Christchurch, New Zealand: travel guide
The largest South Island city, rebuilt after the 2010-11 earthquakes into a garden city of street art, a transitional cathedral and revived laneways. Main gateway to Canterbury, the Southern Alps and TranzAlpine rail.
- Country
- New Zealand
- Currency
- NZD
- Time zone
- Pacific/Auckland
- Nearest airport
- CHC
Top places to visit in Christchurch
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Nature · about 2 h
21 hectares of heritage gardens beside the Avon, with rose beds, glasshouses and towering exotic trees in the heart of Hagley Park.
Christ Church Cathedral
Church · about 0.8 h
The neo-Gothic cathedral at the city's centre, badly damaged in the 2011 quake and now under a landmark reinstatement.
Cardboard Cathedral
Church · about 0.5 h
Shigeru Ban's ingenious 'Transitional Cathedral' built from 98 cardboard tubes after the earthquakes.
Canterbury Museum
Museum · about 1.5 h
A much-loved Gothic Revival museum of Antarctic exploration, Maori taonga and a recreated colonial street.
Christchurch Gondola
Viewpoint · about 1.5 h
A cable-car ride to the crater rim of the Port Hills for panoramas over the city, Lyttelton Harbour and the Southern Alps.
International Antarctic Centre
Museum · about 2.5 h
An immersive attraction near the airport with a storm room, husky pups and a Hagglund all-terrain ride.
Riverside Market
Market · about 1 h
A bustling covered fresh-food and street-food market on the banks of the Avon, a hub of the rebuilt city centre.
Quake City
Museum · about 1 h
A moving museum recounting the 2010-11 Canterbury earthquakes through survivor stories and salvaged artefacts.
New Regent Street
Heritage · about 0.8 h
A pastel-hued 1930s Spanish Mission pedestrian street lined with cafes and the heritage tram running through.
Punting on the Avon
Activity · about 0.8 h
A gently poled Edwardian-style punt along the willow-lined Avon River through the Botanic Gardens.
Sumner Beach
Beach · about 1.5 h
A relaxed seaside suburb with a sandy surf beach, the iconic Cave Rock and a strip of cafes.
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Wildlife · about 2 h
A native wildlife reserve with a walk-through kiwi enclosure and a Maori cultural experience.
Things to do
- Akaroa Swimming with Dolphins Nature · 6 h · from NZD 175 per person
- Canterbury Hot Air Balloon Adventure · 4 h · from NZD 425 per person
- Ko Tane Maori Cultural Experience Cultural · 3 h · from NZD 145 per person
- Christchurch Gondola & Tram Combo Family · 3 h · from NZD 65 per person
- Christchurch City Highlights Tour Cultural · 3 h · from NZD 79 per person
- Punting on the Avon Cultural · 0.8 h · from NZD 35 per person
Day trips and tours
- Arthur's Pass & TranzAlpine Rail Day Tour 10 h · from NZD 289
- Akaroa Harbour & Dolphins Day Tour 9 h · from NZD 199
Where to stay in Christchurch
- Christchurch City Centre about NZD 230 per night
The rebuilt central city around Cathedral Square and the Botanic Gardens, walkable and full of new laneways.
- Riccarton about NZD 190 per night
A leafy suburb near Hagley Park and Riccarton Bush, with good-value hotels and the weekend market.
Hotels
- The George Hotel 5-star · NZD 320 to NZD 550 per night
- Fable Christchurch 4.5-star · NZD 240 to NZD 380 per night
- Sudima Christchurch City 4-star · NZD 200 to NZD 320 per night
- Distinction Christchurch 4.5-star · NZD 220 to NZD 360 per night
- Chateau on the Park DoubleTree 4-star · NZD 210 to NZD 330 per night
- Jailhouse Accommodation 3-star · NZD 40 to NZD 140 per night
Where to eat
- Twenty Seven Steps Modern New Zealand · about NZD 70 per person
- Inati Modern New Zealand, Shared Plates · about NZD 100 per person
- Pescatore Fine Dining, Seafood · about NZD 130 per person
- King of Snake Pan-Asian · about NZD 65 per person
- Little High Eatery Food Hall, International · about NZD 25 per person
- C1 Espresso Cafe · about NZD 22 per person
- Cassels Brewery Pizza, Brewery · about NZD 42 per person
- The Bicycle Thief Italian · about NZD 55 per person
Getting around
- Bicycle main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Car Rental Self main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Tram main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Fake accommodation listings
Online booking sites
Occasional scam listings for city apartments take deposits for properties that do not exist.
How to avoid it: Book through reputable platforms and be wary of requests to pay by bank transfer.