Christchurch city centre has an amazing amount of new dining and entertainment venues. Our home is only a 15 minute drive or one easy bus ride to the city centre with all the shopping, dining and entertainment you could want within a short walk in the compact, pedestrian & bike friendly centre.

This is the best website for loads of info on Chch and further afield in Canterbury, including the day trips I mention below: https://www.christchurchnz.com

There are lots of day trip options (see links below):
• The historic French settlement of Akaroa 1.5hours on a beautiful harbour with kayaking, hiking, penguin and seal colony, boat cruises and swimming with wild dolphins.
• Hanmer Springs alpine village with thermal pools/spa, forest biking/hiking and jet boating is 1.5hours.
• TranzAlpine train journey across the South Island and back, over the Alps.
• Mt Hutt ski field and Methven village are just over 1hour, for non-skiers there is a sightseeing chairlift ride and a hot spa at the very top: https://www.mthutt.co.nz
• On the way to Hanmer is the Waipara Valley winery region: https://www.christchurchnz.com/what-to-see-and-do/canterbury-vineyards/
• The country town of Oxford at the foothills of the Southern Alps is 45min, has great summer open-gardens, a farmers market and native forest walks: https://www.visitwaimakariri.co.nz/towns/oxford/

Touring around for a few days you could add much more - this website has suggested 4 day trips: https://www.newzealand.com/int/trips-and-driving-itineraries/south-island/
• Kaikoura 2.5hrs for seafood, coastal walks, seals, whale watching cruises: https://www.kaikoura.co.nz/ and https://www.alpinepacific.nz/
• Arthurs Pass village high in the Southern Alps 2.5hrs with spectacular alpine scenery, native Kea parrots, waterfalls and walks: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/canterbury/places/arthurs-pass-national-park/
• The Mackenzie Region 3hrs includes Mt Cook (the highest mountain in NZ) and Lake Tekapo village on an aqua glacial lake: https://mackenzienz.com/destinations/
• Oamaru 3hrs, the Steampunk capital of NZ and the historic Victorian Precinct with galleries, cafes, markets and penguins: https://waitakinz.com/oamaru/
• Dunedin and the Otago Peninsular 5hrs, historic buildings and wildlife galore: https://www.dunedinnz.com/visit/see-and-do