Christchurch & Canterbury

You can be skiing in the morning, lounging in a thermal pool in the afternoon and dining out the same evening in the country's most English of cities, Christchurch. With rafting trips, ballooning, whale watching, swimming with dolphins and superb hiking, there is such a choice of things to see and do in the region.

New Zealand's second largest city, Christchurch is blessed with a sunny climate and with its parks and gardens, neo-Gothic architecture and streets named after British towns and poets it has a very English feel.

As well as cruises to see sperm whales, you can views them from the air, snorkel with acrobatic dusky dolphins, swim with seals and observe a host of interesting sea birds.

The spa resort of Hanmer Springs offers a variety of outdoor activities and some wonderfully relaxing thermal pools, and is nestled in a mountain valley in the foothills of the Southern Alps. These majestic mountains for the backbone of the South Island, providing its most dramatic and awe-inspiring views.

The classic east to west traverse of the range links Christchurch and Greymouth, via the alpine village and national park of Arthur's Pass, and is also the route taken by the breathtaking TranzAlpine Railway.

South of Christchurch, the towns of Ashburton and Timaru lie on the flat and uniform Canterbury Plains. These give way to the rolling hills of McKenzie Country, where prosperous sheep stations dot a wild and sparsely inhabited landscape, backed by New Zealand's highest summit, 3754m Mt Cook (Aoraki).