Christchurch City is alive with colour, atmosphere and world-class attractions, and is known internationally as the "Garden City" because of its spectacular gardens.  Highlights include the Botanical Gardens, Lyttelton, Sumner, Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula.

Christchurch City is located midway down the East Coast of the South Island, just north of Banks Peninsula, and is the South Island's largest city.  It's a vibrant, cosmopolitan place with exciting festivals, theatre, modern art galleries, great shopping and award-winning attractions.

The city was named after Christ Church, a college at the University of Oxford and was originally known as Christ Church. The name was abbreviated through common usage by the 1880s.

With much of the city being flat and only a few metres above sea level, spectacular views can be obtained from almost any high building. At these low elevations the city appears more like a forest with only a few buildings visible, rather than a major city.

For further information, visit the links below:

www.christchurchnz.com

www.tourism.net.nz/region/christchurch

www.rugbyworldcup.com

www.christchurch.org.nz