Springfield
Location: 50 mins from Christchurch on State Highway 73
Springfield is the most westerly township on the Central Canterbury Plains and therefore can truly claim to be 'The Gateway to the Southern Alps' especially as many skiers pass through the township on their way to skifields in the nearby mountains.
The township has had a long association with the Midland Railway Line, and its station tearooms have transformed into a Springfield information, craft and memorabilia centre continuing the traditional '10 minutes at Springfield for refreshments' stop.
A charming reserve area beside the road commemorates Springfield as the birthplace of Rewi Alley, famous for his work in China in the mid-20th century.