Things to do in Christchurch
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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 restored 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 The Arthurs 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 planned 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.
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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 Hagley Park which combines beautifully maintained gardens and mature woodlands.
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And there's more: you can punt down the Avon River, view the city from 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.
Further afield, check out: Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, International Antarctic Centre, Christchurch Gondola, Orana Park, Ferrymead Heritage Park, Air Force Museum. For an authentic Maori experience, try: Kotane - the Maori Experience, Tamaki Heritage Village or Nga Hau E Wha National marae.
- Visa
- Qualmark
- Motel Association of New Zealand (MANZ)