Christchurch, New Zealand

Bursting into culinary life in the late 1980s, Christchurch is fast developing a reputation for the dazzling range and sophistication of its cuisine and locally-produced wines. From the rolling hills of the Banks Peninsula to the vast central plains and small valleys of the north, the Canterbury region boasts award-winning vineyards, innovative cafes, restaurants and bars, specialty cheese producers, chocolate makers, and a burgeoning array of boutique breweries.

For a city that flaunts its Englishness, the food styles are supremely far-ranging and there is something to enliven even the most jaded palate. Choose from Mediterranean, Italian, Indian, French Continental, Vegetarian and South American cuisines. With the Asian migration to this region there has also been an explosion of flavors and styles from the East-Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian and Korean. In the hands of the many talented chefs, these flavors and influences are culminating in a unique cuisine often referred to as "Pacific Rim." And as every chef will confirm, no visitor should leave town without tasting some the region's specialty of lean, tender Canterbury lamb.

The City

Overlooking the Avon River, along Oxford Terrace, is "The Strip" - a major part of Christchurch's cafe and restaurant scene. By night, "The Strip" transforms as DJs and local bands pump it up in Christchurch's hottest nightspots like All Bar One .

For a memorable culinary experience, Christchurch offers a number of silver-service restaurants run by restaurateurs who are internationally renowned. The perfect place for a romantic candlelit dinner is Michael's Restaurant, run by New Zealand's culinary great, Michael Lee Richards. There is also Le Bon Bolli , where Phillip Kraal creates award-winning French cuisine.

A modest budget, however, is no obstacle to great and innovative cuisine. There is the European-styled Cafe Valentino offering award-winning Mediterranean-inspired food or Topkapi with its special brand of authentic mouth-watering Turkish fare. Most restaurants provide a good range of vegetarian options with a handful, such as the Main Street Vegetarian Cafe & Bar, specialising exclusively in scrumptious vegetarian and vegan food.

Christchurch is brimming with every flavor and style of Asia. Among the is the Mythai Restaurant , where innovative Thai food is enjoyed by locals and Thais alike.

For the ultimate in choice, however, the food stalls at the Arts Centre Weekend Market are difficult to beat. Choose from an enormous variety of offerings--Thai, Czech and Lebanese—all very tempting. There are also good cafes nearby if you prefer to dine in comfort, including Le Cafe , which is still humming well into the small hours during the weekend.

Watering holes abound in the central district, with popular haunts, such as the Loaded Hog , producing their own excellent range of beers. The coffee connoisseur is also well catered for, with cafes such as C1 Espresso , Vivace and Coffee Culture roasting their own special blends on the premises. For great cafe food and a refined, yet relaxed ambience, drop in at Caffe Roma , just by Cathedral Square.

The Suburbs

While the heart of the culinary scene beats within the confines of the inner city, some of the best dining can be had in and around the suburbs. In the west of the city Yummy comes highly recommended for spicy Malay cuisine. Or in the delightful seaport of Lyttleton, the kitschy Wunderbar is a great place to relax over a drink while enjoying excellent views of the harbour. And for the ultimate in elegance and refinement--along with spectacular views of the city—try the historic Sign of the Takahe on the Port Hills. Five minutes drive north from the city centre is Merivale, an upmarket shopping district with a good range of cafes and bars to match. Brigettes Espresso is an award-winning coffee specialist and serves a scrumptious brunch, while Zanzibar offers good drinking in contemporary, retro-style surroundings. However, if 19th century charm is the order of the day then the romantic ambience and authentic Indian cuisine of Little India is difficult to beat.

No visit is complete without stopping off at the charming seaside suburb of Sumner. Here you can have a relaxing meal, or enjoy drinks or coffee after a movie. Along the waterfront Scarborough Fare offers a delicious range of seafood and meat dishes, while within the village itself there are a number of good cafes, including the excellent gourmet pizzeria, Ruptured Duck .

On the Wine Trail

With its long dry hot summers, Canterbury has developed a flourishing wine industry. The heart of the winemaking area is here, in the Waipara Valley, where vineyards such as Pegasus Bay and Waipara Springs have received international recognition for their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varieties. Other grapes grown in the region include Riesling, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. On the periphery of Christchurch is the St Helena Wine Estate , while further South you can visit Giesen's —wineries that put Canterbury on the winemaking map back in the 1980s. Most of Christchurch's restaurants include a good selection of New Zealand and local wines, with Annies Wine Bar , in the heart of the Arts Centre of Christchurch, featuring over 70 on the list.

Treading the wine trail is a favorite pastime of locals and visitors alike, and many of the vineyards now have excellent restaurants or cafes offering food that complements the quality and style of the wines. But the highlight for any wine lover would have to be the Waipara Food and Wine Festival , where every March the very best of the new vintage is on display.

When every appetite has been satisfied, share your experience with the world through one of Christchurch's many well-equipped cyber cafes in the central city area, such as Cyber Cafe Christchurch .

It is not surprising that Christchurch is called the Garden City; one third of its public land is devoted to reserves and parks. It was Anglican ideals that instigated this lavish spread of greenery, yet New Zealand's third largest city remains firmly rooted in the Antipodean soil. The city lies on the coastal hem of the vast, patch-worked Canterbury Plains, and is tantalizingly close to the adventure playground of the Southern Alps. Christchurch is regarded as one of the friendliest cities in the world. It is an easy place to get to know, just ask the locals!

Tour One: Orientation

To get your bearings, take a ride on the City Loop Tramway , or hop aboard the free Shuttle bus which circumnavigates the central city—you can get on and off both services as often as the mood takes you. From the bus terminus in Cathedral Square , buses run to every corner of the city. For an overview of the city, ride the Christchurch Gondola to the summit of Mt Cavendish on the Port Hills. For a unique view of the city, try a hot air balloon ride with Aoraki Balloon Safaris or a flight in a classic DC10 aircraft with Pionair.

Explorer Tourline and Christchurch Sightseeing Tours offer introductory bus tours of the city and surrounding areas, while Canterbury Leisure Tours also offers excursions to Kaikoura for whale-watching, pelagic bird-watching, and swimming with seals; Mount Cook/aoraki, the alpine thermal resort of Hanmer Springs; and the historic French settlement of Akaroa . A railway journey not to be missed is the TranzAlpine Experience , taking you across the mountainous spine of the South Island to the rain forest's of the West Coast.

Tour Two: Bike or Hike

Pancake-flat, Christchurch lends itself to exploring by foot or by cycle. The Historic Christchurch Walk takes you through some of the city's magnificent architectural heritage, while the Writers' Walkway lets you indulge in a more literary ramble of such famous local scribes as Ngaio Marsh. Take a stroll down Worcester Street, past the Arts Centre , the Canterbury Museum and the striking Peacock Fountain , and end up at the Botanic Gardens . Several short central city walks (around 45 minutes) are outlined in a brochure available from the Visitor Information Centre.

If you prefer an organized walk, Walkaway Tours offer several walks around the city and further afield to Banks Peninsula and the Southern Alps. Do-it-yourself explorers will find a wealth of walking tracks on the Port Hills—Godley Head Walk, Major Hornbrook Track, the Bridle Path —and on Banks Peninsula, Southern Bays Walkway, and Banks Peninsula Track - or far beyond the city limits at Geraldine, Peel Forest and Woolshed Creek .

The best way to explore the Avon River is to hire a bike, pack a lunch and set off downstream along the riverbank. A good starting point is Hagley Park where the river bends around the Botanic Gardens and past the Antigua Boatsheds . Take a Punt in the Park while you are passing time, before beginning the long, gentle meander to the Estuary .

Tour Three: Over the Hill

It is worth hiring a car for an excursion to the east coast, and over the Port Hills, where you will be introduced to some of the landscapes and historic places, which have defined Christchurch, from the central city drive, to Sumner Beach along the southern shore of the Estuary. Sumner is worthy of a day trip by itself, but before you begin the ascent of the Port Hills, take a detour to the top of Scarborough Hill. From the cliff top, one of New Zealand's great vistas unfolds, across the clustered houses of Sumner to Southshore Spit and the long northern sweep of Pegasus Bay leading away toward the distant Seaward Kaikoura Range.

For a change of scene, take the Evans Pass Road to the summit of the Port Hills and down the other side to Lyttelton. Stop here for a view of Lyttelton Harbour at Windy Point then carry on down to the town, past the Timeball Station . Lyttelton is full of interesting historic buildings—outlined in the Historic Walk brochure available from the Information Centre—and is a colorful working port.

You can return to the city via the Road Tunnel or carry on along the edge of Lyttelton Harbour , past Corsair , Cass and Rapaki Bays, to Governors Bay then take Dyers Pass Road back up to the Crater Rim. From the Sign of the Kiwi either descend to the city through Cashmere or turn right along the Summit Road which will bring you, eventually, back to Sumner.

Tour Four: Proud to be Green

Along with the formal gardens of Mona Vale , Millbrook and the Botanic Gardens , there are literally thousands of private suburban gardens to be admired in Christchurch. Garden aficionados can pick up a Garden Drive leaflet from the Visitor Centre and tour the city's plots, including the city cemeteries. Private gardens and heritage homes can be visited with Christchurch Sightseeing Tours.

Tour Five: Maritime Escapades

Canterbury Sea Tours offers a boat tour of Lyttelton Harbour while Christchurch Wildlife Cruises will introduce you to the harbor's unique marine fauna. You can swim with dolphins in Akaroa Harbour or take a cruise out to the Akaroa Heads with Akaroa Harbour Cruises. Aspiring mariners can even learn the ropes with the Jack Tar Sailing Co .

Tour Six: Thrills & Spills

Adventure buffs are well catered-for in Christchurch with activities to suit every adrenaline-charged whim. You can jump out of an airplane, be hurled skyward via a bungee cord, or take a ride on the Waimak Alpine Jetboat. Staunch thrill-seekers can experience terror and exhilaration at the same time rafting the Grade 5 rapids of the Rangitata River with Rangitata Rafts . Anglers will find fish aplenty in the turquoise waters of the Rangitata, Rakaia and Waimakariri rivers. Whether you are looking for adventure, a cultural experience or simply a place to unwind, you will likely find something to your liking in Christchurch. As the locals promise, there is something "fresh each day."