If you're planning to visit the Garden City then you'll want to enjoy it in style. Book one of the excellent bed and breakfast inns widely available in Christchurch to receive all that's good about the city - its friendliness, the pretty garden settings and the more English than England type lifestyle and surrounds. Best of all, when staying in hosted accommodation, you'll be able to enjoy all the insider knowledge of your hosts, and find some lovely places to visit within the city and beyond.

If you've never been to this city before and want to make the most if it your hosts will be able to tell you where to go and what to see. There are many fantastic attractions visited regularly by the locals.

First up of course is The Art Centre. This collection of stone buildings was the old university, and now houses a spectacular range of art studios and craft galleries, as well as a fabulous fudge factory. During the weekends there is also a lively craft market and a gem of an open air food hall with many different types of food on offer to sample.

Just across the road is the Art Gallery, a reasonably new building, which has lovely open spaces and features a good range of both contemporary and traditional paintings.

On the other side of the Art Centre, just across the road, is the Museum and Botanical gardens. The Museum takes you through both the local Maori and European history and has a great gift shop for little trinkets to take home. You can enjoy a saunter around the many gardens which are incredibly pretty no matter the season. There are wide and easy paths around the gardens and you can enjoy looking at some of the native plants as well as some of the imported trees and shrubbery.

Of course if you want to explore a little further you can. For the more adventurous there is skiing, golfing, surfing, hiking and many other different outdoor pursuits. Alternatively, take a punt on the Avon River for a relaxing afternoon excursion. There is much to see and do when you book into one of the many bed and breakfast inns available in Christchurch, NZ.