Vacations-Away
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Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Map of Christchurch City Center We arrived in late afternoon at the largest city on the South Island (third largest in New Zealand), population 300,000. The town was settled by the Canterbury Association and was inhabited by the members of Christ Church college Oxford in 1849 with the idea of creating a New Jerusalem in New Zealand. Its conservatism has given way to a bohemian environment. We chose to spend several days here prior to departing for
In the morning we walked a few blocks to the Cathedral Square, here there is a massive gothic revival cathedral at the center guilt between 1860-1904, with a statue of Robert Godley, the founding father of Christchurch. The grid of city streets spread out from this point Many buildings are gothic with medieval influence the Art Centre is a few blocks from the Square where you can watch artisans working at their trade. Art Museum - Robert McDougall Art Gallery
The gardens are expansive and cover every flora imaginable, trees, arbor, herbs, roses, heather, rock gardens et al. The pictures give you a sample of the incredible beauty. We stayed at a wonderful 4-star hotel for $25 each. The food was phenomenal; witness Bud lunching on Linguine and green-lipped mussels at a sidewalk cafe. After visiting Kaikoura for a day, we returned to Christchurch and departed the next day for Auckland, then home. Top MAIN TOPICS
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Beyond the Square is the Avon River which traverses much of the city center with many
small bridges that cross over it. Across the river, isolated from the city,
is the beautiful Hagley Park with a spectacular Botanic Park and the Art
museum. Hagley Park is a focus of leisure.
Known as the "Garden City" 
We recommend the Palazzo Del Marinaio
Restaurant for a first class dinner and the Oxford Restaurant for all you can
eat.