Gary and Ngaire are wonderful and accommodating hosts, leaving you to yourself or providing you…read morewith a wealth of local knowledge and entertainment if you need it. The rooms are well appointed with spacious bathrooms, and comfortable beds. Each room has a lovely selection of local chocolate and fruit to take with you on your outings around the city. The bathrooms contain stand alone showers as well as a big bath tub. Edgeware is a good location, only a 20 minute walk from the central city, but also well serviced by the local buses (28 to Lyttelton via the city, 18 to Northlands Shopping Centre via St Albans, The Metro Star which covers nearby Papanui and The Palms, along with further away shopping destinations.) The village itself has a supermarket, bakery, take aways, liquor store, post office and butchery. Wish is very comfortable, and designed to be eco friendly, therefore even on the day it snowed when I stayed, I was cosy and warm! Ngaire is also an avid quilt maker, so for the craft minded, she is a delight to talk to. She makes quilts for foster kids, and they as a family are actively involved in charitable work. As hosts, they will go out of their way to help, offering rides to and from destinations, and ensuring you have a perfect stay in Christchurch.

Located right across from the Christchurch Botanic Gardens is another free place to visit, the Arts…read moreCentre of Christchurch. The Arts Centre takes up the entire block, and it's nice place to wander around and take in the architecture of the buildings, the numerous exhibits, and the beautiful scenery. There are also food trucks, cafes, small shops, and even a hotel! The exhibits are a mix of art and science with Rutherford's Den with sensory displays and the Physics Room, which is self-explanatory. While art isn't really my thing, everywhere was very well maintained and clean. I suppose the most interesting part was the "Floating House" above the courtyard. Overall, the Arts Centre is a nice place to walk around and enjoy the exhibits as well as find food trucks and other international eateries. It's right across the street from the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and nearby other attractions.

A mix of history and the present…read more Located in the heart of Christchurch, The Arts Centre is an Aotearoa New Zealand landmark - home to galleries, museums, cinemas, boutique retailers, artisan eateries and bars, engaging events, stunning venues and much more. Full of history and architectural beauty. Once these buildings were the home to Canterbury College (now the University of Canterbury). The 23 buildings are a fantastic place to spend some time. Take in the architecture, the quaint shops, a gallery, a bite, or stay the night. One of the buildings is a gorgeous hotel. As I wandered the grounds and buildings, I stumbled into more of the history. In the Clock Tower, the den is home to the actual rooms where Rutherford, the father of nuclear physics, studied while a student at Canterbury College. Including the restored Victorian lecture theatre. It felt a little bit out of Harry Potter. Imagine standing where Rutherford made so many scientific discoveries. Later giving us tv, radio, sonar and telephones. So many great shops and galleries I wandered through for almost three hours. I'm glad I found the center. Wished I had known more about it sooner.