It's official: Christchurch and Northland are two of the greatest places in the world according to TIME Magazine.

The magazine’s annual travel guide includes 100 destinations “offering visitors an extraordinary experience that’s unlike any other”. It is the third year the New York-based magazine and news website have published the list.

The list described Christchurch as “fully in recovery mode, welcoming hotel, restaurant and public-space openings almost every month”, and described Northland's "Sure to delight" offerings of hot springs, cultural attractions, and world-class diving.

Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel says it is great news to see the city on TIME’s list. “Although our borders aren’t open right now, I am sure this will excite even greater interest in the city we have become,” Dalziel says. “We want to showcase the innovation and ingenuity which has been embedded in our city’s DNA. The fact that TIME has recognised the full potential of our city will further put us on the international stage.”

time.com