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Story: Canterbury region

The Canterbury Plains

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The Canterbury Plains

The Canterbury Plains are New Zealand’s largest area of flat land, with straight roads cutting across a mosaic of paddocks. This area 40 kilometres west of Christchurch where seven roads converge is known as Charing Cross.

Using this item

GNS Science

Reference: CN32517/23

by Lloyd Homer

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

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How to cite this page

John Wilson, Canterbury region – Landscapes, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10300/the-canterbury-plains (accessed 20 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 2 March 2009.