Suspended above the suburbs of Christchurch, the Gondola whisks you nearly a kilometre to the Crater Rim of the Port Hills. See in the extinct volcano which exploded six million years ago, sheltering Lyttelton’s sparkling harbour and to the west, the Southern Alps seem close in the clear pure air and to the East, the ocean and the sky stretch as far as the eye can see. Experience the Time Tunnel, a dramatic reconstruction of the history of the Port Hills and Christchurch and revive your spirits with a snack at the new Red Rock Cafe.

Experience the history and adventures of the Swedish ship Götheborg, the world's largest ocean-going wooden sailing ship, which sailed three times to Asia and sank outside of Gothenburg in 1745. Come on board this replica of the original Götheborg, where guides, dressed in 18th-century costumes, tell the story of the harsh life on board the ship, the expeditions of today, and the tremendous art of shipbuilding.

Unique in Greece, the Rotunda is a cylindrical building from the early 4th century AD. The mosaics inside are really impressive. The Rotunda is a massive circular structure, built in 306 AD, with a masonry core. Through its long history, it has gone through multiple periods of use and modification as a polytheist temple, a Christian basilica, a Muslim mosque, and a Christian church once again. A minaret is preserved from its use as a mosque, and ancient remains are exposed on its southern side. Some Greek publications claim it is the oldest Christian church in the world. These days, the Rotunda is primarily an archaeological site, where you can see some remaining Christian mosaics and feel the weight of history.

Established in 1863, the Botanic Gardens host, without doubt, the finest collection of exotic and indigenous plants to be found anywhere in New Zealand. Operating a continuous daily service, Caterpillar Garden Tours allows visitors to discover the natural beauty, history and culture of this central city oasis while at the same time being taken around the gardens in all weather, comfort and style. The tours are fully guided on an environmentally friendly electric shuttle.