My 2-day guide for visitors

Description:

Three words spring instantly to mind -- value, location, and liveliness. There's a constant flow of traffic of all ages here, and the modern six-story building is perfectly situated just across from the Arts Centre and Botanic Gardens. The apartments have kitchenettes, while the deluxe units have bathrooms and TVs. Each person in a 5-, 6-, or 10-bunk room gets a locker with a key. Overall, this is probably the most upmarket of Christchurch's hostels.

Facilities: Cafe; dining room; nearby golf course and tennis courts; full-scale gym; discount on fitness classes and climbing wall; sauna; children's programs during school holidays; massage; babysitting; laundry service and coin-op laundry; same-day dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms

Description:

This fantastic, ornate Edwardian cast iron fountain brings grace and baroque elegance to the lawns outside the Canterbury Museum. Restored to the Botanic Gardens in 1996, before then, the fountain had languished in storage in a shed at the Ferrymead Historical Park, after being dismantled in 1932 to make way for the new art gallery. The fountain is a particularly fine example of its kind, cast in the Coalbrookdale foundry. It is three-tiered, adorned with dolphins, herons and lilies, and brilliantly painted in green and gold.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is a must do ... check out our local artisans

Description:

Every weekend, the people of Christchurch head for market day at the Arts Centre Weekend Market, to soak up its charm and relaxed atmosphere. In the summer, crowds swell to over 20,000. Alongside the many live performers, colorful stalls set up in the Market Square offer a dazzling variety of arts and crafts, from handmade candles to hammock chairs. There is also an International Food Fair, with stalls selling inexpensive food from Thailand to Lebanon. The market spills out onto Worcester Boulevard, where local artists and woodcarvers have their works on show along the Arts Center's exterior walls.

Description:

Cathedral Square, dominated by the Anglican Cathedral, marks the heart of the city. It is at the centre of the "four avenues" that form the boundaries of inner Christchurch. Around the Square are several historic buildings, including the old city post office. There are also restaurants, bars, cinemas and quality hotels. The Square is a popular venue for public orators and entertainers, and from November to April a stage for local icon and speaker, the Wizard. There are regular markets and several food-stalls. A place to pause and check out what is happening. All major bus routes converge here.

Description:

In the 1870s, Victoria Square was the centre of Christchurch. Remodelled in the 1980s, it is still a site of historical interest. Statues of Queen Victoria and the explorer James Cook are joined by an impressive carved wooden post (Pou pou), commemorating the signing in Canterbury of the Treaty of Waitangi. Also of note is the H.L. Bowker fountain, the first electric illuminated fountain in Australasia, and remembered for its displays of coloured lights. The Parkroyal Hotel and the Christchurch Town Hall impressively frame the square, with its broad terraced lawns.

Description:

The restored electric tram regularly clatters down the length of historic New Regent Street, offering a sense of what the city was once like. Beautifully renovated Spanish Mission style facades line both sides of the street, overlooking cafes, restaurants and interesting specialty boutiques. There is plenty of outside seating, providing places to lean back, admire the architecture and absorb the atmosphere of the gracious city that once was. Apart from the tram, the street has been closed off to vehicle traffic, making it the perfect place to linger and relax.

Description:

The Antigua Boat Shed were established in 1882 and many generations of Christchurch people have spent time messing around in boats hired from them.

The boat-shed was built by a couple of boat builders and is one of Christchurch 's oldest buildings. Open all year, and with a cafe full of home-cooked food attached, it makes a great setting for all sorts of events - from weddings and cocktail parties to children's parties- as well as a simple family fun day in the park.

Canoes and paddle boats are available for hire and you can also be punted upstream, through the beauty of the botanical gardens - sipping champagne or tucking into a hamper of food is optional.

The current owners of the Antigua Boat Sheds have enjoyed running this business since 1987. "It's a life-style thing" I was told "our family loves not being confined to an office space" The fame of the boat sheds have travelled wide and far and some tourists have even come directly to the boat sheds from the airport I'm told

Description:

Three words spring instantly to mind -- value, location, and liveliness. There's a constant flow of traffic of all ages here, and the modern six-story building is perfectly situated just across from the Arts Centre and Botanic Gardens. The apartments have kitchenettes, while the deluxe units have bathrooms and TVs. Each person in a 5-, 6-, or 10-bunk room gets a locker with a key. Overall, this is probably the most upmarket of Christchurch's hostels.

Facilities: Cafe; dining room; nearby golf course and tennis courts; full-scale gym; discount on fitness classes and climbing wall; sauna; children's programs during school holidays; massage; babysitting; laundry service and coin-op laundry; same-day dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms

Our Local Expert Says:

This is on my regular visiting regime as as well as my favourites, I love the, sometimes challenging, exhibitions from varous artists

Description:

I love the flashiness of this new and sparkling architectural icon that has rapidly established itself as the place to go since its 2003 opening. Curving glass facades and spectacular outdoor sculpture aside, it has one of the largest permanent collections in New Zealand, and with eight new gallery spaces, there's plenty of room for both contemporary and historic displays. The collection of over 5,500 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, and crafts emphasizes work from the Canterbury region, but there are regular touring international and national shows as well.

And don't overlook the new book and gift shop. It has some terrific New Zealand-made goods -- as does the in-house craft gallery, Form. A sculpture garden and cafe/restaurant complete the picture, making this a must-visit attraction. Next door is the Centre of Contemporary Art (tel. 03/366-7261), which is also worth a visit for its exhibitions of New Zealand contemporary art.

Description:

There is no other place in the world where it is possible to fly from the center of the city, in view of the ocean toward snow-capped mountains. Hot-air ballooning--the ultimate adventure and the best way to view Christchurch's three big attractions, the Southern Alps, Canterbury Plains and the Pacific Ocean. Rise with the sun and join a morning champagne flight--the entire trip takes up to four hours with one hour of actual flying time. A fleet of four balloons can fly up to 36 passengers at any one time. The company boasts an excellent safety record.

Our Local Expert Says:

The next best thing to going to Antarctica.

Description:

If you are in any way interested in what goes on down below in Antarctica, you will love this place. Kids can play in the snow room or you can go on a Hagglund vehicle, see the penguins and generally play with or read a tonne of cool stuff. The interactive museum is near the airport so you could theorhetically visit on your way to a flight, but do make sure you leave a few hours as there is a lot more here than most people imagine. There is a free bus which runs from Cathedral Square.

Description:

Perfectly placed on the edge of the Botanic Gardens within a stone's throw of the Arts Centre, the Canterbury Museum is a must. Check out the excellent Antarctic display, a must-see before going out to the International Antarctic Centre. Also look for the superb Natural History Discovery Centre, where you can happily pull open drawers and inspect the contents of jars and cases. The quaint Victorian Canterbury street is interesting, and there's an excellent Maori section. Allow 2 hours.

Description:

To see why Christchurch is considered one of the world's loveliest cities, you need only walk along Oxford Terrace as it follows the course of the Avon River through the central city. Begin at the Bridge of Remembrance, and move along the zone of cafes, bars and nightclubs that residents now call "The Strip". You will pass the statue of doomed Antarctic explorer, Robert Scott, before crossing elegant Victoria Square. Shortly, you will reach the poplar crescent, where tall trees line both sides of the river.