Christchurch - The Garden City of New Zealand
The vibrant, quirky and ever-changing city known as Christchurch, has come a long way in the past few years. Since the earthquake hit 9 years ago, the city is still being rebuilt with a very unique feel to it. It’s a place unlike any other and has a story to tell around every corner. There is this magical feel of the city changing into a creative hub for business owners and artists, who are incredibly passionate about growing the city into one that people around the world can appreciate. There are even dance floors outside with music in some of the places where buildings used to be, you can pop in some coins and dance like no one is watching to your favourite songs (spoiler alert – people are in fact always watching). Some of the many things I love most about Christchurch are all the temporary art pop up stalls around town, the comedy bars and food trucks in the most bizarre places. There are also new restaurants, social spots, little markets everywhere, cute indoor and outdoor cinemas as well as the original stores that are worth exploring! However, if you’re a foodie like myself, you can’t forget about the cafes. The cafes in Christchurch offer lots of fresh and delicious meals and drinks, and most importantly some of the best coffee New Zealand has to offer (big call I know!). There are so many other cafes to choose from that I love in Christchurch but here are a few that I recommend:
The Cup Café
Park Ranger
Unknown Chapter
The Raspberry café
Addington co-op
Little Poms
Supreme Supreme
Black and White Coffee Cartel
Christchurch is also lucky enough to have some beautiful beaches right on our doorstep. Banks Peninsula, Sumner, New Brighton and Spencerville are some amazing spots to meet with friends, have a picnic, go for a surf or go for a swim. In the summertime, the beaches are full of 100s of people making the most of the hot summer weather. We are also lucky enough to be close to the Mount Hutt ski field, which was voted best ski field in New Zealand in 2019. With a drive just under two hours from Christchurch, it is a popular day out for many people in Canterbury. Can you imagine waking up and doing a morning on the slopes and then finishing off the day recharging and carving it up in the surf? This is one of the many cool opportunities we have here in Christchurch. Just a short drive out of the city you can spend a day or weekend out of the rest and recharge. Akaroa is a wonderful little settlement on the Banks Peninsula offering up beautiful harbour views, wineries, restaurants and most popular for their harbour cruise where you can see dolphins in their natural habitat. Alternatively, you can head to Port Hills or Hanmer Springs for hiking, a soak in the hot pools, a game of mini-golf or indulged in a bit of pampering.
There is a lot to appreciate and love in Christchurch. If you’re planning a trip, be open-minded, talk to the locals and find the hidden gems. There is so much to do, see, taste and explore in and around Christchurch and this is only scratching the surface.
