A garden city rebuilt with fresh ideas
Christchurch, on the edge of the Canterbury Plains, is the South Island's largest city and has been largely rebuilt since the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. The Cardboard Cathedral and the new central library, Tūranga, are symbols of that rebirth, while the Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park give the city its green heart. Punts glide along the Avon River, and heritage trams circle the centre. It's a gateway to the Southern Alps, the TranzAlpine train and the whale-watching town of Kaikōura.