New Zealanders are like the British, they love their gardens. Christchurch won the award for the Garden City of the World. It has delightful parks and gardens. A 500 acre parkland with stunning botanic gardens is a pivotal features of central Christchurch, and visitors are always impressed by the wide tree lined avenues which reflect the vibrant colors of the changing seasons. The gently meandering Avon River links residential areas and the business district and its a good thing to take a 3 hour garden tour of the many gardens close by. The tours leave at 9.00am and l.30 p.m.