My wife and I were here in November on a tour, and participating in a Maori paddling on the Avon…read moreRiver was one of the experiences. It is a local indigenous culture of the Maori, with a paddle on the Avon River in a traditional canoe or 'waka'. This was also a totally new experience for us, but to be honest, I didn't enjoy it like I did the Antarctic Adventure, which we just came from and was fun. Our group was split into two, with two Maori, one at the front and one at the back of the 'waka'. Part of it was their efforts to teach us to paddle, and and having us play a game while you hold a paddle, and the Maori yells out 3 commands: Clap your hands and grasp the paddle; Drop the paddle to your right so the person standing on your right picks it up while you pick up the paddle to your left; and then vice versa to your left. We had to practice for about 20 minutes. Finally, we got into the boat and paddled upstream for a while, as the Maori talked on different subjects. However, we couldn't hear his voice in the back of the boat very well, and coupled with the accent ... Also, some of us periodically got our paddles tangled with others. Anyway, we finally went back downstream quite a bit and eventually docked. After we gathered together, the 4 Maori gave out some songs in a very loud voice and that was it. All in all, many of us on the tour didn't think too much of it. I'm sure some others would have enjoyed it.

Beautiful park in the center of Christchurch with hidden history…read more Around 1000 an early Māori tribe used the area along the river for food gathering. In 1850, Christchurch was surveyed and this area was used the economic centre or marketplace. Here was the first post office, police station, jail, work stores, immigration barracks, and a market hall. In 1896 the park became more of what you see today. Famous landmarks include the Captain James Cook statue, Queen Victoria statue, H. L. Bowker Fountain, and the Victoria Square Poupou. It also features the country's oldest cast iron and stone bridge, now known as the Hamish Hay Bridge. There's plenty of large shades trees to keep you cool as you stroll through the park on a summer day. Especially as the Avon cuts through the center. Take your time and wander, there are several historic markers to read. Just past the bridge is a flower bed that is a clock.

Jellie Park is an incredible recreation center in the heart of Ilam. With plenty of acres of land,…read moreJellie Park has room for an indoor and outdoor pool area complete with a separate diving pool and multiple slides as well as an intense training center and plenty of recreation fields. Parking is a bit of an issue as the lot is small (there is overflow during the dry summer months). Jellie Park is a great way to get out, be social or get fit as there are exercise classes, swim lessons or space to just lay out and enjoy the sunshine. Recently they held the Weet-Bix TRYathalon for over 2200 kids (with families camped out in support) and the grounds were more than capable to handle the crowd. I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Jellie Park!

Had a fantastic experience at Orana Park! For just under $30, you can spend a day visiting…read moredifferent animals and interacting with them. The feeding schedules were timed so efficiently that it helped lead you throughout the park at the perfect pace. Although the variety is small compared to other zoos, the focus on the wildlife was great. It was fun going through the bird sanctuary and seeing a Kea asleep on the rail just a foot away from me. The lions, tigers, kiwi, and giraffe feeding are real highlights! The on-site cafe had a wonderful variety of great food and the gift shop had a huge assortment of souvenirs that don't break the bank! There was seating inside the cafe, nice outdoor picnic spots, and also extra activities to do while visiting Orana. The highlight of my experience was being able to hand-feed the giraffes! WOW. We wanted to do the lion encounter however they were sold-out. Next time I go, I'll be sure to pre-book the lion encounter! According to my friend who brought us to Orana, depending on the season and if you're lucky, you can have the opportunity to pet baby cheetahs. The volunteers were fantastic and full of knowledge. If you're ever in Christchuch, go check out Orana Wildlife Park. A unique and amazing experience- well worth the money.

This is the 'zoo' of Christchurch, and it's huge! While it doesn't have a huge range of animals -…read moreit mainly sticks to farmyard, elephants, lions, tigers, giraffes, hippos, monkeys etc it still is a great day out. It even makes you feel a little like you're on safari! There is a bus that drives around the park to take you from place to place if you'd rather that than walk. There are a few food outlets, but once you get deep into the animal areas you generally have to walk back to the main entrance to find the food. It's definitely stroller friendly, and there are a few good areas for smaller kids, like the farmyard where you can pat alpacas, sheep and goats.

From the city's website, "Spanning five city blocks from Margaret Mahy Family Playground to…read moreLichfield Street, this park is one of Christchurch's largest public spaces, making it a great venue to hold an outdoor event." It is today a passive park but it's next to the playground so there's that if you're looking to exercise your little ones. The park is in excellent condition with almost puttable short grass. Perfect for a picnic! [Review 405 of 2024 - 58 in New Zealand - 21438 overall]

A scenic structure overseeing the Avon River in Christchurch, New Zealand, the Edmonds Band Rotunda…read morewas created in 1929 for a place for brass bands to play. It was severely damaged during the 2011 earthquake. It was rebuilt in 2021. It is open to the public and has 360 views of the surrounding area, specifically the nearby Avon River. The Antigua Boat Sheds are nearby, with "punts" (flat bottomed ferry boats) allowing traveling on the river.

We're way out of the Central Business District on this errand but I found a park for a nice spot of…read moreresting. The park has swings, a climbing frame and even one of those spinning things. The tennis court is in reasonable condition though I suspect that the neighbor's yard catches a fair share of out-of-bounds hits. There is a smooth walkway but it's not really a walking trail. This is a lovely park in a nice residential neighborhood. [Review 395 of 2024 - 48 in New Zealand - 21428 overall]

Big open space that is about 5 acres, crisscrossed with walking paths throughout, Cranmer Square…read more(technically, a rectangle) is an urban park. It is named for an early protestant martyr, Bishop Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556). The park is routinely used for celebrations and in fact gets covered in white crosses for ANZAC days to honor the servicemen and women who died in WWI. Today, it is a lovely open space and it was a nice walk. [Review 401 of 2024 - 54 in New Zealand - 21434 overall]