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Visit Christchurch in Springtime
If you visit Christchurch only once, make sure you arrive in Spring. September through to November is a special time in the Garden City as Christchurch's people and gardens come to life after the close of Winter.
On a warm day in early Spring visit the daffodil woodland in the Christchurch Botanical Gardens in Hagley Park. With over 500,000 daffodil bulbs flowering underneath newly green oak and ash trees you can be sure this is a sight not to miss. Enjoy a picnic amongst the flowers or view the daffodils from the Avon River as you relax on a guided punting tour.
If you want more daffodils, be sure to drive your hire car out to the source of the Hagley Park flowers. The Daffodil Field at historic Otahuna Lodge just outside Christchurch. Here in September millions of bulbs create a sunny carpet that draws many visitors to the annual Daffodil Day celebration. The magnificent lodge offers luxury accommodation set in a 30 acre garden estate, a must-see sight in Spring.
Once you've finished taking in the beauty of Christchurch's Spring flowers and blossoms it's time to hit the shops for a Cup Day outfit. New Zealand Cup and Show Week is a festival of horse racing and fashion that challenges every visitor to look their best. Stylish clothes, shoes and hats are just as important as the races themselves, and hopefuls from across the country vie for the Best-Dressed crown.
The warm weather not only brings out the best clothes from Christchurch's wardrobes; it also brings out Christchurch's creativity. Early November is time for the bi-annual Sculpture On The Peninsula show, the largest outdoor sculpture exhibition in the South Island. Held by the waters of beautiful Lyttelton Harbour, the drive to historic Loudon Farm homestead in Teddington is worthwhile just for the scenery alone. But being able to purchase work from over eighty leading New Zealand artists, and enjoy fresh coffee and quality cuisine in a garden setting makes the exhibition a very popular event. Don't miss the next show, which will be held in 2011.
Springtime means cute baby lambs and calves, and if you can't find a farm then the place to see them is the Royal New Zealand Show. Hosted by the Canterbury A&P Association, the show has been a traditional Canterbury event since 1862. It has always showcased the best of Canterbury's agricultural bounty and has grown into a festival of live music, fashion, gourmet food and wine, carnival rides, sporting and livestock competitions and, of course, baby farm animals for petting.
Christchurch is a great place to visit in Springtime. There's always something happening to keep you entertained - or you can just slow down, stop a while, and smell the daffodils.