Life in Christchurch City
Christchurch is known as the Garden City – it is probably the greenest of the large cities in NZ, with the centrally located Hagley Park and its famous Botanic gardens only 10-15 minutes by bike from UC. Christchurch is the largest city in the largest island. It offers numerous opportunities to enjoy yourself. Below are just a few highlights, which we want to bring to your attention.
You will find a number of excellent surfing beaches within Christchurch’s greater city limits (e.g. Taylor’s Mistake, Sumner Beach) where you can learn to surf thanks to Canterbury University Boardriders Association.
In winter you can enjoy skiing at a number of popular ski fields that are only a short driving distance away, including the famous Mt. Hutt Ski Area which was voted NZ's Best Ski Resort four years in a row (2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018), Porters Alpine Resort, and Temple Basin; the latter is used by the Canterbury University Snow Sports Club.
There many leisure and sports facilities run by Christchurch City Council, such as Jellie Park Recreation and Sport Centre (which is less than 10 minutes by bike from the University), the Taiora QEII Recreation and Sport Centre, and the recently opened hot pools and sauna with the ocean views - He Puna Taimoana – in the suburb of New Brighton.
Christchurch hosts a significant number of entertainment events each year, including the famous World Buskers Festival (now called Bread & Circus), several International film festivals, and a series of shows and concerts, with a new convention centre right in the city centre, Te Pae, due to be opened in 2021.
Last, but not least, Christchurch is surrounded by amazing places of natural beauty. Just a 2-3 hr drive will enable you to enjoy a visit to either Hanmer Springs natural thermal pool and spa resort, the Kaikoura peninsula – home of the best whale, seal and dolphin watching in NZ, Lake Tekapo the best place in NZ for stargazing with UC Mt. John observatory towering above it, or the Arthurs Pass alpine area – home to the Great Spotted Kiwi and the NZ alpine parrot the Kea, which is famous for its distinct calls and its mischievous and comedic behaviour.
Come and join us on campus and enjoy all the benefits of a University located in one of the very best places to live and study in the whole world.