Garden City

Not to be confused with New Jersey which claims the title “Garden State,” Christchurch rightfully earns the moniker “Garden City.”

Christchurch has endured significant challenges over the past 14 years. The city was struck by major earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. The 2011 earthquake was particularly devastating, claiming 185 lives and damaging 70% of the central city’s buildings, including the iconic cathedral from which the city takes its name. Then, in 2019, the horrific mosque shootings tragically took 51 lives at two different mosques. A year later, the COVID-19 pandemic began. Despite these adversities, Christchurch has shown incredible resilience. It’s one of the cleanest cities I’ve ever visited, and its people are warm and welcoming.

The Christchurch Botanic Gardens are sprawling and stunning, featuring vibrant rose gardens, towering trees, serene lakes, rugby fields, grass tennis courts, and much more.

On our first day in Christchurch, we attended a chamber concert at the Arts Centre, housed in the former University of Canterbury. Afterward, we wandered around the city and enjoyed beers and tapas at Riverside Market.

On Friday, we joined a two-hour walking tour of Christchurch. Our guide shared her personal story of the 2011 earthquake, which struck when she was just seven years old. Her family’s home in the suburbs became uninhabitable, and they spent a year and a half living in tents in their backyard.

The earthquake left many buildings condemned and in need of demolition. Today, the city is experiencing a transformation, with beautiful new structures rising and historic ones being revitalized.

Following our tour, we grabbed meat pies for lunch and relaxed by the river before heading to the Christchurch Art Gallery. There, we took a one-hour guided tour and marveled at the exhibits.

After logging over 20,000 steps both days, we took it easy Friday night. On Saturday morning, I picked up a rental car, and we left the city to continue our journey on New Zealand’s South Island.