localeye passes the 5000 mark 

Visitor stats to localeye continue to climb. February recorded over 16,000 visitors. localeye has over 5,500 sites listed.

If you know of any site based in, or about, this region, please let us know and we will add it to the database.

Recent News and Events

Hear brass and pipe bands at play
Backpackers survival guide
Times of your life – Press Summer theatre season
Canterbury Wine and  Food  Festival
Body, mind and spirit festival
Rita Angus and Leo Bensemann: The Cambridge Terrace Years
Look forward to Savour New Zealand

Sites Added

The Poplars Luxury Suites and Cashel Apartments
Two central city, fully serviced, fully furnished apartment buildings for short, medium and long-term stays. Information on facilities. Online bookings.

Top of the Harbour
Gateway site listing dining, accomodation and other services in the Barry's Bay and Duvauchelle areas at the top of Akaroa Harbour.

Book  a Hotel In Christchurch
Hotel booking database. Information available in languages other than English.

Alpine Pacific Triangle Scenic Route
Scenic touring route linking Waipara, Hanmer springs and Kaikoura. Site includes Map and travel distances and times.

Viewpoint

Something to look ahead to

By February 2004 the world will surely have changed in ways we can't perhaps imagine, but a bunch of energetic Aussies are planning a peaceful invasion of the South Island.

The Great NZ Bike Ride 2004, organised by Bicycle Victoria, is scheduled for late January 2004 and looks set to attract up to 1000 riders from around the world according to Christchurch and Canterbury Marketing.
Taking 14 days to complete, the journey will begin in Christchurch and take in the best of the South Island’s attractions and scenery: Lake Tekapo, Mt Cook, Queenstown and the Glaciers before returning to Christchurch on the TranzAlpine Train.

There could be great spinoffs for tourist activities, accomodation and entertainment in the city and countryside and perhaps the Australians will be tempted back for a second look. Bicycle Victoria is an energetic promoter of cycling - organising rides, providing excellent cycling  information on its  website and lobbying for a cycle friendly world.

New Zealand has a great reputation as a cycle touring destination, especially the South Island.

In the news

600,000 Overnights for YHA Reflect Record-setting Growth
Press Release : Youth Hostel Association

For the second year in a row, New Zealand backpacker accommodation has registered double digit growth, almost twice that of the tourism industry overall.Latest statistics show that inbound visitor arrivals have driven an increase of 12.3 percent overnights within the sector (compared with 10 percent for the previous year), including a milestone for nationwide budget accommodation leader YHA New Zealand.YHA New Zealand Chief Executive Officer David Beattie announced that the YHA network reached 600,000 overnights for the 12 months ending February 2003, a record for the organisation.

Scoop  March 20, 2003

Buried Treasures

Spotlight on some localeye resources ...

Entertain your visitors in Canterbury

Are you about to entertain visitors? Make sure their stay is a memorable one with the help of localeye
Things to Do  Here we list an exciting range of experiences  ranging from Golf to Adventure Tours to Skiing to Festivals.
Just half an hour from Christchurch is Lyttelton Harbour where  sightseeing activities include  Maori Pa sites, Maritime History , Antarctic exploration links and opportunities to view  dolphins, seals and birdlife.
Rail trips from Christchurch offer many possibilities from the well known Coastal Pacific and Tranz Alpine routes, to the special trips run by  Rail Tours and the Weka Pass Railway.
One of Canterbury's economic strengths is farming and Farm to Farm is a company specialising in arranging tours for farmers and others interested in farming.

Those with a literary bent might enjoy visiting the house of Dame Ngaio Marsh, Christchurch's Queen of Crime Writing. The house illustrates many aspects of Dame Ngaio's life and work.

Tussock and Beech Eco Tours have captured two icons of the Canterbury landscape in their name and run small group tours to explore countryside and observe birds and other wildlife.