Visitor Information

The Christchurch & Canterbury i-SITE Visitor Centre is in the Old Chief Post Office Building, Cathedral Square West (tel. 03/379-9629; fax 03/377-2424). It's open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm; Saturday, Sunday, and holidays from 8:30am to 4pm (longer hours in summer). Useful websites are the Christchurch City Council site or the Whatson Christchurch website.

Special Events

Christchurch is the festival capital of New Zealand -- no matter when you visit, it's bound to coincide with a festival of some sort. The World Buskers Festival (tel. 03/377-2365), from mid- to late January, is the largest street performance festival in the Southern Hemisphere. You'll be treated to jazz and comedy shows, as well as acts of juggling, contortionism, and more. In February, the city bursts into bloom with the Garden City Flowers & Romance (tel. 03/365-5403). The annual Wine and Food Festival (tel. 03/358-1648) also takes place in February. The Christchurch Arts Festival (tel. 03/365-2223) is staged every 2 years in July and showcases international talent. The next one will be held in 2009. Showtime Canterbury, featuring the Canterbury A & P Show (tel. 03/941-6840), is an absolute tradition in this part of the world. Staged the second week of November, it features thoroughbred and standard-bred racing.