Christchurch, New Zealand (before the 2011 earthquake)

Punting Along Avon River 
- Christchurch, New Zealand

Chess in Cathedral Square 
- Christchurch, New Zealand

Home Along Avon River 
- Christchurch, New Zealand

Ice Cream Stand - Christchurch, New Zealand

Akaroa in Old Volcano - New Zealand

Christchurch, New Zealand (before the 2011 earthquake) (11/19-20/2009) - we visited this beautiful city before the 2011 earthquake and hope that it has regained its glory.

Called New Zealand’s Garden City with 1/8th of the city devoted to its many beautiful gardens. Christchurch is also described as the “most English” city in New Zealand with many reminders of England. Christchurch is located on the east side of the South Island. This picturesque city of 370,000 people is the third largest in New Zealand.

We recommend this a very nice walk we took through Christchurch visiting Cathedral Square, Art Gallery, Arts Centre, Canterbury Museum, and the wonderful Botanic Garden (see photos). 

The beautiful Avon River winds through Christchurch where you can see young men punting (pushing with poles) small boats along the river (see photo). It was just too romantic for Wayne. 

In many ways Christchurch retains the character of the USA in the 1950’s with quaint ice cream stands, grocery stores, etc. 

We also took a day trip to Sumner Beach and Akaroa gaining our first sights of New Zealand countryside (how do you say sheep everywhere?). Akaroa is a century old French settlement in an ancient volcano with beautiful country scenes (see photo).

Please see our 8 other blog posts on wonderful New Zealand:

New Zealand Auckland

New Zealand Milford Sound

New Zealand Napier Hawkes Bay

New Zealand Nelson Abel Tasman National Park Marlborough Wine Region

New Zealand Queenstown

New Zealand Rotorua

New Zealand Wellington (Capital)

New Zealand West Coast South Island Franz Josef Glacier Wanaka

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Write by: AN - Thursday, November 26, 2009