Canterbury Regional Information

Canterbury is New Zealand's largest region, with an area of 45,346 square kilometres. Its boundaries are the Conway River in the North, the Southern Alps in the West and the Waitaki River in the South.

Large scale scenery dominates Canterbury, from ocean views to the peaks of the Southern Alps and the vast expanse of the region's pastureland. Aoraki Mount Cook is New Zealand's highest point; at 3,754 metres, the mountain lies in the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park along with numerous glaciers and nineteen other peaks.

Navigate with our great Canterbury map to stay on the right track and find what you're looking for when traveling in the region. While you're on the road, be prepared for all seasons with weather forecasts, reports and current information on Canterbury weather.

Canterbury's main centre is the city of Christchurch, named the Garden City of New Zealand, due to the number of residential gardens and the city's extensive network of public parks. While Christchurch is a cosmopolitan centre with festivals, theatre, modern art galleries, shopping and other attractions, the city's nineteenth century architecture, central city cathedral and tree-lined avenues give a distinctive English atmosphere to the city. Popular destinations are Kaikoura, a seaside retreat where visitors can see resident fur seals, dolphins and whales, and Hanmer Springs, a township renowned for its thermal springs and alpine vistas.

To find out more, visit the Canterbury information site.