Canterbury Holidays
South Island, New Zealand
The Canterbury region in New Zealand's South Island is bordered by the Pacific Ocean in the east and the Southern Alps in the west, and is known for its diverse outdoor adventure activities. The city of Christchurch has a population of 350,000 and is the perfect base to explore this vast region. Mt Cook (also known as Aoraki) is the dominate feature of the Canterbury landscape and the national park protecting the mountain is a climbing and hiking paradise.
Map of Canterbury
Canterbury
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Canterbury Holidays Planner
Christchurch is a 'garden city' home to over 700 parks, and hosts two annual flower festivals, one in February and the other in Marc . The city boasts a thriving arts community, with The Arts Centre coming alive on weekends with markets, entertainment and food stalls. The Christchurch Art Gallery and the Centre of Contemporary Art boast impressive collections. Downtown Christchurch suffered a major earthquake in February of 2011, suffering significant architectural damage; and in 2019 the Christchurch Mosque Shootings which claimed the lives of 51 people. The resilience of it's people is now globally known.
Cantebury typifies New Zealand’s great outdoors. One of the country's most iconic sites is The Mount Cook National Park which has over 23 peaks and many spectacular glaciers. A small town at its base offers a variety of fantastic tours from scenic helicopter flights to serious glacier expeditions. then town also has restaurants and some accommodation. Another superb scenic attraction in Canterbury is Arthur's Pass National Park has impressive alpine scenery and unique flora & fauna, including the world's only alpine parrot, the Kea. North of Christchurch, Hammer Springs is the adventure capital of Canterbury, with a variety of outdoor activities including mountain biking, jet-boating, bungy jumping and quad biking.
Canterbury is also a fabulous skiing destination, with 10 ski resorts located within two hours of Christchurch's international and domestic airports.
For those seeking relaxation, try the region's trout fishing streams, or soothe those post-adventure aches in the area's famed thermal pools and spas. Discover spectacular coastal alpine scenery in Kaikoura, where you can also see dolphins, whales and fur seals.
Canterbury Accommodation Search
Accommodation in the Canterbury region ranges from golfing and spa resorts to affordable ski lodges and picturesque seaside holiday parks. Backpackers are also well catered for, with a range of hostels located in the main adventure centres. Please search for our favourite accommodations in Canterbury to find current availability and get the best room rates from over 100 booking sources: