South Island

I first visited Christchurch in February 2011, just a few days before a 6.3 magnitude earthquake destroyed many of the city's landmarks and killed 183 Cantabrians. A decade on, abandoned buildings and empty blocks of rubble serve as constant reminders of the challenges the region faces. Despite this, Christchurch is as beautiful as ever. Murals adorn walls in place of demolished buildings, and debris is given a new lease of life in gardens and memorials. From Christchurch, we journeyed south to explore the lakes of the lower South Island, Tekapo and Wānaka, before ending our journey in Dunedin, famed for its wildlife and Victorian architecture.