Christchurch – The Garden City of New Zealand

Christchurch – The Garden City of New Zealand

South New Brighton Beach
In the morning, we took Bus 29, paying 4 NZD per person. Transfers within the same zone are free within two hours.

The bus driver, an elderly lady, also acted as the fare collector. She patiently collected everyone’s fare before starting the bus, moving at her own pace—no one was in a rush. Each passenger thanked the driver when getting off, and the bus had a convenient mechanism at the door that could rise and lower for wheelchairs or strollers, making it easy to roll them on and off without lifting. It was indeed very convenient.

War Memorial
A stone monument stands on an elevated platform near the bus stop. Judging by the dates carved into it, it appears to commemorate the fallen soldiers from World War I and World War II.

The pier stretches out into the ocean, and on a bright, sunny day, it’s simply perfect

Cardboard Cathedral
On February 22, 2011, at nearly 1 p.m., a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Christchurch, with the epicenter located 10 kilometers southeast of the city. Due to the magnitude and shallow depth, the earthquake caused severe damage, resulting in 185 deaths. Among them, 115 victims were from the CTV Building near the site of the Cardboard Cathedral. The building housed Canterbury Television (CTV), King’s Education Language School, a hair salon (Hair Consultants), Relationship Service, and a medical center (The Clinic). The building collapsed during the quake.

The site of the CTV Building is now the CTV Earthquake Memorial Park, a simple memorial space. It preserves parts of the original building’s cracked ground, exposed concrete, steel reinforcements, and the lone foundation pile, with a plaque providing context.

The Cardboard Cathedral features a triangular façade and could also be called the “Paper Tube Cathedral,” as its two largest sides are supported by large-diameter paper tubes. Many of the interior decorations and the pulpit are also crafted from these tubes. It was designed by renowned Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. The colorful stained glass windows inside were salvaged from the original Christchurch Cathedral. Behind the Cardboard Cathedral, construction is currently underway for the new Te Kaha Stadium.

The Cardboard Cathedral features massive paper tubes, each with a diameter of 60 centimeters, a length of 16.5 meters, and a weight of 120 kilograms. In total, 98 tubes were used in its construction.

In one corner of Cathedral Square stands a red-and-white building built in 1879, the Christchurch Telegraph and Telephone Office. On October 1, 1881, Christchurch’s first telephone call was made from here, and the first government telegram was also sent from this location. The clock tower is a replica of London’s Big Ben. Today, it serves as a tourist information center, where visitors can access travel information not only for Christchurch but for the entire South Island.

Christchurch Cathedral
Construction of the Christchurch Cathedral began in 1864 and was not fully completed until 1904, during which it endured three earthquakes. It later suffered two more significant earthquakes: a 7.1-magnitude quake on September 4, 2010, and a 6.3-magnitude quake on February 22, 2011.

John Robert Godley Statue
John Robert Godley, the founder of Christchurch in 1850, was originally from the United Kingdom. The statue, first erected in 1904, was damaged during the 2011 earthquake and rebuilt in 2016.

Robert Falcon Scott Memorial Statue on Worcester Blvd
Robert Falcon Scott (1868-1912), a British naval officer and polar explorer, perished on his return journey from an Antarctic expedition due to extreme cold. He was posthumously knighted by the King of England. Today, the Amundsen–Scott Station in Antarctica is named in honor of both Scott and the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, the first to reach the South Pole.

Art Center / Former Canterbury College
The Art Center was originally established in 1873 as Canterbury College, which was once part of the University of New Zealand. In 1961, it became an independent institution—Canterbury University—and later relocated its main campus from central Christchurch to the suburb of Ilam in the west.

The buildings of the Art Center are instantly recognizable, with their distinctive stonework forming unique patterns on the exterior walls. The architecture is striking, and the complex itself is quite extensive, making it a notable landmark in the area.

A plaque at the entrance of the Art Center (Worcester St) reads:

Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937), British physicist. In 1889, as a member of a rugby team, he earned a scholarship to the University of New Zealand. From 1890 to 1895, he studied at Canterbury College. Known as the Father of Nuclear Physics and the discoverer of the proton, Rutherford was elected a fellow of the Royal Societies of both the United Kingdom and Canada. He was awarded honorary doctorates by nearly twenty universities worldwide and served as the head of the Physics Department at the University of Manchester and later as director of the Cavendish Laboratory. In 1908, he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. In 1931, he was made Baron Rutherford of Nelson.

Rutherford was born in Nelson, New Zealand, and passed away in 1937 in Cambridge, England. His ashes are interred in the nave of Westminster Abbey, alongside Isaac Newton and Michael Faraday. In 1992, his portrait was featured on New Zealand’s largest banknote, the 100 NZD note.

Christchurch is New Zealand’s third-largest city, after Auckland and Wellington, and the largest city on the South Island. Known as the “Garden City,” it exudes a strong British charm, making it the most English-inspired city in the Southern Hemisphere. The city is filled with elegant 19th-century architecture, and its vibrant flowers and lush greenery have earned it the reputation of being a garden paradise.

The clean streets, shaded avenues, tasteful surroundings, and rich cultural atmosphere are enchanting. Strolling through this quaint yet lively city, you’ll encounter clear streams, hear birds singing, and feel the gentle touch of sunlight and breeze—it all feels so natural and harmonious. Christchurch offers an irresistible charm, with its neat roads and tree-lined paths.

The city’s nostalgic trams roam through key attractions, such as Cathedral Square, the art gallery, and the museum. Riding the vintage tram is a charming and comfortable way to explore, with shopping and leisure activities conveniently accessible. You can also take a horse-drawn carriage to admire the city’s scenic beauty, evoking a sense of nostalgia.

The tranquil Avon River meanders through the gardens, with lush greenery along its banks creating a serene environment. A walk or picnic along the riverbank offers a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle, allowing you to indulge in a peaceful, carefree life. This harmonious blend of urban life and nature seems to be the ideal way for cities to coexist with the natural world.