Destination: CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND

THINGS TO SEE IN CHRISTCHURCH

• Christchurch Cathedral, Cathedral Square. Open daily for viewing with regular services during the week. Completed in 1904, the Cathedral is Christchurch's most prominent landmark and the Square to which it gives its name brings color and life to the heart of downtown. Check out the excellent i-Site visitors' center in the old Post Office building, and keep an eye out for concerts, protesters, eccentric street preachers or even the world-famous Wizard of New Zealand haranguing the lunchtime crowds. During the day food and craft stalls are available.

• Arts Centre, Worcester Boulevard. Information center open daily 9:30AM-5PM. Gothic stonework of former University campus converted into complex of over 40 specialty art and craft businesses and performance venues. Do not miss the weekend craft and produce market 10AM-4PM with live bands noon-2PM. Watch the improv show Scared Scriptless on Friday nights at 10PM.

• Art Gallery, Worcester Boulevard and Montreal Street (one block east of Botanic Gardens). Spectacular new $47 million facility opened in 2003, the largest in the South Island, with over 5000 items and visiting exhibitions.

• Air Force Museum, former Wigram Airfield, Main South Road. Daily 10AM-5PM. Opened in 1987 before the closure of the Christchurch RNZAF base, this museum has full-size replicas of fighting planes and dramatizes the history of New Zealand's Air Force from World War I to Vietnam and beyond. $15 adult, $5 child.

• Botanic Gardens, Rolleston Avenue, car park entrance Armagh Street. 30 hectares of exotic and indigenous plants and trees wrapped in a loop of the picturesque Avon River and linking to the 160-hectare Hagley Park, these put the Garden in the Garden City.

• Canterbury Museum, Rolleston Avenue at end of Worcester Boulevard (adjoining Botanic Gardens). Includes colonial, Maori and natural history sections, Antarctic exploration display, and visiting exhibitions. Admission free to main exhibits (but donation appreciated), $2 for Discovery children's section.

• Ferrymead Heritage Park, Ferrymead Park Drive (Ferry Road east from city, or take the 30 Sumner bus from the Bus Exchange and to the Heathcote River Bridge, then first right down Bridle Path Road). A recreated Edwardian township and museum with horse and carriage (daily), tram (weekends and school/public holidays) and train (first and third Sunday) rides. Due to the voluntary nature of the historical societies managing Ferrymead, not all attractions may be running at all times. Special events are often held and the park has been used to film the TV One reality show 'Colonial House'.

• International Antarctic Centre, Christchurch Airport. Daily 9AM-8PM summer, 9AM-5:30PM winter. A world-class Antarctic experience with simulated polar weather, Hagglund All-Terrain Vehicle ride, and gift shop.

• Orana Wildlife Park, McLeans Island Road (10 minutes' drive west of airport). New Zealand's largest wildlife sanctuary and conservation project featuring endangered animals from around the world. The park's design minimises fences and cages in favor of natural boundaries and habitats.

• Science Alive, 394 Moorhouse Road (former Railway Station building, shares lobby with Hoyts 8 cinema). Daily 10AM-5PM. An interactive science education center with gift shop. Themed exhibitions are on display and change three times a year.

• Southern Encounter Aquarium & Kiwi House (formerly Aquarium of Discovery), Cathedral Square (adjoins the i-Site visitors' center). Walk-through aquarium showcasing native fish and sea creatures. There is an interactive rock-pool for kids and viewing of nocturnal brown kiwis.

• Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, 60 Hussey Road (off Gardiners Road). A smaller park than Orana, with a focus on New Zealand species including kiwi in a natural environment. Daily 10AM-10PM, kiwi viewing from 11AM.

• Yaldhurst Museum of Transport and Science, Main West Road (near the airport, first right past Yaldhurst Hotel). Mostly interesting for its collection of over 100 classic and vintage vehicles.

THINGS TO DO IN CHRISTCHURCH

• The Summit Road, drive it or bike it or take a bus then walk it. Breathtaking views over Christchurch, the Southern Alps, Pegasus Bay, Lyttelton Harbour and Banks Peninsula - often all from the same vantage point. Don't miss it.

• Punting on the Avon, punts depart from cnr Worcester Street and Oxford Tce, make bookings at the i-Site visitors' center in Cathedral Square. Glide down the river in British style with a uniformed boatsman.

• Antigua Boatsheds, 2 Cambridge Terrace. Boat hire from historic British boatsheds for a hands-on water experience.

• Christchurch Casino, 30 Victoria Street. Open 24 hours except Christmas, Good Friday, ANZAC Day. Dress code (jeans now allowed). You get a free meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) if it is your birthday (booking essential, e.g. by phone).

• Christchurch Gondola, base station 10 Bridle Path Road. Ride in the enclosed gondola car up to the summit of the Port Hills then view the Heritage Time Tunnel, take an outdoor nature walk, or dine at the restaurant. Three-course meal $60 including ride.

• Christchurch to Akaroa Walk, 24 New Regent Street.

• Adventure Ride, Guided offroad motorcycle tours 1-10days All tours include an experienced guide, transport from Christchurch, motorcycle or ATV rental, fuel, insurance, riding gear, lunch and support vehicle.Overnight tours also include twin share accommodation and all meals. 5-10 day tours require a minimum of two riders. New Zealand has the best scenery, this is the best way to see it!

CHRISTCHURCH FESTIVALS

• Summertimes runs from December through to late February and includes a number of major free events in Hagley Park, which attract audiences of up to 100,000.

• The World Buskers Festival, [12]. Runs for two weeks in January and usually features about 30 acts from around the globe.

• The Festival of Romance lasts for 10 days leading up to Valentines day and includes a range of romantic activities.

• The Christchurch Garden Festival takes place in March

• Kidsfest is on during the midwinter school holiday.

• The Christchurch Arts Festival is the second-largest in the country and takes place every two years (alternating with the International festival in Wellington).

• Carnival Week is centered around a number of events taking place in November - Guy Fawkes' night (a major public firework display at New Brighton Pier), the two New Zealand Cup (trotting and galloping) horse racing meetings, and the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral show, which is the largest in the country.

• Carols by Candlelight is a longstanding tradition on Christmas Eve, now held in Victoria Square.

SHOPPING IN CHRISTCHURCH

• Ballantynes, on the corner of Colombo and Cashel, is the major upmarket department store. Adjacent to it is Cashel Mall with a mixture of boutiques cafes and bars. Closer to Cathedral Square you will mostly find duty-free and tourist shopping.

• High Street is probably the most interesting in the central city, with an intoxicating mixture of historical buildings and spaces inhabited by young cutting edge local designers - clothes, art galleries, cafes & cake shops, furniture and architects.

• Manchester Street (which is the nearest Christchurch gets to a red-light district) has an interesting collection of antique shops including the three floors of Smith's Bookshop. The locals tend to inhabit the many suburban malls, the largest of which are Westfield Riccarton, Northlands and The Palms in Shirley (continual expansions see them leapfrogging in the rankings of the country's largest malls).