Ashburton, New Zealand Hotels, Vacations, Tourism

The long, thin and stubbornly suburban town of ASHBURTON lies 87km southeast of Christchurch, perched on the north bank of the Ashburton River, with an extension, Tinwald , across the bridge on the opposite bank. Built on a long defunct ceramics industry and maintained as a service town for the local farms, Ashburton is off the itinerary for most visitors, but if you are heading along SH1 you'll be passing through and may care to stop and examine the smattering of minor sights. Breaking up the dreary huddle of the town centre the Ashburton Domain (daily 8am–dusk), facing West Street, is fringed by stately … more »