A Garden City with a Wild Horizon

Christchurch surprises people. The Avon winds through it like a green ribbon, the Botanic Gardens sit in the middle of town, and the Port Hills rise quietly to the south with views all the way to the Pacific. It is a city that rewards a slow morning and a curious afternoon.

First-timers usually need three things: a sense of where to base themselves, a short list of walks and meals worth their time, and one or two day trips into Canterbury. The guides below are written with that in mind.

Read our first-timer's guide →