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Top 10 Places To Visit In Christchurch

Christchurch, New Zealand

Christchurch, the largest city in New Zealand’s South Island, blends urban charm with stunning natural beauty. With a lot of significant places to visit in Christchurch, the city allows you to lose yourself in the beauty of nature, wildlife, medieval architecture, and a multitude of adventurous things. It has sought innovative ways of coping with disaster, retaining its position as one of the best tourist destinations in the world. Here are the top 10 places to visit in Christchurch:

1. Christchurch Botanic Gardens

With an information center, tea kiosk, and all the basic amenities, this spacious garden can be comfortably enjoyed. It is popular for being home to beautiful trees and other attributes, like rhododendrons and shrub borders, a long herbaceous fence, and an outstanding traditional rose garden.

2. New Brighton Beach

There is no better way to start your day with a beautiful sunrise view. Set your alarm and get ready to watch a stunning sunrise at New Brighton Beach, which happens to be one of the best beaches near Christchurch. Also, the cherry on the top, before the sun rises the temperature drops a few degrees, freezing the beach sand and creating some amazing patterns. Be treated to the amazing sunrise scenery and don’t forget to take your camera.

3. Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

Located right outside central Christchurch, the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is a conservation and wildlife park that hosts exotic animal species and animals endemic to New Zealand. The Willowbank Wildlife Reserve is known for its kiwi, New Zealand’s famous endangered national bird breeding program. It is also the only facility outside a government-operated conservatory to have a pair of the rare takahe bird on display.

4. Avon River

The Avon River, a special area of the region, supports a range of plant and animal life and offers various recreational activities that you can take part in. It is an ideal place to take a beautiful stroll, where one can witness the restoration work that took place after the Christchurch earthquakes struck.

5. Christchurch Gondola

Also famous as a cable car, the Christchurch Gondola is 1,000m long, and one can witness the entire town of Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps, Lyttelton Harbour, and the Banks Peninsula from the summit.

6. Canterbury Museum

The Canterbury Museum is the go-to place for anybody who wants to experience the cultural, human and natural history of New Zealand. It is a striking Gothic Revival that opened in 1870 as a single-storeyed building. It now stands as a beautiful foundation after the various additions made to its architecture over the years. With its 2.3 million more artifacts, the museum offers not only historically fascinating exhibits but also multiple galleries, each with a unique timeline, place, and history to show.

7. Orana Wildlife Park

Orana Wildlife Park offers an epic adventure to all wildlife lovers. You can feed a majestic giraffe by yourself, witness the beautiful white rhino; encounter the national icon of New Zealand, the kiwi, or stroll through the Lion Reserve.

8. The Tranz Alpine Train

The TranzAlpine train runs daily between Christchurch, Arthurs Pass, and Greymouth- from the east coast to the west coast of NZ's South Island. It is most popular for the scenic views it has to offer along with the most courteous staff.

9. Markets in Christchurch

New Zealand is known for the markets that open primarily on weekends for locals and tourists who frequently shop at these events. Most of these are farmers’ markets or produce markets where growers and farmers sell their fresh produce to the customers.

The market offers deliciously baked goodies freshly made by the vendors and even more delectable confectionary to satisfy one’s sweet tooth. It is advised to bring your shopping bags or to buy one from the available stalls.

10. New Regent Street

Go back in time by taking a short stroll down the pedestrian-only New Regent Street, Christchurch. This quaint old-timey street, lined with colorful shops and cafes, will take you back by at least a few decades. The Spanish Mission style of architecture, with tiled shop fronts, makes it an ideal place for an afternoon coffee or a few drinks in the evening.

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