Located on the east coast of the South Island, Christchurch is a city of contrasts. New Zealand’s second-largest city and the gateway to the South Island, Christchurch is bordered by hills and the Pacific Ocean, and is situated on the edge of the Canterbury Plains that stretch to the Southern Alps.

Christchurch embraces a lifestyle of dynamic business and education, rich art and culture, exciting cuisines and world-class wines. There is nowhere else in the world where within two hours of an international airport you can ski at a world class alpine resort, play golf, bungy jump, go rafting, mountain biking, hot-air ballooning, wind surfing, whale watching and visit world class wineries and gardens.

The city centre is comfortingly compact and the most delightful central feature is the gently winding Avon River. Although currently inactive due to earthquake repairs, normally, the grassy banks lined with poplars and weeping willows, see office workers and visitors join street entertainers, seagulls and ducks for lunch in the sun.

Canterbury’s economy was built on primary products and Canterbury has long been recognised as living “off the sheep’s back”. Although its economic beginnings were in refrigerated sheep and dairy meats and in other dairy products, Canterbury now has a diversified regional economy with growth across a range of “new economy” sectors. Large employers based in Christchurch include: AMI Insurance, Anzco, Kathmandu, House of Travel, Postie Plus, Ryman Healthcare, Tait Electronics and Holcim NZ.

Internationally famed ‘The Garden City’, Christchurch’s well-established expansive parks and public gardens owe much to the planning and foresight of the city’s founding fathers. The centrally-located 161 hectare Hagley Park, the Botanic Gardens, the four leafy inner-city avenues, Victoria Square and spectacular gardens such as Mona Vale on the banks of the River Avon bear testimony to this legacy. It is a vision which is embraced and perpetuated today by proud residents right throughout the city.

Summers are generally mild and sunny with low humidity. Blue skies are the norm all year; the city has an average of over 2,000 hours of annual sunshine. Winter features delicate frosts on brittle mornings and clear, calm days. Autumn often has the longest period of settled weather and, for garden lovers, the city puts on an especially fine show in spring.

Canterbury offers high mountain peaks and glaciers, alpine hot pools, lakes and rivers, the ocean with magnificent beaches and some of the worlds rarest marine life, huge braided rivers snaking across broad plains and rolling green hills.

Within an easy drive to Christchurch, Akaroa is the most French town in New Zealand and will have you entranced with its historic buildings, magnificent harbour; Mt Hutt rises to the west of the Canterbury Plains 80 kilometres west of Christchurch; and Arthurs Pass is the highest pass over the Southern Alps.

Also close to Christchurch, Hanmer Springs is a purpose-built village for rest and rejuvenation. Local activities are all about experiencing the beautiful environment; Kaikoura, a 2 hour drive north, is all about adventure on or near the sea. Watch whales, snorkel with seals or tuck into a plate of crayfish; and Lake Tekapo a photographer’s dream come true. The snow-topped mountains, turquoise blue lake valued by sportspeople and for hydro-power, and clear black sky at night, now protected by astronomers against light pollution.

The Central City and some eastern suburbs have suffered earthquake damage but the city as a whole continues to operate and Christchurch is still a great place to live, work and play!