The Port Hills shows the contrasts between rocky Crater Rims and the green scenery of Canterbury Plains below. All sorts of outdoor activities are performed in this unique area and hiking is one of them. The Port Hills truly offer breathtaking views, so be ready with the camera.

After the February quake caused damage to the iconic Christchurch Cathedral, Japanese architect Shigeru Ban designed one of his famous “Emergency Architecture” buildings, and now the transitional 'Cardboard' Cathedral project is welcoming visitors. Constructed from a series of 96 cardboard tubes and framing, this is an exciting symbol of innovation, hope and inspiration for the city for the next 50 or so years.

Running from Fuencaliente to El Pilar, this well-marked scenic route is easy to navigate and varies in difficulty depending on the route you choose. It's downhill towards Fuencaliente, but becomes more challenging if you venture north to El Pilar.

Simply put, Iceland’s famous Golden Circle is a popular route between three of the island's most visited attractions. Usually done as a day trip, the route starts in Reykjavik and takes you south and inland, to the Þingvellir National Park. There you enter the Geyser geothermal area with the Strokkur Geyser being most eager of the bunch. Finally, you arrive at to the 32-metre tall Gullfoss waterfall in the canyon of the roaring Hvítá river. Many tour agents and travellers themselves like to make extra stops along the way to see a geothermal power plant or spend a few hours at one of the spas. You could rent a car and drive between the landmarks at your own speed. In summer, you could even use the long daylight hours to avoid the crowds that tend to come earlier in the day. If you can pick your own route, don't miss the Kerid Crater Lake — a scenic lake that occupies a 3,000 years old volcanic crater that you can easily reach on foot.