Rangiora vacation rentals

Surrounded by farmland, Rangiora is the largest township in the Waimakariri District in Canterbury, 30 minutes north of Christchurch. Its rich cultural past is evidenced in the many historic buildings along the High Street from the Town Hall to the intersection of Ashley Street. Rangiora is considered a heritage precinct, and some of the oldest buildings here are listed under the Landmarks Heritage scheme.

You’ll find a lively arts and culinary scene here, with theater companies, performing arts schools, and several wineries within an easy drive. The Rangiora Showgrounds was the location of New Zealand’s first traction-engine rally, and today it hosts events for traction engines, hot rods, and muscle cars from around the world. You can also cast a line for redfish in the Ashley River (Rakahuri in Māori) north of town. Rangiora is at the northern end of Inland Scenic Route 72, a popular road-trip route that heads west and south through the bucolic small towns of the Canterbury Plains, passing ski fields, gorges, and cascades on its way.

Rangiora has an oceanic climate. The summer months of December to March are usually long, bright, and sunny, and evenings are warm. The Great Kiwi Beer Festival is a popular event in January in Christchurch that combines live music and beer tastings. Although Rangiora rarely experiences frosts or even snow during the winter months of May through September, it does experience quite a bit of rainfall in June and July. June is also the month when the area experiences the highest humidity, which is worth bearing in mind if you’re planning on doing a lot of walking or cycling. Markedly fewer people visit the area in the spring months of September, October, and November, when chilly winds blow in from the ocean, often carrying rain.

Breedenbroek Gardens

Breedenbroek Gardens, in the rolling Ashley Downs just across the river, is a relaxed and beautifully maintained country garden with formal rose beds with herbaceous borders, a 16-meter waterlily pond, and a meandering natural creek that flows into a large pond surrounded by a walkway. The walkway then leads into an area with native plants. You can book a guided tour that comes with afternoon tea or lunch.

Matawai Park

Tucked away to the south of town, Matawai Park covers around 10 acres of swamp, grassy fields ,and hills. More than 25,000 trees have been planted in Matawai Park, and it’s a popular place for family walks and picnics. It is also used as an education facility to teach kids about New Zealand’s native flora and fauna.

Ashley Rakahuri Regional Park

Less than 10 minutes from Rangiora, Ashley Rakahuri Regional Park stretches along both banks of the Ashley River and part of the Okuku River. Several walking and cycling paths wend through the park. Wander along the riverside through stands of native pine, poplar, and willow, occasionally passing a pond or bridge, until you reach the golden sands of Waikuku Beach.