Top places to visit in Christchurch

• Christchurch Botanic Gardens

  botanic garden · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  gothic cathedral · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  The neo-Gothic cathedral at the city's centre, badly damaged in the 2011 quake and now under a landmark reinstatement.

• Cardboard Cathedral

  transitional cathedral · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Shigeru Ban's ingenious 'Transitional Cathedral' built from 98 cardboard tubes after the earthquakes.

• Canterbury Museum

  natural & cultural history · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A much-loved Gothic Revival museum of Antarctic exploration, Maori taonga and a recreated colonial street.

• Christchurch Gondola

  gondola · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  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

  antarctic experience · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  An immersive attraction near the airport with a storm room, husky pups and a Hagglund all-terrain ride.

• Riverside Market

  food market · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A bustling covered fresh-food and street-food market on the banks of the Avon, a hub of the rebuilt city centre.

• Quake City

  earthquake museum · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A moving museum recounting the 2010-11 Canterbury earthquakes through survivor stories and salvaged artefacts.

• New Regent Street

  Spanish Mission street · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A pastel-hued 1930s Spanish Mission pedestrian street lined with cafes and the heritage tram running through.

• Punting on the Avon

  river punting · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A gently poled Edwardian-style punt along the willow-lined Avon River through the Botanic Gardens.

• Sumner Beach

  seaside suburb · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A relaxed seaside suburb with a sandy surf beach, the iconic Cave Rock and a strip of cafes.

• Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

  native wildlife · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  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 to Christchurch

Airport: Christchurch (CHC)

How visitors arrive in Christchurch

• Flight into Christchurch Airport By air from Domestic and international hubs · common

  The tourism board describes it as the second largest airport in New Zealand, with domestic and international services. Source: christchurchnz.com

• Drive or coach By road from South Island towns · common

  Visitors can drive or take coaches and shuttles from other South Island towns. Source: christchurchnz.com

• TranzAlpine train from Greymouth By train from Greymouth · possible

  The scenic TranzAlpine crosses the Southern Alps between Greymouth and Christchurch. Source: christchurchnz.com

• Coastal Pacific train from Picton By train from Picton · possible

  The Coastal Pacific runs from Picton via Blenheim and Kaikoura, connecting with the Wellington ferry. Source: christchurchnz.com

• Cook Strait ferry then road or rail By ferry from Wellington (via Picton) · possible

  Ferries cross between Wellington and Picton; travellers continue by car or the Coastal Pacific train. Source: christchurchnz.com

From the airport to the centre

• Public bus from Christchurch Airport

  City bus routes 29, 3 and 8 link the airport with the city centre, each by a different suburban route. Source: christchurchairport.co.nz

• Door-to-door airport shuttle

  Shared shuttle vans take passengers from the terminal to addresses across Christchurch. Source: christchurchairport.co.nz

• Taxi from the airport rank

  Taxi stands are close to the terminal building; Uber is also reported to operate in the city. Source: christchurchairport.co.nz

From the bus terminal to the centre

• InterCity coaches to the Bus Interchange

  InterCity coaches from across the South Island arrive at the Bus Interchange on Lichfield Street, in the city centre. Source: christchurchnz.com

• Some coach services (Newmans, East West Coaches) stop at Rolleston Avenue by Canterbury Museum rather than the Interchange; check your ticket. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bicycle

  Christchurch is flat with a grid layout, and many streets have dedicated bike lanes, so cycling is common.

• Bus

  The Metro bus network is based around the Bus Interchange on Lichfield Street, where most routes meet, with an Orbiter circular route through the inner suburbs.

• Car Rental Self

  Most rental car depots are near the airport with only a few close to the central city, which has one-way streets and bus-and-taxi-only intersections.

• Tram limited to a few areas

  The heritage tram is a small loop in the central city and works better as a sightseeing ride than as everyday transport.

• Walking

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.

Best time to visit Christchurch

• Jan 23°C
• Feb 22°C
• Mar 20°C
• Apr 17°C
• May 15°C
• Jun 12°C
• Jul 11°C
• Aug 13°C
• Sep 15°C
• Oct 17°C
• Nov 19°C
• Dec 21°C

More in New Zealand

• Queenstown
• Auckland
• Rotorua
• Wellington
• Wanaka
• Taupo

Frequently asked questions about Christchurch

What are the main places to visit in Christchurch?

Places covered in our Christchurch guide include Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Christ Church Cathedral, Cardboard Cathedral, Canterbury Museum, Christchurch Gondola.

Where should I stay in Christchurch?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Christchurch: Christchurch City Centre, Riccarton.

How do I get around Christchurch?

Ways to get around Christchurch covered in our guide: Bicycle, City bus, Self-drive car, Tram.

What scams should I watch out for in Christchurch?

Scams reported to us for Christchurch include Fake accommodation listings. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Christchurch?

Average daytime highs in Christchurch run from 11°C in Jul to 23°C in Jan.

Which airport is nearest to Christchurch?

The nearest airport to Christchurch has the code CHC.