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Christchurch
Christchurch began as a Saxon village. Its original name
was Tweoxneam, which means between 2 rivers. The Saxon settlement stood
on a triangular piece of land between the rivers. According to legend St
Catherines Hill was chosen for the site of a church. Each evening the
builders would finish work but when they came back the next morning the
building work was undone and the materials were moved somewhere else.
One day a beam was cut too short and it was miraculously lengthened by a
stranger. The builders decided the stranger must have been Jesus Christ
so they moved the site of the church and changed the name of the town to
Christchurch.
This pleasant ‘Garden City’ has
been voted one of the most beautiful and liveable cities in the world.
Christchurch has achieved a fine balance between the extremes of modern
metro hustle and the grace and charm of an earlier era. The city is an
ideal size; large enough to achieve economic viability yet small enough
for people to feel they belong. Downtown Christchurch is extremely
visitor-friendly. The compact and orderly layout ensures that you can
take in the visitor attractions at a leisurely pace. From central hotels
it is easy to walk to most of the main heritage, entertaining and dining
venues.
Visitors can enjoy great
buying for all New Zealand’s famous top quality woollen garments along
with leather, deerskin and outdoor adventure clothing. Dedicated
followers of fashion will discover a broad range of designer wear. High
Street is regarded as a mecca for innovative fashion wear and City Mall
has an array of boutique shops displaying modern glossy and funky
designs. Shopping malls in the suburbs are very welcoming, and are under
cover and air-conditioned. Some, like Westfield Shopping town in
Riccarton offer discounts to travelers. Merivale Mall has some
excellent boutique shops with high quality jewellery and gifts.
Christchurch has a long tradition of serving fresh
produce (e.g. tender Canterbury lamb), gourmet cuisine and fine table
wines. Gastronomic delights await the visitor in elegant restaurants and
lively cafes that serve a wide range of European, Oriental and American
cuisine. Cathedral Square and surrounding streets offer numerous dining
options. Top-end restaurants, cafes and bars can be found here, and also
around the Convention Centre and Casino area. On long summer nights city
streets throng with diners and revellers en route from trendy cafes to
late nightclub dance floors between Cashel Mall and Oxford terrace. As
night wears on the chic bars, cafes and nightclubs crank up the music
and the city begins to surge with life as the clubbing set arrive.
We provide a wide selection of properties - budget,
business, tourist, luxury, bed and breakfasts and apartments
accommodation to suit your every needs.
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