Any visitors venturing to New Zealand are likely to pass through the city of Christchurch, which is regarded as the gateway to the South Island – where you will find the country’s sunniest climates and most spectacular landscapes.
Despite being left devastated by a series of earthquakes between 2010 and 2012, Christchurch has recouped impressively, and was recently described by Lonely Planet as a ‘vibrant city in transition, coping resiliently and creatively’. Christchurch’s reputation has been largely built on being a haven for adrenaline fuelled outdoor activities including bungy jumping, rock climbing, white water rafting and skiing on the snow peaked mountains. However, its location in the seat of the Canterbury wine region has also lured visitors with the opportunity of taking Christchurch wine tours from the city.
Surrounded by a panorama of glacial mountains sheltering green hills and valleys, the Canterbury wine region is one of the most picturesque settings to sample premium wines in the world. It was also one of the many New Zealand districts used to create fantastical backdrops for the blockbusting Lord of the Rings films.
Christchurch’s range of extreme outdoor activities cannot be ignored, especially since visitors can choose between the Pacific Ocean and Southern Alps as their preferred adventure playground. If experiencing Christchurch wine tours does not raise your heart rate enough, thrill seekers can enjoy a complete range of daredevil pursuits including sky diving, hot air ballooning, zip wire rides, cannoning from cliff sides and swimming with dolphins.
There are over 75 wineries scattered across the countryside, many of which can be visited as part of Christchurch wine tours – offering you the opportunity to sample the region’s finest cool climate wines from Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay and New Zealand’s signature Sauvignon Blanc. While the first vineyards were planted in the Canterbury Plains south of Christchurch, the sub-regions of the Waipara and Waitaki Valleys are among the most recent and aspirational wine growing vineyards in the country.
The city of Christchurch itself has emerged from the rubble of buildings destroyed during the earthquakes as a rejuvenated centre for arts and creativity. Contemporary art galleries, boutique craft stores and some of New Zealand’s finest outdoor graffiti, sculptures and humorous installations are scattered across town. When not discovering the best wine tours Christchurch has to offer, the city can be explored by foot, bicycle or gently floating down the Avon River on a traditional punt – while intrepid travellers can even take to the skies and watch the metropolis being unveiled from a helicopter.
Traditionally known as the ‘Garden City’, Christchurch is awash with wonderfully fresh produce – while the many restaurants pride themselves on providing locally sourced food straight from the pasture or paddock to your plate. The 150-year-old Botanical Gardens – New Zealand’s largest inner-city park – is also ripe for exploration, while outside of the city limits the country’s highest peak Aoraki Mount Cook is within driving distance. Arthur’s Pass National Park and the picturesque bays of the Banks Peninsula are other nearby areas of sublime natural beauty.
Of course, Christchurch’s range of extreme outdoor activities cannot be ignored, especially since visitors can choose between the Pacific Ocean and Southern Alps as their preferred adventure playground. If experiencing Christchurch wine tours does not raise your heart rate enough, thrill seekers can enjoy a complete range of daredevil pursuits including sky diving, hot air ballooning, zip wire rides, cannoning from cliff sides and swimming with dolphins.
Lonely Planet listed Christchurch as one of the top 10 cities to visit in 2013, while the New York Times ranked the city second in a list of 52 Places to Go in 2014. If you are interested in Christchurch wine tours across the Canterbury region, our local expert can organise exclusive bespoke experiences including elaborate tastings, luxury accommodation, fine dining experiences and many unique outdoor activities.
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