Canterbury

The largest region of New Zealand is Canterbury and includes the great city of Christchurch. This vibrant city full of trendy bars and culinary delights is highly recommended.

The city is bordered by the Conway River to the north and the Southern Alps to the west. To the south flows the Waitaki River where you can take beautiful walks. The southern part of Canterbury, the agrarian Canterbury Plains, is in many ways considered an independent region with a nice attraction being the harbor town of Timaru where you can discover the entire history of the town in the South Canterbury Museum.

Highlights of Canterbury

Christchurch

Christchurch, with over 330,000 inhabitants, is the largest city on the South Island and is located in the province of Canterbury. The city exudes a truly English atmosphere, due in part to its Victorian and neo-Gothic architectural style, and has been called the most English city outside of England. Another designation Christchurch has is "garden city of New Zealand," due to its many parks and Botanic Gardens.

Although the city has a fairly conservative appearance, it is beginning to take on a more modern look in recent years due to influences from artist groups. There are also an increasing number of festivals and events being held. Due to the presence of the university and students, the nightlife here is well developed. Many trendy bars and cafes have sprung up, for example on Cashel Street and High Street, keeping the nightlife buzzing. Christchurch is also increasingly praised for its various culinary delights and fine restaurants around Oxford Terrace.

Southern Alps

The Southern Alps is the mountain range running north to south across New Zealand's South Island. The range includes mountain peaks to over 3,000 meters (such as Mount Cook), glaciers and mountain lakes. On the west side of the Southern Alps stretches the rugged West Coast. To the east stretch the plains of Canterbury and the hill country of Otago. To the south, the Southern Alps extend into the hill country of Southland and Fiordland. To the north, the Southern Alps run into the hills surrounding the wine region of Marlborough and the natural parks of Abel Tasman National Park, Kahurangi National Park and Nelson Lakes National Park.

In the Southern Alps are places like Queenstown, Wanaka, Twizel, Lake Tekapo and Mount Hutt. You can cross the Southern Alps at 3 passes, namely Arthur's Pass, Lewis Pass and Haast Pass.

Timaru

Timaru is 165 kilometers south of Christchurch and 200 kilometers north of Dunedin, on the East Coast route. It is one of New Zealand's most lively port towns and a pleasant break in your journey before you drive on. The name Timaru comes from the Maori, Te Maru, meaning "safe haven" or "refuge. There are a number of beautiful buildings such as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Sacred Heart Basilica) with its double towers and large dome.

The Aigantighe (pronounced "ekentaai") Garden and Art Gallery has an interesting collection of New Zealand and British painters. The highlight is the Caroline Bay Carnival. This celebration begins on Dec. 26 and lasts for two weeks and is full of activities and entertainment including a grand New Year's Eve fireworks display.

Ashburton

On the eastern side of the Southern Alps lies the town of Ashburton and is located on the Canterbury Plains. The town is the center of the agricultural industry on the South Island and exudes a friendly atmosphere where you can enjoy hiking.

Mount Hutt

Not far from Ashburton, in the mountains, lies New Zealand's popular ski resort Mount Hutt. Mount Hutt offers skiing enthusiasts the best maintained slopes but in the summer also beautiful hiking trails with impressive views for other nature lovers.