Christchurch Packages/Deals & Travel Agents Near Me

Christchurch, New Zealand, 300 mi/480 km northeast of Queenstown, is a graceful city where gardens and architecture still reflect some of the culture and heritage of its European immigrants.

Founded in 1850 as a Church of England colony, it is a picturesque mix of the old, the quasi-old and the somewhat new. Expansive parks lend Christchurch the nickname "The Garden City."

The Avon River curves through the city and its parks, and you can drift along the river in a punt (a shallow-bottomed boat propelled by a long pole), enjoy a picnic lunch on its banks or just take a nice walk.

In February 2011, Christchurch was devastated by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake, which caused extensive damage to the city center and took the lives of 181 people. It was one of the worst disasters in New Zealand's history. Much of the inner city, including the Christchurch Cathedral, was severely affected. The cathedral itself is being rebuilt, but the Transitional Cathedral serves as the church's temporary home, located Latimer Square.

The Christchurch Central Business District still shows evidence of earthquake damage, but many visitor facilities are back to 100% operation.

Geography

History

Historical evidence shows that Christchurch was occupied about 1,000 years ago. The first inhabitants of this region were known as the moa-hunting tribes. Succeeding them were the Waitaha tribes who were believed to have migrated from the eastern coast of the North Island during the 16th century. The Ngati Mamoe and the Ngai Tahu were other tribes who migrated later.

During the 1840s, the first Europeans settled in the Canterbury plains and by the 1850s whaling ships were operated from Lyttelton Harbor. It was during 1850-51 that the first English settlers, who were also the founders of Christchurch, reached this harbor.

Christchurch was officially named the oldest established city in New Zealand on 31 July 1856. Today the city is a thriving commercial hub.

Potpourri

Christchurch is one of the world's eight pairs of cities that have an exact antipodal city (a city located on the exact opposite side of the Earth). Corunna, Spain, is Christchurch's antipode.

Christchurch was the first officially registered city in New Zealand.

Christchurch's Hagley Park is among the world's largest city parks.