Christchurch Experiences

Christchurch is New Zealand's most English city with its city square, neo-Gothic cathedral and the river Avon meandering through the city centre - but it also has a modern funky Kiwi ambience which keeps it vibrant and alive.

The charming mix of heritage buildings, cutting edge shops and galleries, public gardens, haute cuisine, modern and ethnic restaurants, gracious tree-lined avenues and ambling inner-city rivers, provide plenty to see and do and Arthur’s Court Motor Lodge is minutes away from many attractions and activities.

Cathedral Square is home to soapbox orators, a large silver chalice sculpture, and the Christchurch Cathedral begun when Christchurch was still a raw settlement in 1864 and completed in 1904.

Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu, with its flowing metal and glass walls and striking outdoor sculpture, was opened in 2003 and has a permanent collection as well as a changing menu of exhibitions, programmes and events.

The Arts Centre is situated in the historic Canterbury University College where you can wander through cloisters and quadrangles to visit speciality shops, galleries, an art house cinema and theatres. There are many festivals and events at the Arts Centre as well as the regular colourful weekend market.

The Canterbury Museum features colonial history, bird dioramas, Maori taonga (treasures) and an Antarctic gallery. It is on the edge of the 161 hectare Botanical Gardens and Hagley Park which combine beautifully maintained gardens and mature woodlands and a golf course.

Try the International Antarctic Centre, Christchurch Gondola, Orana Park, and the Air Force Museum. And there's more: you can punt down the Avon River, view the city or dine on the historic tram, visit the Christchurch casino, catch a show at the Christchurch Town Hall, have some hands-on fun at Science Alive, eat at an eclectic range of restaurants, experience the vibrant bar scene and shop 'til you drop at the iconic Ballantynes department store or many other chic and unique shops. Christchurch has a free inner-city Shuttle bus and an excellent public transport system.

Check out Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, where you can view the kiwis foraging in the kiwi house, try Kotane - the Maori Experience for an authentic Maori moment and dine in their New Zealand cuisine restaurant.

Things not to miss while in staying in Christchurch:

Visit Akaroa, a French village on Banks Peninsula, approximately 80 minutes drive from the city, for the experience of a lifetime going out on the Harbour Cruise or swimming with the endangered Hectors Dolphins. There are so many sights to see on the way – just ask us about them!

Another experience is the TranzAlpine train journey through Arthur’s Pass to the West Coast and back, viewing the Alpine High Country and our unique braided rivers, followed by the temperate rain forest of the Coast.

A three day stay should be your minimum time to enjoy this beautiful corner of New Zealand.