The 'Garden City' of NZ, Christchurch is the largest city on South Island, situated in the picturesque region of Canterbury, an area which has an almost picture perfect pastoral landscape of rolling downs, flat fields and meadows.

Christchurch with a population of 309,000 is very much the urban district centre with a cosmopolitan sophistication but with an underlying quaintly rural tranquility and charm that reaches out to the visitor from the Canterbury hinterland with its many farms, flocks of sheep, churches and cathedrals.

The River Avon meanders through this city, justly famous for its beautiful lawns and gardens and acres of sweet scented geraniums and chrysanthemums that perfume its air. Reminders of ye olde England are to be found everywhere - in the Gothic and Neo-Gothic architecture, 19th century stone buildings, wooden houses, in the grand Anglican cathedral, Christchurch's most impressive landmark and in the tree lined avenues, flower filled gardens and leafy parks.

The city serves as the first point of entry to the South Island, the gateway for international travellers and so is appropriately cosmopolitan in character and personality with high profile cultural scene and a host of options - from theatre, art exhibitions to concerts. The social calendar of Christchurch is jampacked with events, the likes of the Festival of Romance, the International Buskers Festival, Winter Carnival and Showtime Canterbury.

Christchurch is a pleasant, clean, green city that attracts many tourists for all the right reasons!

For detailed country information, see New Zealand.