Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Meandering through Christchurch's beautiful
Botanic Gardens
(
Click here
), either
on foot or punting along the Avon River
Marvelling at the otherworldly views of the Mackenzie Country and the powdery
blueness of Lake Tekapo from atop
Mt John
(
Click here
)
Taking a soothing soak at
Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools
(
Click here
)
Admiring Banks Peninsula's surf-bitten edges from Summit Rd before descending
to Francophile
Akaroa
(
Click here
)
for an ooh-la-la dinner
Tramping in the shadow of NZ's highest peak in
Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
(
Click here
)
Enjoying a lazy lunch at
Pegasus Bay winery
(
Click here
) before careering
around the vineyards of the Waipara Valley
Getting There & Around
AIR
Christchurch's international airport is the South Island's main hub. Air New Zealand flies
here from 15 domestic destinations, while Jetstar has flights from Auckland, Wellington
and Queenstown. Air New Zealand also flies between Timaru and Wellington.
BUS
Christchurch is the hub for coaches and shuttles heading up the coast as far as Picton,
down the coast to Dunedin (and on to Te Anau), through the Alps to Greymouth and
across country to Queenstown.
TRAIN
The
TranzAlpine
service connects Christchurch and Greymouth, and the
Coastal Pacific
chugs north to Picton, with ferry connections across Cook Strait to the North Island.
ESSENTIAL CANTERBURY
Eat
Salmon spawned in the shadow of NZ's tallest mountains
Drink
NZ's best craft beer at Pomeroy's Old Brewery Inn (
Click here
)
Read
Old Bucky & Me,a poignant account of the 2011 earthquake by Christchurch
journalist Jane Bowron
