Easter crusade to Christchurch

Young, urban and hip, and you're wondering how to spend the long weekend. We hit the spot and provide the guide, Cantab-in-exile KATHERINE HOBY is your guide.

So you forgot it's Easter next week. It sneaked up on you, and now you find you've got a four-day break and nowhere to go. Much as you love Auckland, you want to get away, far away.

But where? There's no snow yet. Rotovegas is just so ... well, Rotovegas. And the Mount is either too young, too old, or both.

You want class? You want fun? You want a city with a respectable slogan?

Christchurch - "the Garden City: the City that Shines" - is our pick.

There are dozens of reasons to hit Christchurch for Easter. Despite its conservative image, the southern city can be Action Central if you want it to be.

Many myths surround the southern lights of Christchurch. I have a friend who was the proudest Aucklander you could meet. All the problems of Auckland were surmounted by the fact that it was simply, the greatest city on the planet.

When he had to move to Christchurch for work, you would have thought the world had ended. He saw it as a cultural and social wasteland. How wrong could one man be?

Canterbury is quite simply, the best. It is full of treasures, obvious and hidden. A long weekend there will barely be enough time to sample a few of the many gems.

Here are 10 top suggestions for virgin Aucklanders on a first-time visit to Canterbury that should leave you pleasantly exhausted and sated.

BIKE AND HIKE

Hit the Port Hills on a mountain bike. On a good day the view is awesome.

If you're not a biker, take to the trails on foot. Whichever way you do it, go hard out. Nothing feels quite the same as exhaustion post-physical-activity. And nothing feels quite the same as a cold Canterbury beer, either.

Time-saving tip: There's unlikely to be anyone influential to see or be seen by here, folks. Leave the label gear and the mobile at home.

TAKE THE RARE AIR

Christchurch might be the only place in the world where you can take a hot air ballooning flight and see a view of mountains, plains and the ocean all in one hit. We suggest a sunrise flight - a great way to kick off your day.

Etiquette tip: Operators will not appreciate a grand Titanic-style "I'm the king of the world" gesture in a balloon high in the air. It has happened.

LAZE AND GRAZE

A day at the races is always a great day out. And it doesn't have to leave your wallet smarting. The Canterbury Jockey Club is holding its annual Easter Racing Carnival at Riccarton. Whether you have a budget of two bucks or two hundred, it's always a blast to place a bet or two and scream yourself hoarse (pardon the pun) as the runners bear down on the winning post. We suggest packing a picnic and whiling away the hours in your best late summer fashion gear.

Monday is billed as the big family day out. The feature race is the Christchurch Casino Easter Cup.

Haute couture tip: Don't forget your hat. This may not be the Melbourne Cup but we southerners still have our dress standards.

GET OUT AND ABOUT

One of the great things about taking a break in Christchurch is that in the unlikely event you tire of the city itself, several enticing alternatives are within a couple of hours' drive.

Depending on what your scene is, you can retreat to Hanmer, a semi-alpine village with groan-inducing, super-relaxing thermal pools; Kaikoura, an invigorating coastal town with great opportunities for whale-watching or eating fresh crayfish in season; or intriguing Akaroa, a French flavoured settlement on Banks Peninsula.

All these destinations are easy day trips if you start early enough.

Townie tip: Just because these places are out-of-town doesn't mean they're short of culture. Caffeine fiends can still get a short black and biscotti at most places.

ROMP AND STOMP

The great thing about hitting the town in Christchurch to have a good shimmy is that the central city is so compact and so diverse. One of the best places to start is Oxford Tce, better known as "the strip." Great atmosphere early in the evening. But unless your thing is girls who look little more than 13 years old in tops that are more string than substance, move on before it becomes Teen Central.

Hip bars have sprung up around the block on Lichfield and Gloucester Sts.

And don't miss the Dux De Lux, a cruisy hang-out with a courtyard which has live bands four nights a week. Again, go early - it closes about midnight.

Taxis line the roads outside these bars so, if you over-indulge, all you need do is fall into a cab and mumble your address.

Social tip: Don't assume you will overwhelm the locals with your dance moves and suave big-city talk. Save it. Maybe even watch, and learn. Canterbury lads and lasses know how to tear up the floor and heat up your night.

ACHE AND SLAKE

Quench that thirst and hit your hangover headache fast with a healthy sized breakfast/brunch. A lazy brunch on Oxford Tce (now back to a civilised trendy stretch of road after the past night's revels) is all the rage. Caffe Roma and Sticky Fingers are two of the best brekky stops.

Survival tip: Never admit you're from Auckland. This is purely a self-preservation tactic. If asked, say Hamilton, say Cambridge, say Taupo - the further south the better.

ROAR AND SCORE

The real pub - the one with the Cheers-esque bar stools, and as many backpackers as businesspeople - seems to be all but extinct in urban New Zealand. Bailie's Bar in Cathedral Square is an exception. You're always likely to get a friendly welcome.

Blues and Chiefs fans will be relieved to note the mighty Canterbury Crusaders are playing away from their home ground, Jade Stadium, at Easter.

Translation tip: Those who do manage to take in a footie match should note that, when inebriated, patriotic and absorbed in a rugby match, Cantabs slide into a language all their own. It would take hours to learn the lot, but here's one for visitors from over the Strait: "Cannnnnnnnnnnnerrrrbreeeeeeeee" is in fact "Canterbury," the very place you are visiting.

THRILLS AND SPILLS

In case you're an armchair sportsman or woman, Christchurch will be buzzing with sports fans over the Easter break.

Just 25km out of the city, Lake Crichton plays host to the New Zealand National Waterski Championships from April 10-15.

The New Zealand Motorcycle Grand Prix will roar into action at Ruapuna Raceway on April 14 and 15. And the NZ Hot Rod Nationals boasts 400 of New Zealand's best hot rods and custom vehicles at Riccarton Racecourse from April 13 to 16.

And for those who value their hearing, something more sedate in the form of the Canterbury Junior Tennis Championships at Wilding Park from April 14 to 17.

Reality check tip: This is hardly Wimbledon or Monaco but these events are still likely to be top-class spectacles with as much passion and pride as bigtime sports affairs. So settle in, pick a favourite and get your best cheering voice ready.

QUAFF AND LAUGH

What could be better than spinning a few yarns over a glass (or bottle) or two of Canterbury's finest? Waipara is just 40 minutes from town and is home to several lovely vineyards and wineries including Canterbury House and Waipara Springs.

Vino tip: Show-off talk will not impress. If you know nothing about wines (or perhaps especially if you do) you are advised to keep your mouth shut and simply enjoy the local drop.

BEAT THAT HEAT

Parts of Canterbury are in the grip of a scorching drought. Bad news for farmers, great news for water babies. Surf, sail, or swim at Sumner, or go to Taylors Mistake or further afield.

Sumner has come into its own as a trendy place to sip coffee - yes, we have latte - with its own set of cafes.

If you feel like roughing it a bit for dinner, there are a couple of decent fish'n'chip shops, too. Top it off with a huge ice cream.

Another cool alternative is punting on the Avon River through the central city - very luxurious, very classy. Though with a severe lack of the wet stuff meaning the river is very low, we hear punting is off for the moment.

Swimwear tip: Don't waste too much time at the beach preening. Most Cantabs go to the beach to actually swim. It's quite a concept, we know.

I had a call the other day from one of Canterbury's newest residents. He was full of the joys of life - the drive to work was short and stressfree, his social life was buzzing, and he had met a nice Christchurch girl.

And when I reminded him of his former views? He quietened considerably and invited me for dinner next time I was back in the heartland.

The menu will no doubt consist of Canterbury lamb, a bottle of its finest vino and a slice of humble pie.

* Air New Zealand and Qantas both report heavy bookings on flights from Auckland to Christchurch over the Easter break. Book as soon as possible.