Despite the devastating 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, Christchurch remains one of New Zealand’s finest cities. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, majestic mountains and plenty of friendly locals, Christchurch is well worth a visit.
We’ve put together our list of the top ten things to do while in Christchurch for you.
- Air Force Museum of New Zealand – located at Wigram, this museum offers plenty of insight into New Zealand’s military aviation history.
Botanic Gardens – a visit to the Garden City is not complete without a stroll around the Botanic Gardens. From grand fountains to old English trees, it’s a beautiful park to explore all year round.- Punting on the Avon – bring the old days back to life with a punt ride down the Avon River. These flat-bottomed boats are propelled by skilled punters through the Botanic Gardens.
Riccarton Sunday Market – a fantastic outdoor market to explore. Be prepared to see lots of local arts and crafts, fresh produce and plenty of enticing food stalls.- Vintage Tram – travel around the Christchurch CBD in one of the many traditional vintage trams. With a guided commentary, the tram stops at many locations ripe for exploring and your ticket allows you to get on and off as many times during the day as you like.
Orana Wildlife Park – as New Zealand’s only open zoo, Orana Wildlife Park offers you the opportunity to see giraffes, white rhinos, gorillas and lions up close! You can even see lions feeding close by from the safety of an enclosed truck.- Canterbury Museum – visit this beautiful museum, located next to the Botanical Gardens to see many wonderful local artifacts. While exhibitions change regularly, you can still see artifacts from Antarctic expeditions and pioneer lifestyles.
Quake City – learn about the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, the impact they had on the region and the rebuilding of Christchurch.- Lyttleton – an active port, Lyttleton is on the other side of the Port Hills and is accessed by a long road tunnel. Stroll around the Lyttleton Farmers Market, see the site of the old Timeball Station and take a harbor cruise.
- International Antarctic Centre – learn about the many expeditions to the Antarctic, see the tools and machines used there and experience an Antarctic snow storm!
As Christchurch continues to recover from the earthquakes, be prepared to see many construction and road work crews in action. You can be certain though, that you will be welcomed by the friendly locals when you show your support by visiting their beautiful city.
Do you have any activities you love doing in Christchurch that we’ve missed out? Let us know in the comments below.
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