Despite its distinctive quaint English character, Christchurch is a vibrant city, with a lively café scene and numerous museums and cultural venues. Its iconic City Square with the cathedral, wide, tree-lined avenues, beautifully maintained gardens, ambling inner-city rivers and heritage buildings make Christchurch a very picturesque city, where tourism is a crucial aspect of the local economy.

Tourists can indulge in swimming with the rare Hector’s dolphins in Akaroa Harbour, visit the famous Mona Vale homestead and gardens, or climb the Port Hills for fantastic views of the city, the Canterbury Plains and the mighty Southern Alps. The myriad facets of Christchurch can also be explored in a historic tram ride or in a gondola.

As the ‘Gateway to the Antarctic’, Christchurch has also significantly contributed to Antarctic exploration—evident in the International Antarctic Centre, where one can actually experience Antarctica.

Due to the hundreds of yachts dotting its two busy harbours, Auckland is popularly called the ‘City of Sails’. The Cross Harbour Swim

Dunedin is a city of architectural masterpieces. The building styles range from Jacobean, Georgian and Italian to Gothic, Victorian and Edwardian. It has several beautiful Anglican and Ca...