After Auckland, Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island and the second-most populous city in New Zealand’s metropolitan area. East of the Canterbury Plains, in the Canterbury Region, Christchurch is located close to the South Island’s east coast’s center. It is situated close to the southernmost point of Pegasus Bay, with Banks Peninsula to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the east. The city center is traversed by the Avon River, also known as Ōtākaro, which has a sizable urban park situated beside its banks. Christchurch is known for being a “English” city because of its distinctive architectural style and resemblance to English garden cities, earning it the moniker “Garden City.”