Parks & reserves

Christchurch is affectionately known as 'The Garden City'. In the city, and its big backyard of Canterbury, you'll find many a green oasis of garden, parkland, forest and native wetlands.

If you're the energetic type, these areas provide plenty of recreational activities to get the heart racing. Or, kick back and relax, and simply take in the beauty and tranquillity.

Christchurch's inner city park

Sprawling Hagley Park sits at the heart of Christchurch – 165 hectares of vast green space, dotted with century-old trees, and stunning floral shows in springtime. Walk, run or cycle its pathways, or take on the fitness circuit.

Riccarton Bush & Ilam Homestead Gardens

For a great first-hand experience of New Zealand native plants, take the short drive from the city to Riccarton Bush. There's 12 hectares of native forest reserve, with manicured gardens and historic buildings sitting alongside the Avon River. Tucked away in a nearby Christchurch suburb lies a stunning garden – one of the city’s best kept secrets. Visit Ilam Homestead Gardens in spring or summer, and you’ll be dazzled with scores of azaleas and rhododendrons in a secluded natural haven.

The Groynes, Styx Mill Conservation Reserve & Travis Wetland

To the north east of Christchurch City you'll find plenty of flourishing reserve land to explore. Head north for the popular retreat of The Groynes, with picnic spots and walking trails amid wildlife and native and exotic plants. Nature lovers will be in heaven at Styx Mill Conservation Reserve - 57 hectares of low lying wetlands, home to a range of vegetation, and an array of birdlife to spot on its many walking tracks. If you love birds, Travis Wetland hosts 55 species, living within a huge wetland park.

Victoria Park

Head up to the Christchurch Port Hills for parkland with a view. Victoria Park, just a short drive through the hillside suburb of Cashmere, gives superb vistas over the city, the Canterbury Plains, towering Southern Alps, and the coast. There's a great picnic spot here, and if you're up for stretching your legs, take your pick of short bush walks.

Bottle Lake Forest Park

For trees trees as far as the eye can see, visit Bottle Lake Forest Park, just on the outskirts of Christchurch. Take a wander through this huge exotic pine forest with the cooling canopy of trees, or get the legs really working with a mountain bike ride or run.

Halswell Quarry Park

Just south of Christchurch lies Halswell Quarry Park, a former quarry offering a fascinating mix of attractions. A once rowdy rocky area is now a quiet amphitheatre, surrounding by grasslands, gardens and wetlands. There's also six sister city gardens, and a Canterbury botanical collection.

Around Canterbury

Waimate's Knottingley Park (Waihao Back Road, Waimate) is a great place for walking, picnics, barbeques, and camping. Situated on 36.7 hectares, there are over 3,000 trees, large and small having been planted there since 1874.

Victoria Park (Tennant Street, Waimate) is set in 6.9 hectares of trees, shrubs and flower beds. There is also an athletic track, cycling oval as well as an animal enclosure with wallabies, children's playground and camping facilities.

In Ashburton, pack a picnic of local treats and enjoy hectare upon hectare of lawn, mature trees, plants and flowers at the Ashburton Domain.

Christchurch's Transitional 'Cardboard' Cathedral

The Cardboard Cathedral opened to the public on 6 August 2013 with a Diocesan Dedication Service on 15 August. It has seating for 700 and the Cathedral also provides a venue for concerts, exhibitions, and civic and community events.

The Cathedral makes use of varied construction materials from cardboard tubes to timber beams, structural steel and concrete. It is the largest 'emergency structure' to be designed by Shigeru Ban who, with the support of associate architect Yoshie Narimatsu, contributed his time free of charge and gifted the building's design to the Cathedral, Diocese and Christchurch.

Many of the building materials are being sourced locally and nationally including the 98 16.5 - 20 metre, 120-kilogram tubes. Each tube is coated in polyurethane and laminated timber has been inserted for strength.