Canterbury, New Zealand
 An
amazing arena for adventure and indulgence
From the silvery beaches of the coast to the jagged peaks
of the Southern Alps, the Canterbury landscape is impossible to ignore.
Big scenery is the order of the day - huge panoramas of ocean or mountains,
great sweeps of pastureland and massive amounts of sky.
The highest point of the region is the highest point of New Zealand.
The spectacular Aoraki Mount Cook stands at 3754 metres (Aoraki is Maori
for Cloud Piercer). At the other end of the scale, the submarine trenches
off the coast of Kaikoura are thousands of metres deep, providing an ideal
environment for the whales, dolphins and seals that live there permanently.
Between the mountains and the sea, the vast plains are patchworked with
the patterns of rural life. Hundreds of years ago, Maori moa hunters worked
these plains leaving a rock art record of their successes.
In the two cities of the region, Christchurch and Timaru, great care
has been taken to preserve Canterbury’s colonial heritage. Grand
architecture, historic homesteads and immaculate parks intermingle with
the technology and style of modern life.
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Cook National Park is a top spot for spectacular alpine
scenery. All but one of its 29 peaks is over 3000m,
so the park has become New Zealand's mountain climbing
mecca. Non-climbers can enjoy a selection of challenging
alpine walks – from the one hour Red Tarns stair-climb
to the relatively flat hike to Kea Point. |
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Photo
by David Wall (www.davidWallPhoto.com) |
| Click
on the image for larger version |
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Key Features
Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.
This park is a land of ice and rock. Glaciers cover 40% of its area and
there are 19 peaks over 3,000 metres, including New Zealand's highest
mountain Aoraki Mount Cook. Mount Cook Village is a base for climbers
and hikers.
Alpine Pacific Triangle Touring
Route. The Alpine Pacific Triangle takes you to the gourmet
area of Waipara, spa delights of Hanmer Springs and marine mammals of
Kaikoura. Between destinations, enjoy the beautiful country scenery.
Akaroa and Banks Peninsula.
Banks Peninsula and Akaroa Harbour were formed by volcanic eruptions,
many thousands of years ago. Originally a French settlement, the historic
town of Akaroa is a place to enjoy fine cuisine and wildlife cruises.
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