Quake City opens at Canterbury Museum in Christchurch

Santa Monica, Calif. – Just two years after the earthquake struck Christchurch (in the Canterbury region), not only are venue and hotel capacities bouncing back, but the Canterbury Museum has just opened Christchurch’s latest earthquake attraction – Quake City.

Quake City opened on February 15, 2013, in the Re:START Mall – during the height of summer tourist season in New Zealand. It was opened following high demand from leading business and community groups that wanted to retain an earthquake attraction in Christchurch. Quake City provides a place for reflection and education for locals, as well as a point of interest for domestic and international visitors to the region. It will engage, inform and educate visitors on the seismic activities that have occurred in the region. The exhibit uses large-scale sensitive imagery, iconic objects, sound and film to enable visitors to better understand what the people of Christchurch have experienced over the past two years.

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Lonely Planet recently named Christchurch as one of its 2013 Top 10 Cities. The influential travel publisher says Christchurch “is rising from the rubble... with a breathtaking mix of spirit, determination and flair” and forecasts that this year will be an intriguing year for visitors to join the rebirth of Christchurch.

Additional attractions in Christchurch include:

• The Re:START Mall (www.restart.org.nz).
• More than 550 cafés, restaurants and bars open (and this number is growing all the time).
• A new central shopping centre is set to open in March.
• The city’s unique Cardboard Cathedral, designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, will open in April (www.christchurchcathedral.co.nz/Rebuild/Cardboard-Cathedral).
• The Port Hills gondola will re-open in April.
• Work will begin shortly to fix the city’s popular heritage tramway.

The Christchurch and Canterbury region has enjoyed a great summer with international visitor numbers that are at least 20 per cent ahead of last year.