Active Pursuits

Beaches -- Christchurch has three main beaches -- Sumner, Taylor's Mistake, and New Brighton. Originally a quiet holiday suburb, Sumner is now favored by city dwellers on weekends. Its attractive beach is a magnet for swimmers, surfers, and volleyball players. There are plenty of good cafes, restaurants, and bars. Lots of families, lots of young people.

Taylor's Mistake is a surfer hangout with some quaint old holiday homes tucked into the cliffs. There's a good walk around the cliff tops from Taylor's Mistake to Boulder Bay. Directions are on a big board to the right of the parking area behind the surf club. The beach is over the hill from Sumner and is best accessed by car. Once past Scarborough Hill, there's no place else to go but down to Taylor's Mistake.

There has been a rush of redevelopment at New Brighton. It's a good place to take the kids for fishing, safe swimming, and surfing. All in all, a better beach experience awaits at Sumner.

Biking -- Christchurch has a reputation as a cyclist's paradise because of its overall flat terrain. Bike lanes are marked off in several parts of the city, and parking lots provide bike racks. For rentals, contact City Cycle Hire (tel. 0800/343-848 in NZ, or 03/339-4020; www.cyclehire-tours.co.nz), which will deliver bikes to your accommodations. They have road and mountain bikes plus tandems, and all are supplied with licks and helmets. Half-day, 1-day, and long-term hires are available.

Boating -- Punting is a fun activity, especially since someone else is doing all the work. You'll spot the young men from Punting on the Avon (tel. 03/353-5944; www.punting.co.nz) in straw hats pushing their way up the Avon River at the junction of Oxford Terrace and Worcester Boulevard. You can reserve a ride at the visitor center and pay NZ$12 per person for a 20-minute round-trip to the Town Hall, NZ$16 for a 30-minute round-trip to the Retour Restaurant. You can also get tickets from the landing stage at Worcester bridge. Punts depart daily 9am to dusk. Punting is also available at Mona Vale Gardens.

If canoeing is your thing, rent one from Antigua Boatsheds, 2 Cambridge Terrace (tel. 03/366-6768; www.boatsheds.co.nz), for NZ$10 per hour. It opens at 9am; the last boats go out at 5pm.

Climbing -- Get the inside scoop at Bivouac Outdoor, 76 City Mall, near the Bridge of Remembrance (tel. 03/366-3197; www.bivouac.co.nz), where you can also buy Port Hills Climbing for NZ$25. Castle Rock and the Tors are good for all levels; Rapaki is good for beginner to intermediate climbers; and Lyttelton Rock is for the more adventurous. Castle Hill in Arthur's Pass has hundreds of climbs for mixed levels and is excellent for boulder climbing. Or head to the YMCA Indoor Rock Climbing Wall, 12 Hereford St. (tel. 03/366-0689; www.ymcachch.org.nz), which is open daily from 8am to 10pm and costs NZ$12 for adults, NZ$8 for children; it's an extra NZ$5 for harness hire and NZ$5 for shoe hire.

Dolphin-Watching -- Christchurch Wildlife Cruises, 17 Norwich Quay, Lyttelton (tel. 0800/436-574 in NZ, or 03/328-9078; www.blackcat.co.nz), has an afternoon dolphin-watching cruise, departing daily at 1:30pm all year. It costs NZ$60 for adults and NZ$25 for children ages 5 to 15. They also operate dolphin-watching cruises in Akaroa. You'll find free parking near the wharf, or you can catch the no. 28 bus from the city to Lyttelton. A free shuttle also connects with each cruise.

Golf -- The Canterbury region boasts over 40 courses. Russley Golf Club, 428 Memorial Ave., near the airport (tel. 03/358-4748), has reasonably flat, well-bunkered greens and is one of the premier courses in New Zealand. It is open by arrangement. Greens fees are around NZ$60. Harewood Twin Courses, 371 McLeans Island Rd. (tel. 03/359-8843; www.harewoodgolf.co.nz), is the largest golf club in the South Island, with two 18-hole courses. Greens fees are NZ$20 to NZ$40. Christchurch Golf Club (sometimes referred to as Shirley), 45 Horseshoe Lake Rd. (tel. 03/385-2738), has well-groomed, primarily flat fairways. It's open most days; greens fees are around NZ$95. Clearwater Resort, Johns Road (tel. 03/360-1003; www.clearwaternz.com), is a par-72 course and players will pay around NZ$135 for a round of golf. The Terrace Downs Country Resort and Golf Club (tel. 0800/465-373 in NZ, or 03/318-6943; www.terracedowns.co.nz) has opened in Rakaia, a 50-minute drive from Christchurch, at the base of the Mount Hutt ski field and on the banks of the Rakaia Gorge. The par-72 course has 70 bunkers, eight lakes, rolling fairways, and spectacular views; nonaffiliated fees are around NZ$120.

Horse Trekking -- Head over the Port Hills to Charteris Bay and join a farm and bush trek with Orton Bradley Horse Treks, Orton Bradley Park (tel. 03/329-4900; www.obhorsetreks.co.nz). They're 30 minutes from the city and you'll see terrific harbor views along the way. A 1-hour ride is NZ$50 per person and return transport from the city can be arranged for NZ$30 per person (minimum two people).

Hot-Air Ballooning -- There is no other place in the world where it's possible to fly from the center of a city, in view of the ocean, toward snowcapped mountains. Up, Up and Away (tel. 03/381-4600; www.ballooning.co.nz) charges NZ$300 for adults and NZ$260 for children ages 5 to 11 for a special first-light experience. Free transport is provided from city locations.

Jet-Boating -- Several operators offer exhilarating spins up the Waimakariri River. The longest established is Waimak Alpine Jet (tel. 0800/263-626 in NZ, or 03/318-4881; www.alpinejet.co.nz). It's a little farther out of town than Jet Thrills (tel. 0800/847-455 in NZ; www.adventurecanterbury.com), a 15-minute drive away, but both give you something to squeal about. Prices are NZ$90 to NZ$300 per person.

Mountain Biking -- The Port Hills are a favorite place for mountain biking. The Mountain Bike Adventure Co. (tel. 0800/424-534 in NZ) makes it possible to take the Christchurch Gondola to the top and then bike down one of the hill tracks or the road. The cost is NZ$65. The gondola operates daily October through April from 10am to midnight, in winter from noon to 10pm. Mountain-biking reservations can be made at the visitor center.

Paragliding -- Nimbus Paragliding (tel. 0800/111-611 in NZ; www.nimbusparagliding.co.nz) was the early pioneer of Canterbury paragliding and has pilots who will assist you in leaping off one of three superb Port Hills sites. Four to 10 minutes of flying will cost NZ$160 tandem. A paragliding school with 1- to 11-day courses is also available. Seriously addicted paragliders could consider Nimbus Paragliding Adventure Tours, which provides all flying equipment, campervans, and a New Zealand-wide itinerary covering the best flying sites.

Sky Diving -- If you feel ready for that ultimate adrenaline rush, ring Skydivingnz.com (tel. 0800/697-593 in NZ; www.skydivingnz.com). You'll be attached to its highly experienced tandem instructor. Free-fall sky diving over Hagley Park costs NZ$330 from 2,700m (9,000 ft.). Courtesy transport is provided from the city.

Swimming -- Get your head wet at QEII Park, Travis Road, on the way to New Brighton (tel. 03/383-4313; www.ccc.govt.nz). There are four heated indoor pools, including a crazy hydroslide made up of 220m (722 ft.) of twisting tubes. Right in town is the new Centennial Leisure Centre, Armagh Street (tel. 03/941-6853), which has a gym, lap pool, leisure pools, spas, and saunas.

Walking -- The visitor center has several brochures detailing city walks. One of the best is Christchurch City Walks, which gives three easy, 45-minute options that take in city landmarks. River Walks of Christchurch details 13 walks for all ages; and Christchurch Central City Lanes Walk introduces you to many historic buildings in the now-trendy lanes off Lichfield Street. There is also a network of good walking tracks through the Port Hills that you can enjoy on your own, free of charge.

The more energetic will find the 4-day, 35km (22-mile) Banks Peninsula Track worthwhile; there's also the 3-day, 43km (27-mile) Kaikoura Coast Track. Arthur's Pass National Park, 150km (93 miles) west of Christchurch, is another tramper's heaven. Or call New Zealand Hiking Safaris (tel. 0800/697-232 in NZ; www.hikingnewzealand.com), which has a range of superb multiday treks. It's based in Lyttelton but offers treks all over New Zealand.

White-Water Rafting -- Rangitata Rafts (tel. 0800/251-251 in NZ, or 03/696-3735; www.rafts.co.nz) will take pleasure in introducing you to the Rangitata River's Grade V rapids. You'll start the adventure with a relaxed lunch rather than hard work. That comes later as you go through safety briefs, practical training, and a natural progression to the intense Grade IV and V section. End with hot showers and a barbecue. All this will cost NZ$210. The day trip includes transport from Christchurch.

Taking to the Slopes

There are excellent ski fields within 2 hours of Christchurch. Closest among them are the five main fields of the Arthur's Pass area -- Porter Heights, Mount Cheeseman, Broken River, Craigieburn Valley, and Temple Basin -- all 1 to 1 1/2 hours from the city. Porter Heights (tel. 03/318-4002; www.skiporters.co.nz) is the closest commercial field. It has the longest downhill drop in New Zealand, and although the facilities are pretty basic, it has a variety of terrain and stunning views. It's good for all skill levels. Mount Cheeseman (tel. 03/379-5315; www.mtcheeseman.com) is a club field and the second closest to Christchurch. It's good for all skiers and snowboarders, but it's not as big as the others. Broken River (tel. 03/318-7270; ski@brokenriver.co.nz) is another club field and a bit more rugged; it has rope tows only. Craigieburn Valley (tel. 03/365-2514; www.craigieburn.co.nz) is a club field 1 1/4 hours away, perfect for intermediate and advanced skiers. Temple Basin (tel. 03/377-7788; www.templebasin.co.nz), a club field beyond Arthur's Pass, has the most reliable snow in Canterbury facing the sun. It's a steep and enclosed field, and skiers say that if you can ski at Temple Basin, you can ski anywhere in the world. It's a snowboarder's paradise, too.

North Canterbury also has Mount Lyford (tel. 03/315-6178; www.mtlyford.co.nz), a privately owned commercial field 1 hour from Kaikoura and 1 1/2 to 2 hours north of Christchurch; and Mount Olympus (tel. 03/318-5840; www.mtolympus.co.nz), a club field in the back of the Craigieburn range, set in a wide south-facing basin, that offers a variety of runs on uncrowded slopes.

Farther afield is Mount Hutt Ski Area, Main Road, Methven (tel. 03/302-8811; www.nzski.com). Right in the heart of the Southern Alps, Mount Hutt is recognized internationally as having the longest number of skiable days in Australasia. It's located 90 minutes south of Christchurch by car. Although it's the most developed commercial field in Canterbury, Mount Hutt is very popular because it's well serviced by T-bars and chairlifts, and good shuttles are available. It's quite crowded here, and it isn't every skier's favorite. It doesn't have the same good fall line as Porter Heights, but it does have much better après-ski and on-field facilities. Note: It's important to read all signs here. If they say CLOSED, they mean it -- it can get dangerous here because the weather closes in very quickly. It's a long haul up the mountain, and chains are necessary for a good part of the season. For a snow report, call tel. 0900/99-SNO [99-766].

Addicted skiers tell me you should never go anywhere in the Porter Heights range or Mount Hutt when Canterbury's infamous nor'west wind blows; apparently it's often raining in the mountains then and you'll be plagued by horrendous winds.