canterbury travel guide with map. Canterbury foothills, mountains, lakes and rivers are a mecca for walkers, climbers, skiers, hunters, fishers and sightseers.
These (21) audio guides are for attractions in the province of Canterbury New Zealand. They cover attractions in the city of Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains and the Southern alps. Two Pdf maps show their location. .The following are notes on the attractions. They are ordered by Track number
1 St Michaels & All Angels - Oxford Terrace (Mother Church of the Plains)(High Victorian Gothic expressed in timber. Built in 1872, St Michael and All Angels is the mother church of Canterbury. The expressive belltower designed by Mountford dates from 1861.
2 Christchurch & Antarctica (Scott Statue) (This statue of the Antarctic explorer, was sculpted by his wife. Christchurch was the New Zealand base for Captain Scottís Antarctic expeditions in 1901 and 1910. If you interested in Antarctica don't miss the displays at the Canterbury Museum or the Antarctic Centre near the Christchurch Airport.
3 Canterbury Provincial Council Chambers. - Armagh St (An architectectural gem of its kind. A survivor from the days of provincial government in New Zealand. Built in both stone and wood, this complex is constructed in Victorian Gothic Revival style. The architect was Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort)
4 Christchurch Cathedral This has always been known as Cathedral Square - even before the Gothic revival Anglican Cathedral was built. It will cost you $4 to ascend the tower but you get a good view of Christchurch and it appeals to the kids. The spacious interior is also worth a visit. Like many events in Christchurch the erection of the Chalice sculpture by Neil Dawson proved controversial.)
5 Christchurch Square
6. Christchurch Heritage
7 Riccarton House & Bush. (16 Kahu Rd, Riccarton.) The Deans cottage is the oldest building on the Canterbury plains. Riccarton House was built in three stages by the pioneer Deans family. Guided tours are available on weekdays and Sundays. There is a restaurant in the house. The Bush is a 30 acre reserve which includes 15 acres of flood plain forest of native trees including kahikatea, New Zealand's tallest native tree. Bird life is abundant.
8 Julius von Haast & the Canterbury Museum.(A Victorian gothic building houses a fine regional museum covering Canterbury history, archeology, natural and Maori history, and including a section celebrating Christchurch's relationship with Antarctica. A Discovery Centre caters for 3 - 13 year olds.)
9 Akaroa - the French Connection (This delightful village is unique in NZ history as the only place where the French settled. Akaroa has something for everyone: charming colonial buildings, magnificent harbour, walks, excursions and a great choice of eating places. An Akaroa historic area is registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
10 Aoraki - Mount Cook (Covering 70,696 hectares, this park is in the central part of the South Island, deep in the heart of the Southern Alps. Aoraki Mount Cook village lies within the park, while Twizel is the nearest town outside. Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site. and contains most of New Zealand high mountains. 22 peaks are over 3000m.)
11 Castle Hill Basin (A spectacular limestone landscape which is a well-known and popular rock climbing (bouldering) place within easy reach of Christchurch . As described in the audio guide the location has ecological and cultural significance and is now a conservation area.
12 Geraldine (Geraldine (pop 2500) sits on the Downs at the edge of the Canterbury Plains and is a place to stop for refreshment if you are travelling on SH 79 to or from Mount Cook and the McKenzie Country. The early settlers took advantage of its setting and planted beautiful gardens and many exotic trees. Close to the town (1 km) is Talbot Forest a reserve for native trees. Peel Forest with its walking tracks, and native trees and birdlife is 19km to the north.)
13 Hanmer(spa town)(An inland resort popular with people from Christchurch and the Canterbury area, Hanmer also attracts tourists who delight in its natural thermal hot pools. It offers a wide variety of other outdoor activities, forest walks and splendid mountain scenery.)
14 James McKenzie (Fairlie and McKenzie Pass Monument) (On the west side of the pass stands a tri-lingual stone cairn which reads " In this spot James Mackenzie (sic) freebooter, was captured by John Sidebottom and Maoris, Taiko and Seventeen and escaped the same night, 4th March 1855.". James McKenzie used the McKenzie Pass to drive his stolen sheep into country, not known to Europeans, now called the MacKenzie Basin.)
15 Lyttelton Rail Tunnel( One of the greatest engineering achievements in colonial New Zealand was the Lyttelton tunnel, which linked Christchurch with its port. The tunnel was driven under the Port Hills in the 1860s and opened in 1867. The stone portal of the tunnel at the Heathcote end can be seen near the base of the Bridle Path. This historic track, used by the first pioneers, is a fine walk. A memorial at its summit commemorates the pioneer women of Canterbury.)
16 Omarama (The Gliding (soaring) Centre of New Zealand. Scene of many world gliding record attempts: a unique opportunity for long distance and high altitude flights.)
17 Peel Forest (Peel Forest Park (773 hectares) on the south bank of the Rangitata River is a remnant of a magnificent podocarp forest that once covered an area of 3,500 hectares. Thirteen walking tracks encompass a spectrum of walking times from 30 mins to 6 hours while the Rangitata River provides white water for an exciting rafting adventure. The Peel Forest Store acts as a visitor centre, camper's booking office, post office , petrol station, takeaway and tea rooms.)
18 The Port Town of Lyttelton (yttelton is a small historic harbour town close to Christchurch with some interesting things to see. Get there by catching Bus 28 from outside the Millennium Hotel in Cathedral Square. Buses depart every half hour Monday - Friday, and hourly on the weekends.)
19 Richard Pearse - aviator - Memorial in Waitohi Main Road South Canterbury (Pioneer New Zealand aviator, Richard Pearse (1877-1953) whose flying endeavours were concurrent with those of the Wright Brothers, is commemorated here.)
20 Ripapa Island - (Ripapa Island was originally a Maori pa before it became home to Fort Jervois, built in 1860 to repel the 'Great Russian scare'. The island was then transformed to a prisoner of war camp and housed the famous Count Felix von Luckner.)
21 Travis Wetlands (Christchurch was built on a swamp. Travis Wetland is the largest freshwater wetland remnant on the Canterbury Plains. The wetland is inhabited by increasing numbers of wildlife including pukeko, scaup, pied stilt and paradise duck. There is a walking track around the wetland perimeter including boardwalks and a viewing tower and bird hide to watch wading birds. The Information Kiosk (designer: Peter Kent), and the Bird Hide (Crispin Schurr) are not without architectural merit. - You can get here on the no 60 (Parklands) bus.)
Otago travel guide with map. Oamaru and Dunedin in coastal Otago and Queenstown and Wanaka in Central Otago collectively offer architecture, adventure, wine, food, walks and ecology as things for the traveller to see and do.... MORE >>
South Island West Coast travel guide with map. A scenic wonderland, the West Coast is gateway to five National Parks - Kahurangi, Paparoa, Mount Cook, Westland and Mount Aspiring - and to the World Heritage Area of Te Wahipounamu.... MORE >>
wellington travel guide with map. The Wellington region, on the southern tip of New Zealands North Island, extends from the fine white-sand beaches of Kapiti in the west to the wilder east coast of Wairarapa and includes the challenging Tararua Range and... MORE >>
Relax and Enjoy Flying In this remarkable audio, Rosemary Santos shows you some amazingly effective techniques to help you overcome your fear of flying. You will be happier, more confident, and ready to take on the world. Better still, you might even get... MORE >>
Canterbury New Zealand Audio Tour
These (21) audio guides are for attractions in the province of Canterbury New Zealand. They cover attractions in the city of Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains and the Southern alps. Two Pdf maps show their location. .The following are notes on the attractions. They are ordered by Track number
1 St Michaels & All Angels - Oxford Terrace (Mother Church of the Plains)(High Victorian Gothic expressed in timber. Built in 1872, St Michael and All Angels is the mother church of Canterbury. The expressive belltower designed by Mountford dates from 1861.
2 Christchurch & Antarctica (Scott Statue) (This statue of the Antarctic explorer, was sculpted by his wife. Christchurch was the New Zealand base for Captain Scottís Antarctic expeditions in 1901 and 1910. If you interested in Antarctica don't miss the displays at the Canterbury Museum or the Antarctic Centre near the Christchurch Airport.
3 Canterbury Provincial Council Chambers. - Armagh St (An architectectural gem of its kind. A survivor from the days of provincial government in New Zealand. Built in both stone and wood, this complex is constructed in Victorian Gothic Revival style. The architect was Benjamin Woolfield Mountfort)
4 Christchurch Cathedral This has always been known as Cathedral Square - even before the Gothic revival Anglican Cathedral was built. It will cost you $4 to ascend the tower but you get a good view of Christchurch and it appeals to the kids. The spacious interior is also worth a visit. Like many events in Christchurch the erection of the Chalice sculpture by Neil Dawson proved controversial.)
5 Christchurch Square
6. Christchurch Heritage
7 Riccarton House & Bush. (16 Kahu Rd, Riccarton.) The Deans cottage is the oldest building on the Canterbury plains. Riccarton House was built in three stages by the pioneer Deans family. Guided tours are available on weekdays and Sundays. There is a restaurant in the house. The Bush is a 30 acre reserve which includes 15 acres of flood plain forest of native trees including kahikatea, New Zealand's tallest native tree. Bird life is abundant.
8 Julius von Haast & the Canterbury Museum.(A Victorian gothic building houses a fine regional museum covering Canterbury history, archeology, natural and Maori history, and including a section celebrating Christchurch's relationship with Antarctica. A Discovery Centre caters for 3 - 13 year olds.)
9 Akaroa - the French Connection (This delightful village is unique in NZ history as the only place where the French settled. Akaroa has something for everyone: charming colonial buildings, magnificent harbour, walks, excursions and a great choice of eating places. An Akaroa historic area is registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
10 Aoraki - Mount Cook (Covering 70,696 hectares, this park is in the central part of the South Island, deep in the heart of the Southern Alps. Aoraki Mount Cook village lies within the park, while Twizel is the nearest town outside. Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is a UNESCO world heritage site. and contains most of New Zealand high mountains. 22 peaks are over 3000m.)
11 Castle Hill Basin (A spectacular limestone landscape which is a well-known and popular rock climbing (bouldering) place within easy reach of Christchurch . As described in the audio guide the location has ecological and cultural significance and is now a conservation area.
12 Geraldine (Geraldine (pop 2500) sits on the Downs at the edge of the Canterbury Plains and is a place to stop for refreshment if you are travelling on SH 79 to or from Mount Cook and the McKenzie Country. The early settlers took advantage of its setting and planted beautiful gardens and many exotic trees. Close to the town (1 km) is Talbot Forest a reserve for native trees. Peel Forest with its walking tracks, and native trees and birdlife is 19km to the north.)
13 Hanmer(spa town)(An inland resort popular with people from Christchurch and the Canterbury area, Hanmer also attracts tourists who delight in its natural thermal hot pools. It offers a wide variety of other outdoor activities, forest walks and splendid mountain scenery.)
14 James McKenzie (Fairlie and McKenzie Pass Monument) (On the west side of the pass stands a tri-lingual stone cairn which reads " In this spot James Mackenzie (sic) freebooter, was captured by John Sidebottom and Maoris, Taiko and Seventeen and escaped the same night, 4th March 1855.". James McKenzie used the McKenzie Pass to drive his stolen sheep into country, not known to Europeans, now called the MacKenzie Basin.)
15 Lyttelton Rail Tunnel( One of the greatest engineering achievements in colonial New Zealand was the Lyttelton tunnel, which linked Christchurch with its port. The tunnel was driven under the Port Hills in the 1860s and opened in 1867. The stone portal of the tunnel at the Heathcote end can be seen near the base of the Bridle Path. This historic track, used by the first pioneers, is a fine walk. A memorial at its summit commemorates the pioneer women of Canterbury.)
16 Omarama (The Gliding (soaring) Centre of New Zealand. Scene of many world gliding record attempts: a unique opportunity for long distance and high altitude flights.)
17 Peel Forest (Peel Forest Park (773 hectares) on the south bank of the Rangitata River is a remnant of a magnificent podocarp forest that once covered an area of 3,500 hectares. Thirteen walking tracks encompass a spectrum of walking times from 30 mins to 6 hours while the Rangitata River provides white water for an exciting rafting adventure. The Peel Forest Store acts as a visitor centre, camper's booking office, post office , petrol station, takeaway and tea rooms.)
18 The Port Town of Lyttelton (yttelton is a small historic harbour town close to Christchurch with some interesting things to see. Get there by catching Bus 28 from outside the Millennium Hotel in Cathedral Square. Buses depart every half hour Monday - Friday, and hourly on the weekends.)
19 Richard Pearse - aviator - Memorial in Waitohi Main Road South Canterbury (Pioneer New Zealand aviator, Richard Pearse (1877-1953) whose flying endeavours were concurrent with those of the Wright Brothers, is commemorated here.)
20 Ripapa Island - (Ripapa Island was originally a Maori pa before it became home to Fort Jervois, built in 1860 to repel the 'Great Russian scare'. The island was then transformed to a prisoner of war camp and housed the famous Count Felix von Luckner.)
21 Travis Wetlands (Christchurch was built on a swamp. Travis Wetland is the largest freshwater wetland remnant on the Canterbury Plains. The wetland is inhabited by increasing numbers of wildlife including pukeko, scaup, pied stilt and paradise duck. There is a walking track around the wetland perimeter including boardwalks and a viewing tower and bird hide to watch wading birds. The Information Kiosk (designer: Peter Kent), and the Bird Hide (Crispin Schurr) are not without architectural merit. - You can get here on the no 60 (Parklands) bus.)
Click to see more from this Presenter
DNZ-464665-TRV-NZ-002
Zone:
Country:
City / Locale:
Go
If our Load Dingo stays on-screen for more than 10 seconds you probably have Javascript disabled.
To understand why our site requires Javascript and learn how to enable it please check this FAQ
Try a Sample
Tell a Friend
Give as a Gift
Shopping Cart
Home
My Account
Stay in Touch 
How It Works
Home
Health
Business
Lifestyle
Kids
Travel
Books
Sport