Christchurch
A city still recovering from devastating earthquakes in 2010 & 2011, plus a mass shooting in 2019 that made world headlines, Christchurch is nothing if not resilient.
Visitors who remember the Christchurch of pre-earthquake times still have trouble navigating around the central city – most of the landmark buildings are gone. Fully 80% of buildings in the central city had to be demolished, and the iconic Christchurch Cathedral is yet to be rebuilt.
But this is a city of hope, doing its best to look forward, to the future, proud of its heritage and accomplishments. The city’s staunchness and resilience is epitomised by the pride of the region, the Canterbury Crusaders Super Rugby team that has been almost unbeatable, winning the Super Rugby title seven years consecutively 2017-2023, despite Christchurch losing its major stadium to the earthquakes.
A city in transition, Christchurch is vibrant and proud. This is the most English of NZ’s cities and was a Church of England project when the first four ships of English settlers arrived in 1850 and set about building a colonial copy of the “mother country’. English-style gardens have earned Christchurch the title of “the Garden City”.
See the best of the central city sights by riding the historic tram.