Click HERE for a map of Christchurch and surrounding
areas
Located on the South Islands' east
coast, Christchurch is the largest urban area on the South Island,
and the second largest city in New Zealand.
Sadly, some parts
of Christchurch suffered very badly from the earthquakes
in 2010 and 2011, which caused serious damage to a
large part of downtown Christchurch. The Central Business
district (CBD) in the center of the city was hit very badly, but
the vast majority of the buildings and businesses have now been
refurbished, repaired or demolished and rebuilt.
In true New Zealand spirit, the
affected areas of the city were and are still being rebuilt,
in keeping with the city's charming style, and as each week goes
by, the city is getting closer to returning to its former
glory. Some areas in the city center that had been seriously
damaged, have now made into parks and gardens, and new buildings
that are being built are being limited to only 7 floors.
The River Avon that runs
through the city, is surrounded by many waterfront urban parks and
gardens, making it a lovely, scenic area of the city for walks and
picnics, and luckily, this area was not greatly affected by the
earthquake disturbance.
A day trip from Christchurch which
is very well worth the time, is a visit to Akaroa, which is a town
with a big French influence, having been settled by French
explorers in the late 1800's. The town is a 70
minute drive south west of Christchurch and nestles on
the edge of a bay which is the lip of an ancient volcano, with
very stunning bays in the area to explore. The town has
some very beautiful colonial buildings, which house a number of
galleries, craft shops and restaurants.
Christchurch is still a must to
visit on any tour of New Zealand, and most
of the hotels, restaurants and attractions have been rebuilt,
refrurbished and are open for business and ready to welcome
guests.
ACCOMMODATION DETAILS AND PRICES
ARE CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED. IF YOU NEED DETAILS AND
PRICES FOR A PROPERTY NOT CURRENTLY SHOWN, PLEASE CALL OUR
RESERVATIONS TEAM.