Christ Church Cathedral

Dominated by the Gothic-revival Anglican Christ Church Cathedral (T03-366 0046, 1-hr tours Mon-Fri 1100 and 1400, Sat 1100, Sun 1130, free) Cathedral Square is considered the heart of the city and its main focus point, but it is not without contention. An on-going and expensive redevelopment of the square since the late 1990s has resulted in most Cantabrians feeling the development is an aesthetic disaster and a crass waste of money. Certainly, it does seem hopelessly out of character with the rest of Christchurch, with its sharp angles and dull façades of steel and concrete. And once again it seems to suffer from the scourge of the average New Zealand architect – a severe disregard for trees. However, current aesthetics aside, the main feature worth looking at in the square is of course the cathedral itself. It houses a number of interesting memorials and boasts an interior design that is an interesting and eclectic mix of Maori and European. The spire can be climbed in part, offering a panoramic and memorable view of the city. There is also an audio-visual presentation and a good café attached.