Christchurch

Hailed as the Garden City for its wealth of leafy parks and quaint English gardens, Christchurch remains unquestionably one of the most beautiful centres on the New Zealand circuit. While recovery has been slow following the series of destructive quakes that tore their way through Canterbury in 2011, the town centre has proved steadfast in its offering of cutting-edge gastronomy and boutique shopping, not to mention innovative in its makeshift array of new hipster hangouts—many sprung up from the ruined complexes of the old City Mall. Aside from the grassy meadows and fields of Hagley Park and the historic homes of the Riccarton Bush, there are the looming ridges of the Port Hills to explore; accessed by the iconic Christchurch gondola and offering guests a jaunt across the dramatic Crater Rim Walkway. Many visitors opt to tour the downtown on one of the city’s famous punts, others get the low down on bike rentals from their Christchurch tour guide and join the locals weaving through the pretty lanes of stately Riccarton and Cathedral Square. And of course, don’t miss a jaunt to picturesque Lyttelton over the Banks Peninsula, where the sleepy coffee shops and harbourside eateries offer up a more authentic image of local South Island life.