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oamaru - christchurch OAMARU - CHRISTCHURCH (Via Timaru & Ashburton) Driver Information From Oamaru you can look forward to easy driving routes as the highways take you safely back towards ‘the Garden City’ of Christchurch. Some notable stops along the route to Christchurch include: TIMARU CAROLINE BAY CENTRAL TIMARU HISTORIC WALK AIGANTIGHE ART GALLERY TEMUKA POTTERY SHOP ASHBURTON ASHBURTON AQUATIC PARK CHRISTCHURCH Christchurch is very visitor friendly and it is easy to navigate around the inner city and botanical gardens on foot, or else hop on the historic Tram which runs a circuit throughout the day past the inner city and popular Arts Centre, Gallery, etc. Accommodation is plentiful in the city and surrounds, from swanky inner city furnished apartments to motels, quaint B&B's, luxury hotels and the typical hotel chains. You wont go hungry when in Christchurch! The Strip and South Of Lichfield (SOL) are both popular areas, which are just restaurants, cafes and bars, while there are many seriously fabulous restaurants boasting an international flavour, from Italian to Mexican, to Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian and Cajun to name just a few. Highly recommended Christchurch tourist attractions include... Christchurch Gondola - Enjoy spectacular 360-degree views of Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps, Lyttelton Harbour and Pacific Ocean. Christchurch Botanical Gardens - Established back in 1863, today the gardens are a haven for roller blading, walkers, joggers, cyclists and dog walkers! 30 hectares of park-like gardens surrounded by the Avon River and a diverse range of gardens and flowers throughout… and it’s free! The Arts Centre - During the weekends you can sample all the international flavours from the different food stalls, including popular and some rarer ethnic culinary delights while strolling amidst the markets, bustling with the sights and sounds of artists, craftspeople, musicians, buskers and more. Situated in the historic buildings of the original Canterbury University College, the Arts Centre is one of Christchurch's most significant cultural attractions. Punting On The Avon - Sit back and relax custom built punt as your friendly boatman guides you past the sights of the central city as you meander along the Avon River. Cathedral Square - Located in the heart of the city, the Visitor Information Centre is located in ‘the square’. A multi-cultural feeling exists in this exciting part of town, always popular with tourists and lunch time dwellers. Be entertained by buskers, grab a coffee from Starbucks, or just watch life colourfully go by! Christchurch Tramway - The ultimate inner city tour that lets you experience the magic of the central city onboard a beautifully restored tram. The 2.5 kilometre track takes about 25 minutes to complete and allows you to take in many of the "must see' attractions. These include Cathedral Square, Aquarium of Discovery, The Arts Centre, The Art Gallery, Botanical Gardens, Canterbury Museum, Punting on the Avon, New Regent Street and Cathedral Junction. |
Travel distance is approximately 246kms (154 miles).
Enjoy an easy 30 minute stroll that covers a delightful range of historic places and buildings within the Timaru area. Simply visit the information centre for a map and you're away! 
A small detour in Ashburton will take you to Lake Hood where the lake, its park surroundings and Huntingdon Park form the Ashburton Aquatic Park. Catering for nearly every water sport imaginable, enjoy the 8 lane international specification rowing course, international water ski course, jet skiing area and plenty of room to either swim, leisure boat, windsurf, kayak or just sit by the lake and relax. Kayaks available for hire.