In this section
Christchurch, the "Garden City"
The South Island of New Zealand is an island of natural beauty, breathtaking mountain scenery, many skifields, and excellent lake and river fishing. New Zealand has an international reputation for being clean and green.
Christchurch is the gateway to the South Island and the International airport is only 15 minutes away from the city centre. It is the largest city in the South Island with 370,000 people and is on the East Coast.
People from over 150 different ethnicities live in Christchurch which is also known as the Garden City. The banks of the picturesque River Avon which flows through the city centre are a popular place to relax and have lunch with friends. Christchurch in the summer can be hot and in the winter, frosty. Several lovely beaches for swimming, surfing and other water sports are within 20 minutes drive from the city centre. It takes about 2 hours to travel to the closest skifield in the mountains.
New Zealanders, also called "Kiwis", are known to be very friendly, helpful to visitors and enthusiastic about sport and the outdoors.
For further details on Christchurch and New Zealand go to www.christchurchnz.com/canterbury/ or www.localeye.info or the Visitor information Centre in Cathedral Square in the centre of the city, a few minutes from PEETO Asia Pacific English Language College.