{{New Zealand}}
'''Christchurch''' or '''Ōtautahi''' (in [[Ngāi Tahu]]), aka ''The Garden City''. Population: 350,000.

Located on the East coast, '''Christchurch''' is the South Island's largest city, and the second largest in [[New Zealand]].

*On the eastern edge of the city is Pegasus Bay and the Pacific Ocean with safe swimming beaches and good surfing
*[[Kaikoura]] is 2 hours to the north on SH1.
*[[Dunedin]] is 4-5 hours drive to the south on SH1
*The [[West Coast]] is 2 hours drive to the west over [[Arthurs Pass]]

=Hospitality Exchange Community=
==Couch Surfing Community==
* There are over 1,100 hosts in Christchurch and a growing '''CS Community'''. Regular meetings are held every Wednesday evening. Other activities are listed on the [http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=1262 Christchurch] group.

*'''Local Couch Surfing Groups:'''

[http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=1262 Christchurch]

[http://www.couchsurfing.com/group.html?gid=368 New Zealand]

*'''Upcoming Social Meetings'''

The Christchurch CS community is very active. Check out [https://www.couchsurfing.org/n/events/weekly-couch-surf-drinks-christchurch--15 for regular CS social meetings.]

'''There is a shortage of backpacker hostels in Christchurch following the earthquakes of 2010/2011.'''

Search [http://www.hostelworld.com/ HostelWorld] for the latest availability.

==History==

*Maori oral history suggests that people first inhabited the Canterbury area about a thousand years ago.

*These first inhabitants were moa-hunting tribes and these were followed by the Waitaha who are thought to have migrated from the east coast of the North Island in the 16th century. This migration was joined by the Ngati Mamoe and Ngai Tahu and continued until about 1830.

*The first European landed in Canterbury in 1815, 45 years after Captain James Cook sighted what he named "Banks Island", later found to be a peninsula.

*In 1840 the first Europeans settled on the plains and whaling ships were operating out of Lyttelton by 1850.

*During 1850-1851 the first organised groups of English settlers, the founders of Christchurch, arrived on the 'first four ships' into Lyttelton Harbour.

*Christchurch became a city by Royal Charter on July 31, 1856, making it officially the oldest established city in New Zealand.

*In 1893, New Zealand women were the first in the world to win the right to vote. A memorial to Kate Sheppard, who led the Women's Suffrage movement, can been seen on Oxford Terrace, alongside the Avon River at the Worcester Street corner.

*Canterbury's economy was built on dairy and sheep products. Canterbury now has a diversified regional economy with growth across a range of sectors.

==Earthquakes==
Christchurch has experienced over 11,000 earthquakes and aftershocks since 4th September 2010. The first earthquake of 7.1 magnitude struck at 4:35am on 4th September 2010 and a more devastating 6.3 magnitude quake struck at 12:51pm on 22nd February 2011. The February quake caused serious damage and 185 deaths, mainly in the central business district of the city. There was substantial damage to the eastern areas of the city. Over two years on, a lot of the central business district remains cordoned off. Around 900 buildings will be removed. As at June 2013, 135 buildings are still to be demolished. Liquefaction in the eastern suburbs caused major damage to infrastructure such as water supply, electricity, sewers and roads.
Many former central city businesses and government offices, have relocated to the western suburbs of Christchurch of Addington, Riccarton, Papanui, and Hornby.

Most backpacker hostels located in the CBD are closed or destroyed. Some hostels are open on Bealey Avenue and Barbadoes Avenue. Search [http://www.hostelworld.com/ HostelWorld] for the latest availability.

Keep up to date with the latest quakes at [http://quake.crowe.co.nz/ Canterbury Earthquake Live].

Earthquake related news at [http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/ stuff.co.nz]

[http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/4705106/Photos-Before-and-after-the-Christchurch-earthquake Christchurch before and after (the earthquake) photos]

==Attractions==

[[Things to do in Christchurch]]

*'''[http://www.worldbuskersfestival.com World Buskers' Festival]''' - January each year
* For festivals, shows and events see '''[http://www.bethere.co.nz]'''

===Eat===

===Live Music Venues===

*'''[http://www.duxlive.co.nz/ Dux Live]''', 363 Lincoln Road (behind the Mobil Station), Addington, Christchurch 8024

*'''[http://www.pierside.co.nz/ Pierside]''', 3 Brighton Mall, New Brighton, Christchurch 8061

*'''[http://www.wunderbar.co.nz Wunderbar]''', 19 London Street, Lyttelton. Located just out of the city in the harbourside town of Lyttelton. Another great live venue for kiwi musicians, also hold regular poetry nights. Definitely the bar with the best (and most interesting) decor in the Canty area.

*'''[http://www.darkroombar.co.nz/ darkroom]''', 336 St Asaph Street, Christchuch (central)

*'''NZ Live lists other local music venues: [http://www.nzlive.com nzlive]'''

===Keeping Active===

*'''[http://www.theroxx.co.nz the roxx climbing centre]''' Cnr Waltham road and Byron Street (about 30 mins walk from Square or 10 mins by bus. Over 100 top rope & lead climb routes; dedicated bouldering area with marked problems.
*'''[http://www.ymcachch.org.nz/fitness/climbingwall/ YMCA climbing wall]''', 12 Hereford Street, in the central city.
*'''[http://www.surfsouth.co.nz/ South Island Surfing Company]''' Beach end of New Brighton Mall, New Brighton. Learn to surf with Dave or Trish. Lessons for beginner and intermediate surfers. Summer and winter.

===Browse===

* One hour of internet access at an internet cafe usually sets you back NZ$2

* Wifi hotspots are limited but are becoming much more widely available.
You can find [http://library.christchurch.org.nz/services/wireless/ free wifi] at all Christchurch City Libraries ([http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Services/ opening times]). Just bring your wifi-enabled computer and accept the license terms upon launching your browser. Note: Several libraries are closed to earthquake damage or they are inside the exclusion zone.
Similar free wifi services available in the foyer of the Hoyts movie theatre at Riccarton Mall, however, there are no power sockets available so you must run your laptop off battery.
Many of the Esquire Coffee Houses offer free wifi for their customers.
[http://www.esquires.co.nz/store/locator/index Store locator guide]

A lot of pubs and bars offer free wireless internet to patrons. You usually need to obtain the password from the barperson upon buying a drink.

==Getting Around==

===Bus===

* [http://www.metroinfo.org.nz MetroInfo] - Bus timetables and routes.
Fares:

Cash Fare - Single Trip $3.20 - Includes one free transfer within 2 hours

Metrocard - Single Trip $2.30 - Includes unlimited free transfers for the first 2 hours

All Day Travel Pass (with Metro Card) - $4.60 is the maximum you pay per day for as many trips as you like

===Cycle===

* Cycling is a great way to get around, as the city is flat. There are biking lanes on most of the main arterial roads. There are mountain biking tracks on the nearby Port Hills, McLeans Island near the airport and Bottle Lake Forest, which comences at North Beach.

==Weather==

===Climate===

Christchurch has a temperate climate. In summer temperatures range from 15 - 35 degrees Celcius but most commony between 20 - 25 degrees during the daytime and around 9 - 15 at night. Winter temperatures are above freezing except when there are early morning frosts when it can be down to -5. It snows in Christchurch only once or twice each winter and the snow quickly melts.

===Weather Forcasts===

Updated weather forecasts are available from the following sites:

[http://www.metservice.co.nz/public/localWeather/christchurch.html Christchurch city]

[http://www.castlehill.net.nz/webcam.htm Castle Hill]

[http://www.metservice.co.nz/public/skiFields/home.html Ski Field Weather and Snow Reports]

[http://www.metservice.co.nz/public/mountain/brief-national.html Mountain]

==Bank's Peninsula==
'''Banks Peninsula''' or '''Horomaka''' is a large peninsula immediately south-east of [[Christchurch]]. It is now officially a part of Christchurch city. When you look at a map of [[New Zealand]] '''Bank's Peninsula''' is the big bump half way down the right hand side of the island. features sheltered bays, sandy beaches, bush clad valleys, rocky coastline and high, wild places. Boating, tramping, a visit to the wineries and the harbourside French village of Akaroa, are key Peninsula attractions. [[Akaroa]] is a beautiful town 1.5 hours drive from Christchurch.

* The Peninsula is of volcanic origin - Lyttelton Harbour and Akaroa Harbour are old craters. The peninsula has a rugged coastline with many deep bays and the two large harbours. Many beaches ranging from boulder to shingle to sandy.
* Located by the beach in '''Birdlings Flat''' is [http://artnz.blogspot.com/ Wharehapuku art studio and gallery] owned and operated by local CS host [http://www.couchsurfing.com/people/artnz/ Ian Robertson]. Birdlings Flat is a small oceanside community just off the highway to Akaroa from Christchurch - just before you get to Little River.

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[[Category:New Zealand]]
[[trash:Christchurch]]
[[hitch:Christchurch]]