Christchurch in New Zealand

‘Footlooseinme’ starts a new series beginning with Christchurch in New Zealand. Christchurch in New Zealand is located in the Eastern part of the Canterbury region of the south island. The city holds striking similarities with the garden cities of England. Therefore, it is often termed the garden city of New Zealand. I toured the South Island making Christchurch in New Zealand our tour base. Let me take you through this attractive, green city far South on the world map.

Read my post on Inverness.

New Zealand is a small island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The Polynesians were the early settlers who developed their own Maori culture here. Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman who was in service of Dutch East India Company (VOC) was the first European to sight and record New Zealand in 1642. Sadly, he could not add the feather of exploring New Zealand to his cap. He anchored his vessels 7 km offshore on the North-West coast of South Island. He had a violent encounter with the Maori residents. Four of his sailors died, and he had to retreat.

Captain James Cook was a British explorer, cartographer, and naval officer. He became the first European to set foot in New Zealand in 1769. Later, the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 was signed. This treaty between the Maori and the United Kingdom marked the declaration of British Sovereignty on the island. The Crown Colony of New Zealand was established in 1841. This marks the colonial reign of New Zealand. The island’s colonisation led to many environmental catastrophes making an indelible mark on this island nation. (Read my post on London.)

The Maori name for Christchurch in New Zealand is Otautahi. This place was mainly a swampland – a maze of marshland, grassland, forest and scrub bush. The forest was formed of native trees like Kahikatea, Mataī and Tōtara. The scrub bush consisted of Akeake, Taupata, Tūmatakuru, Ngaio, Carmichaelia, and Coprosma. 

New Zealand was rich in bird life as there were no predators for the birds. With colonisation, came predators in the form of Deer, Horses, Cats, Dogs, Opossums, Weasels and many more. Unaware of the newly introduced predators these birds fell prey to the carnivores. The other introduced species contributed to trampling the nests, eggs and hatchlings as most of the birds here are ground dwellers.

The Avon River, called Otakaro (Maori name) flows through the centre of Christchurch in New Zealand. It started in Avonhead, a suburb of Christchurch in New Zealand. The river drains into the Pacific Ocean via the Avon Heathcoat Estuary. As most of the Avon River meanders through the city centre, a large urban park is built on its bank.

After colonisation, Christchurch in New Zealand gradually turned into the major city in the South Island with an international airport. As we planned our tour to New Zealand with the surroundings of South Island in our minds, we made the city our base. We took a flight from Pune to Singapore. After a few hours of layover in Singapore, we took another flight to Christchurch in New Zealand.

We stayed at Riccarton, Christchurch in New Zealand. The large and famous Hagley Park was just next to this place. This gave an extra touch of green to the otherwise overly green city. The beautiful planned city boasts of elegant sprawling buildings surrounded by pretty gardens. It being the springtime the gardens were full of vibrant flowers. Walking through the streets too seemed very relaxing and refreshing.

Hagley Park was established in 1855 as the largest urban open space in Christchurch. The Avon River defines the boundary of the park on the eastern side of the central city. Hagley Park comprises an open area of 165 hectares. Hagley Park surrounds the famous Botanic Garden of Christchurch in New Zealand. Open spaces, pathways, and the Botanic Garden attract many visitors. The Sports Field, including the Hagley Oval Cricket Ground, is a popular spot. Playgrounds and picnic spots make this garden a happening place.

Hagley Park offers ample opportunities for various activities. Apart from walking, jogging, picnicking, or playing in the playgrounds, you can explore the Botanic Gardens. You can also visit the Cockayne Memorial Garden, Fern House, Garrick House Conservatory, and the Foweraker House Conservatory. A golf course is also located in the North Hagley Park. We used to take a walk through the serene pathways of Hagley Park after returning from the day’s tour. Long daylight gave us enough scope to explore the surroundings by foot.

The Christchurch Botanic Garden is a sprawling 21-hectare garden beside the loop of the Avon River. The garden was founded in 1863 by planting an English Oak tree. The tree was planted to commemorate the solemnization of the marriage of Prince Albert and Princess Alexandra of Denmark. The garden exhibits a variety of native and exotic species of plants and trees.

The lush and beautiful botanic garden offers a peaceful way to get lost in nature. Age-old trees stand guard over the smaller ones growing in glory. A variety of bird life is also seen here foraging and nesting in this haven. The lively rose garden with numerous large and vivid roses can steal anybody’s heart. (Read my post on Belfast.)

We walked to the Riverside Market of Christchurch in New Zealand. It gave us a glimpse into the food hall of the central city. This is a relatively new market close to the riverside park opened in 2019. Here you can do a Hop-on-Hop-off tram tour around the city central. The Addington Junction is the only remaining passenger railway station in Christchurch in New Zealand. Daily two trains run from this station – the Coastal Pacific to Picton and the TranzAlpine to Greymouth. 

We explored a small part of Christchurch in New Zealand. Then, we began our tour to other selected places in the South Island. South Island has the Maori name of Te Waipounamu. It means the water of Greenstone. The pristine Southern Alps runs from the north to south of this island. Stay with me to explore the rest of the South Island of New Zealand in my upcoming blog posts.