Hours whiled away on cloudless days beside glacial lakes and on stony riverbanks is the stuff of happy holiday memories. So too are the family-friendly alpine attractions including the Hanmer Springs Thermal Resort, the turquoise Lake Tekapo (book an educational tour at the observatory) and more than a dozen ski fields.
When you stroll along the Canterbury coastline keep your eyes peeled for the penguins, seals, seabirds and dolphins that call this coast home. On the Kaikoura coast you can join a whale-watching tour and get as close to sperm whales as you're ever likely to.
Hanmer Springs offers equal measures of relaxation and adventure, creating the perfect blend for a fun family escape. There are spacious holiday parks where you can pitch a tent. While the kids make the most of the great on-site activities, mum and dad can enjoy some thermal relaxation or take a walk through the beautiful alpine landscape.
If you're wondering when would be a good time to visit Christchurch, the answer is right now. The city may not look like it once did, but positive energy abounds and with so many new experiences on offer the city deserves a revisit. Kids and adults alike love the novelty of refreshments in brightly coloured shipping containers, a cathedral made of cardboard and the many creative ways the city's communities have utilised the open spaces created by the earthquakes. The city also has a thriving nightlife scene and shopping and entertainment precincts have emerged in new locations.
The Garden City of Christchurch is home to the Ellerslie International Flower Show in the elegant Hagley Park and the city certainly knows how to put on a great floral and landscaping show. As the gateway to Canterbury, Christchurch is also the ideal place to start a meandering and memorable road trip.
Couple cycling through Hagley Park in autumn © christchurchnz.com
New Zealand's first-founded city provides plenty of diversity for a family holiday. The Christchurch rebuild is now taking shape and the city continues to provide visitors with not only the same world-class attractions of old but a raft of innovative and unique experiences as the city adapts to a new landscape.
The garden influence on the South Island's biggest city cannot be overstated - Christchurch is home to more than 740 parks, including the 165ha Hagley Park and the majestic Botanic Gardens. The beauty and tranquillity of the city's parks and gardens are instant attractions and Christchurch's prestigious garden event, the Ellerslie Flower Show, also adds weight to the coveted "Garden City" title. Avon River punting, Sumner Beach, the Canterbury Museum and endless activities all contribute to ensure Christchurch is oozing appeal.
In winter, Christchurch is a popular destination for ski/snowboard enthusiasts, with 13 fantastic ski areas in the city's backyard, including eight within a two-hour drive of Christchurch International Airport. And as more than 70 per cent of all people who fly to Antarctica in any one year leave from Christchurch International Airport, the city can proudly claim to be the "Aerial Gateway to Antarctica" too.
Attractions
- Take in the views from the top on the Christchurch Gondola. The new-look cable cars whisk you nearly a kilometre to the Crater Rim on the Port Hills.
- The Re:START precinct in Cashel Mall is a sensory shopping experience with brightly coloured shipping containers, the smell of freshly cooked food wafting through the air and street performers entertaining the crowds. One of the city's first innovative retail responses to the earthquakes, the precinct continues to be a popular destination.
- The International Antarctic Centre has twice been acclaimed New Zealand's best visitor attraction, and there's no doubt it deserves the honour: the diversity and quality of its experiences are exceptional.
- World-renowned for its natural and human history collections, the Canterbury Museum offers something for the whole family. The Maori and early European exhibits, Victorian Christchurch Street and the Decorative Arts collection are perennial favourites, while its latest exhibition, Welcome to Quake City, is also drawing in the crowds.
- Check out "Gap Filler", a creative post-quake urban regeneration initiative that brings temporary, people-centred ideas to life on various vacant sites around the city.
- Punting on the Avon River is a great way to take in Christchurch's picturesque sights. Ideal for taking some time out to relax, the English-style punts wend their way through the magnificent Botanic Gardens.
- Much loved for its Spanish Mission Revival-style architecture, New Regent Street is now open and back in business after being closed because of the February 2011 earthquake.
Whale fluke, Kaikoura © Alpine Pacific Tourism
Kaikoura is well known for attracting a superabundance of fascinating wildlife and this coastal town's widespread appeal ensures loads of good old Kiwi holidaymakers flock in its direction. Kaikoura is world-renowned as the whale-watching centre of New Zealand, which means a journey out on the water or in the air is pretty much mandatory during your stay here.
It's not every day you get to look at giant sperm whales, after all, or for that matter see the massive wingspan of the imposing royal albatross. There's other birdlife to check out while here and the opportunity to come face to face with playful fur seals, swim with dusky dolphins and view little blue penguins.
Impressive as Kaikoura's wildlife experiences are, there are plenty of other attractions here too. Going for a stroll will be generously rewarded - of the many available walks, the most popular is the two-hour return limestone cliff-top peninsula walk, which affords sublime views. You can see the seals that inhabit the coastline, seabirds fishing in the sea or feeding on the tidal flats and sometimes dolphins or little blue penguins.
If you're after a comprehensive look at the Kaikoura area, a guided walk through privately owned Puhi Peaks Nature Reserve is the way to go. There are a couple of fantastic multi-day walks that will take you through this protected reserve. It's the ideal way to see rare and endangered native flora and fauna and experience diverse terrain and memorable views.
Attractions
- Whether you hop on a boat or take to the air, Kaikoura is the place to get a good look at giant sperm whales. This is the experience of a lifetime.
- Tour operators are also ready to provide you with an up-close encounter with birdlife. Learn all about the imposing royal albatross with its massive wingspan by taking a fascinating cruise where you can watch how they interact with each other.
- While making the most of the outdoors, pay a visit to Lavendyl Lavender Farm. Here you can enjoy a picnic or just wander through the gardens, which feature not only lavenders, but also native plants.
- Kaikoura's location is amazing, so thankfully there are plenty of top viewing spots to take in the sights. Among the many options are the Kaikoura lookout on Scarborough St, which delivers expansive views of the peninsula, and Point Kean viewpoint - accessed from the Point Kean car park - where you can see the North Island on a clear day.
- A visit to Kaikoura is not complete without sampling their famous crayfish. The Maori name Kaikoura translates as "to eat crayfish", so if you enjoy seafood you can expect the local cuisine to be one of the highlights of your holiday.
- Try timing your visit to coincide with the annual Seafest. Held during the first weekend in October, it attracts up to 6000 people and is quickly becoming known as a premier festival in New Zealand.
- Remnants of Maori and European settlement of the area can be viewed at the Kaikoura Museum on Ludstone Rd. Here the history of the entire Kaikoura district is on display, including artefacts of the area's whaling past.
- A survivor of Kaikoura"s whaling days " Fyffe House " was built in the 1850s. It is the town's oldest building (located on Avoca St) and is now owned by the Historic Places Trust. En route to Fyffe House is the seal colony, a favourite for visitors to Kaikoura.
- For a captivating insight into indigenous history, a Maori Tour is the way to go. The tour includes constant interaction, personalised touches and varied sights and activities.
© Selwyn District Council