phone booth styled after the ones found in England.

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Hagley Park

Click on picture to enlarge

	The Avon River also meanders through Hagley Park.
	Similar to Venice Italy, gondolas along with their pilots can be sited floating down the Avon River. Here, they don't call it a gondola ride, but rather "punting in the park".
	Hagley Park offers many places to walk and enjoy the outdoors just outside of the bustle of Christchurch.
	A lone bench invites a weary walker to a quick rest.
	Striking colors are plentiful throughout the park.
	One of the many walkways inviting you into the park.
	More color.
	We found many interesting and unique-looking trees around Hagley Park.
	There are several greenhouses located in the park which house tropical plants and flowers which would not survive the colder climate of the South Island.
	Several species of anthurium can be seen in the greenhouses.
	This is a very uniquely colored anthurium which is not very common.
	Many flowering plants thrive in the various greenhouses. We were lucky to be visiting the park during the fall (their springtime).
	More colorful displays found inside the greenhouses.
	Scenes such as this are common around Hagley Park.
	Several ponds are located throughout the grounds adding another level of beauty to the park.
	A hopeful duck rushes to the possibility of a handout.
	An unusual flower that we have never seen before.
	Another inviting path in Hagley Park.
	More buildings with British-style architecture are seen bordering the park.
	Close-up of tulips blooming in the previous picture.
	More blooming flowers near the previous picture(s).
	A statue of one of the people responsible for the early development of Hagley Park.