Take a Christchurch tram for a hop-on, hop-off city tour.
Erin Ruberry
New Zealand is a country completely unlike anywhere else in the world, with a mix of majestic mountains, beautiful beaches, glittering glaciers and rambling rainforests.
For a taste of England in this southern nation, Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island, offers old-world charm with a new-world twist.
Settled in 1848, Christchurch was modeled on London, a fact most evident in the architecture in central city's museums, government buildings and stunning Christchurch Cathedral.
The cathedral is the center of Christchurch, dating to 1881 (the building was completed in 1904). Today, Christchurch Cathedral is the most visited and well-known church building in New Zealand. The famous spire rises 63 meters (206.7 feet) above the ground and can be climbed for a small charge, worth it for stunning views of the city.
A very walkable city, Christchurch is also fun to explore on a hop-on, hop-off historic tram that runs around the city center. The oldest vehicle in the fleet has been in service since 1880, when it was horse-drawn. Trams run 365 days a year with tickets $15 for adults, $5 for children 5- to 15-years-old.
One of the most peaceful places in the city are the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park. Within the parks are jogging tracks, gardens specializing in a variety of flora, punting trips on the Avon River, playgrounds and wide open spaces for sports and lounging.
Christchurch is a city that embraces its history but is also open to the world. The brilliant Canterbury Museum focuses on the natural and human history of New Zealand back to the country's original inhabitants, the Maori. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 is a free guided tour that's well worth your time and helps to navigate the massive museum collection. Learn about Antarctic exploration and ancient treasures before stepping inside Fred & Myrtle's Paua Shell House.
The city has hotels and hostels for any price range, from budget to luxury. For a home-like atmosphere on a shoestring budget, stay at Dorset House. This backpacker's accommodation, with shared rooms from $27 NZD and private rooms available, is a converted 19th-century home with stained glass windows, a large sitting room, free WiFi and a quiet location just minutes from the city center. Absolutely charming from top-to-bottom and highly recommended as one of the nicest places to stay Down Under.
Getting there:
Kayak is a fantastic resource for comparing flights. There are no flights directly from Washington to Christchurch but travelers can go through Sydney or Auckland and transfer to from there.
Keep planning your vacation to Australia and New Zealand with this helpful travel guide , filled with tips on what to do, see, eat and experience Down Under.
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Comments
Loved the slideshow. Thanks for sharing.
Did you get a chance to play chess with life-sized pieces and watch the crewing on the river? Agree about New Zealand's scenic diversity
Jodie, I didn't play chess but did watch others. Lots of activity on the waterfront -- crewing, punting, everything short of swimming (too chilly).
Love this! I studied in Christchurch for five months in college and have so many great memories!
Good stuff Erin. I had to catch up on your trip but good articles and information. These are definitely places I want to go one day. Plus it's a bit closer for me on this side of the country. :)
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