Northlands Mall, service stations and supermarkets are all open, it is our central city and eastern suburbs – not our side of town, which has been effected by the aftershocks.

Since 1994, summer in Christchurch has meant the Buskers Festival—ten days in late January when downtown Christchurch comes to resemble a circus.  Buskers from across New Zealand and around the world come to town for a massive, captivating, colourful display of street performances.  It’s hugely popular with locals and visitors alike, and draws over 300,000 spectators each year.  Absolutely a can’t-miss event.

With more than 500 performances by jugglers, acrobats, comedians, dancers, musicians you’ll be entertained and amazed by the talented buskers.  The atmosphere in Christchurch is also worth experiencing, as the central business district transforms into a hub of music, movement, laughter and gasps of awe.  After the earthquakes that rocked downtown last year, the city definitely deserves a week to let loose and have fun—we can’t wait!

One of the best things about the Buskers Festival is how well it engages the whole family, from the youngest to the oldest.  The street acts are all kid-friendly, though some comedy performances for the over 18 crowd are held in the evenings.

The festival is free to attend, though buskers are paid by donation.  Bring a pocket of gold coins (this could be a great way to get rid of any extra New Zealand dollars before you leave the country) and drop them in the hats of any buskers who really grabbed your attention.

How to get to the Buskers Festival from Christchurch TOP 10 Holiday Park

All you have to do is catch any bus from Northlands Mall.  Any bus heading downtown will take you there (because of limited parking, we definitely recommend you take the bus rather than drive).

The festival runs from January 20-30 beginning at 11am daily.

Timetables and venues can be found at the Buskers Festival website, or just go for a wander around town—you’ll be amazed at what you find!

Fortunately, Christchurch has plenty of places to go to enjoy the weather.  Some of our favourite summer picnic spots are:

New Brighton Beach. Photo by Eli Duke with permission under Creative Commons

• The beaches at Sumner and New Brighton
• Downtown Hagley Park (did you know that Hagley Park is one of the biggest urban parks in the world?  It’s third, after Central Park in New York City and Hyde Park in London!)
• The trails in the Port Hills, accessible by hiking from Lyttelton or Cashmere

All of these places can be reached by the simple and efficient Christchurch bus system.  Guests at Christchurch Top 10 can catch the bus from Northlands Mall, just a five minute walk from the gate.

Summer is also festival season in Christchurch, and we’re treated to a selection of events featuring live music, fireworks and family activities.  Be sure to take advantage of these, which are free of charge and a guaranteed great time for the whole family.  So pack your picnic basket and head down to…

Classical Sparks

This is a Christchurch Classic!  Every year ASB Classical Sparks lights up Hagley Park with live music and an impressive fireworks display.  Ever popular, this event is a favourite for the whole family.  ASB Classical Sparks is Saturday, 5 February at 8pm.

The Breeze Lazy Sundays

Summer in Christchurch means a selection of live music.  One of our favourite events is The Breeze Lazy Sundays, which showcases a new artist every week on the Archery Lawn in the Botanic Gardens.  The performances start at 4pm every Sunday from 9 January to 13 March.

Tip Top Kite Day

On Saturday 29 January, New Brighton Beach will fill with colour as hundreds of kites take to the sky for Tip Top Kite Day.  Bring along a kite of your own, buy one there or just admire the show.  Remember to bring your camera!

For more information on these events and to find other things going on in the Christchurch summer 2011, check out Garden City Summer Times.

Photo by N1NJ4 through a Creative Commons attribution license

Christmas in New Zealand may not feature snow or roaring fires, but that’s never stopped us from enjoying the holiday. Here in the southern hemisphere, we’re lucky enough to have Christmas during the summertime and we’ve adapted it appropriately. To Kiwis, the Christmas season means backyard BBQs and camping trips. Not a bad way to celebrate!

The Top 10 Holiday Park is fully equipped for you and your family to make the most of your Christmas holiday, with our pool, playground and BBQ areas. In addition, there is plenty going on in Christchurch to keep you busy this Christmas. Here are just a few of the activities around town this season:

For the Family

In a 2006 survey, Reader’s Digest found that to most New Zealanders, spending time with family is the best part of Christmas. We agree! With all sorts of activities for the whole family, Christmas in Christchurch is fun for kids and grown-ups alike.

•From the 17th to the 22nd of December, the Southern Centre at QE2 Park is transformed into a Christmas wonderland, where kids and adults can explore the multi-sensory exhibits and meet Santa.

• The Wigram Air Force Museum is hosting a holiday programme just for kids, with Christmas-themed crafts and activities.

• On Christmas Eve, the Christchurch YMCA is holding a candlelight carol event in the city centre.

• A hall at Spreydon Baptist Church has been transformed into the Christchurch Christmas Grotto, open daily until Christmas eve. A wonderful toyland and a must see at only $2 per person.

• See the most stunning Christmas lights in Christchurch by checking out this website which lists the best Christmas lighting displays in New Zealand.

Shopping

Of course, Christmas is also a time for shopping. For unique and personal Christmas gifts try the Christmas Craft Market in downtown Christchurch runs from 10am to 4pm on the 18th of December. And if you’re looking for some fresh, local goodies for your picnic or BBQ, be sure to stop by the Lyttelton Twilight Farmer’s Market, held on the evenings of the 23rd and 30th of December.

No matter how you spend your holiday, we hope it’s a safe and memorable one. Merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year from the team at Christchurch Top 10!

Cranford Street Entrance

Landscaping our Cranford St entrance is well underway with the fence up and lots of huge rocks in place! Steve and the team have spent 3 days with a crane placing rocks.

Next week the plants arrive and we continue our native plant theme.  Our gardener Niki can’t wait to get planting and will have 300 new plants under her wing.

If you are booked in with us or need accommodation in Christchurch, we just wanted to provide an update after the large earthquake in Christchurch on Saturday, September 4.

This was a huge event for the city, and it has taken a while for things to start returning to normal. We have had structural engineers inspecting the park, and are happy to say that we have passed with flying colours and minimal damage.

If you need somewhere to stay while your home is being repaired, or you are visiting Christchurch and are not able to stay at your planned accommodation, please contact our team and we are happy to help.

Our thoughts go out to everyone in the city, and we look forward to assisting in any way we can.

Dean, Jackie and Steve

Summer 1980 - queuing for the pool

Some of our readers and guests have noticed over the years the change from motor camps and camping grounds around New Zealand to the new name of “holiday parks”.

If your idea of a camping holiday brings back childhood memories of tents in a row by the beach or a river somewhere, lots of grass, long drop toilets and cold showers … you need to take a look at what is now on offer at holiday parks around New Zealand.

For us, the transition happened around the time we joined the TOP 10 Holiday Park group, and it is a far better representation of what we offer our guests these days.

Growth in numbers staying in New Zealand holiday parks has continued, with the most recent visitor numbers survey showing an increase of 1 percent for holiday parks over the winter season (not peak season). Holiday parks overall account for 15% of guest nights nationwide.

Balance bike - 2010

As a holiday park we offer a higher standard of facilities, activities and accommodation than any traditional kiwi camping ground might have offered in the past.

Our guests enjoy heated floors in the shower block, which are all modern, clean and well maintained – no more cold showers in concrete floored cubicles.

Internet access is pretty standard now, and we offer email access for our guests and wifi so you can keep in touch with friends and family back home.

We also have lots of activities on site, from BBQ areas, swimming pool, trampoline and adventure playgrounds, to giant jumping pillows, go karts, games rooms and free movies- which means you can keep your whole family entertained without even leaving the park if you want to!

We are now one of Canterbury’s largest accommodation providers and one of the biggest Holiday Parks in the country.

Our blog is our opportunity to share with you some of the happenings around the park – some of our more interesting visitors, and ways you can make the most of your camping holiday in Christchurch.

We would love you to comment and share your experiences and even your photos or video of your time here at the Park – feel free to email us or comment down below.

Jackie, Dean and Steve