Lyttelton Harbour will welcome the Dutch tall sailing ship Oosterschelde on 27 December 2024, as Canterbury begins its 175th anniversary celebrations of European settlement.
The ship is set to dock at 9:00 am, marking a milestone in the region’s rich history.
This date holds special significance for Canterbury. It was on 27 December 1850 that the Cressy, the last of the First Four Ships, arrived in Lyttelton Harbour, completing the journey of the first Canterbury Pilgrims.
These settlers laid the foundation for Christchurch and the wider Canterbury region, shaping its future as a vibrant, thriving community.
Oosterschelde’ near Singapore 1997
Photographer Pieter Nijdeken
The Canterbury Pilgrims Association said Oosterschelde’s arrival symbolises the adventurous spirit and resilience of the Canterbury Pilgrims, who endured
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