Christchurch, known as The Garden City, is New Zealand’s second-largest urban area. There are few places in the world where, within two hours of an international airport, you can ski at a world-class alpine resort, golf, bungee jump, go rafting, mountain biking, wind surfing, whale watching and soak in natural thermal pools. There are nine surrounding districts within the Canterbury region presenting a remarkable diversity of landscapes and activities. Christchurch City has begun to rebuild after an earthquake in February, 2011. While some parts of the city remain cordoned off, most visitor services are open. If you've visited before, your experience will be different but you'll see that the city still has a lot to offer. Many visitor services, including bus services, the International Airport, accommodation, visitor attractions and visitor information services, are open. Christchurch remains New Zealand’s gateway to the amazing experiences on offer in Canterbury and the wider South Island.