Tucked into the top half of the South Island, gazing at the Pacific from the east coast, the Canterbury region is a fine example of what makes New Zealand a glorious destination.

It drifts down to the ocean along 310 miles of seafront; a meeting of land and water that is punctuated by pretty communities such as Gore Bay, Timaru and Waikuku Beach. And it ascends, too – to the heavens where Aoraki/Mount Cook rises to 12,218ft (3,724m) as the country’s highest peak. Indeed, the Southern Alps are a key element of Canterbury’s character, dealing in dramatic snow-capped scenery. Together, Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki and Lake Ohau form a trio of closely clustered glacial wonders. For those with sufficient energy, the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail hugs the perimeters of both Ohau and Pukaki as it ebbs north-to-south for almost 200 miles – picking a gorgeous path from the foot of Aoraki/Mount Cook to the Pacific’s edge at Oamaru (in the neighbouring Otago region).

But there is more to Canterbury than raw geography. It has more agricultural land than any other region of New Zealand, and puts it to excellent use in the case of the Waipara and Burnham wine areas. Then there is its capital. The world loves a comeback story, and there are few more impressive comeback stories in recent history than the one that has unfolded in Canterbury’s main city over the course of the last 15 years. On February 22 2011, Christchurch was the victim of a devastating earthquake. But its resilience is visible in the “Cardboard Cathedral” (a temporary replacement for the badly damaged 19th century original), and rugby hotspot the Te Kaha stadium (which opened in March 2026).