Christchurch is situated in Canterbury region of the South Island and is the second largest city of New Zealand. It represents the getaway to Antarctica, while lying next to Pegasus Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
Overall the city is surrounded by Avon, Heathcote and Waimakariri Rivers, and the Canterbury Plains. The climate is considered to be temperate, with cool and mild summers (maximum temperature 23°C/73.4°F), and cold and frosty winters (temperatures fall below 0°C/32°F frequently).
One of the best and most popular mountain bike sites in Christchurch is Port Hills. It is a huge area of hills, forests and valleys between the city and Lyttelton port.
It offers 40.6 km/25 mi of single-track, 16.5 km/10 mi of 4wd track and 3.4 km/2 mi of double-track, all designed mainly for mountain biking. It is addressed to riders of all levels and it provides a total of 34 trails you can choose from, depending on your skills and stamina (Anaconda, Captain Thomas, Rapaki Track, Siberia).
Note: For detailed information on the tracks, check with the Christchurch City Council official website.
