Christchurch, New Zealand, South Island
Christchurch is the regional capital of Canterbury, New Zealand. It is the largest city in the South Island, as well as the second largest city and third largest urban area of New Zealand. A coastal city, it is situated just north of Banks Peninsula, midway down the South Island's eastern coast.
The large number of public parks and well-developed residential gardens with many trees has given Christchurch the name of The Garden City. Hagley Park and the 30-hectare (75-acre) Christchurch Botanic Gardens, founded in 1863, are in the central city, with Hagley Park being a site for sports such as golf, cricket, netball, and rugby, and for open air concerts by local bands and orchestras. The Floral Festival held in February each year is certainly one of the most popular festivals on the annual calendar...a time when the city is a blaze of colour.
The city is known for its many live acts, and also has a professional symphony orchestra. Christchurch hosts a wide range of rave dance parties. While most of the parties are either house or drum'n'bass, occasionally there are trance and hardhouse parties. Drum'n'bass is however particularly popular, with more d'n'b events than events than for any other types of dance music. There are usually buskers around the town square, and Christchurch also hosts the World Buskers Festival in January each year.
There is something different to see and do within one or two hours 'drive of Christchurch, in any direction. To the east lie the open ocean and Banks Peninsula, featuring sheltered bays, sandy beaches, bush clad valleys, rocky coastline and high, wild places. To the west, past fertile plains and braided rivers, are forested foothills and lakes. Clearly visitors are spoilt for choice and residents have a superb outdoor lifestyle at their doorsteps.