CHRISTCHURCH ACTIVITIES

Hagley Park has been at the heart of Christchurch since the 1850s when it was set aside for the enjoyment of Christchurch residents. Today, it is the most significant central city park, offering a diverse range of entertainment and recreational facilities close to the city centre. Hagley Park is renowned for its extensive area of 165 hectares (407 acres), its wide-open spaces and mature woodlands.

Soar suspended above the suburbs as the birds fly beneath your cabin. The Christchurch Gondola whisks you nearly a kilometre to the crater rim. To the west, the Southern Alps seem close in the clear pure air and to the east, the ocean and the sky stretch as far as the eye can see.

Discover one of the world's premiere military aviation collections at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand; from aircraft, engines and assorted displays to medals, pin-ups and parachute-silk wedding dresses. Marvel at the collection of classic aircraft, be inspired by the bravery of present and past servicemen, servicewomen and their families, fly a simulator, take a guided tour and step back in time in a replica 1940s home. Your journey through the Air Force Museum of New Zealand will be something very special.

An iconic Christchurch activity not to be missed. Admire the beautiful Christchurch Botanic Gardens or the changing face of the city centre as you are expertly guided gently along the Avon River from one of two sites on Edwardian-style Punting tours. Choose from the Antigua Boat Sheds departure point to glide through the tranquil Botanic Gardens, or the Worcester Bridge departure point to view the inner city's revitalised Avon River Precinct.

Nowhere else in New Zealand will you find such a wide range of New Zealand wildlife. Willowbank provides you with a "Kiwi Guarantee" and is home to New Zealand's largest and most accessible kiwi viewing area. You will see one of the most complete selections of New Zealand native and introduced wildlife in natural bush surroundings. Much wildlife wanders free and is able to be petted and fed.

The International Antarctic Centre is fantastic fun for all ages! Located in a unique working Antarctic campus, the International Antarctic Centre has twice been judged New Zealand's best attraction. Conveniently situated across from Christchurch International Airport, it is the ideal location to "chill out" and experience Antarctica, without even stepping foot on the icy continent.

Canterbury Museum is world-renowned for its natural and human history collections. Housed in an exquisite historic building are outstanding Maori exhibits, a Victorian Christchurch Street, an extensive Antarctic collection and interactive fun for the children in Discovery. Entry to the museum is free; donations are appreciated.

Ferrymead Park features an early 1900s (Edwardian) township and the park has a variety of restored cottages plus a school house, church and businesses which reflect the period and allow visitors to experience life for the early residents of Christchurch including the smell of a coal range and the sounds of a tram rattling past the door.

Set in 80 hectares of park-like grounds, Orana Wildlife Park is New Zealand's only open-range zoo. Scheduled animal feeds occur throughout the day and these unique encounters get visitors up close to endangered animals at set times: hand-feed giraffes, see tigers search for food, meet massive rhinoceros in a 'face-to-face' encounter, stroll through native bird aviaries to see a range of NZ forest birds and the kea, the world's only mountain parrot.

Head to Addington Raceway for a day of fun and entertainment. Enjoy the races, fashion and cup events. Addington Raceway is the home of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, Spectators Bar and Bistro and one of Christchurch's leading event and conference centres.

At the heart of Christchurch's reputation as the Garden City, the Gardens are a place of ever-changing beauty. Showcasing flora and fauna of New Zealand and other parts of the world, the Gardens feature one of the finest collections of exotic and local plants in New Zealand. With more than 1.1 million visitors each year the Botanic Gardens are one of the Christchurch's most popular and well-loved attractions.

One of the best and most extensive examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the country, the former University of Canterbury now houses a complex of shops, studios and art galleries. Public art installations, regular arts and crafts workshops and street performers create a buzz and the chance for discovery through every arch and alleyway.