Christchurch

Understand

Christchurch is on the Canterbury plains on the eastern coast of the South Island, just north of Banks Peninsula. The city has a population of 385,000 (2023), increasing to 520,000 people when including its commuting zone. Whether Christchurch or Wellington is New Zealand's second-largest urban area is debatable and depends on where people draw the boundaries; however, the boundaries as used by Statistics New Zealand clearly give Christchurch the title in all measures. Christchurch has a rich English heritage. This especially shows in the older buildings, especially in the cultural precinct along Worcester Boulevard (which is open from the Avon River towards the west), where most heritage buildings remain. The Avon River flows through the central city and disrupts the regular rectangular layout of the city streets. Christchurch is known as the Garden City, a well-deserved name. Looking from a few floors up, one is struck by the number of trees that grow like a forest throughout the suburbs.

History

The Canterbury Association was established in London in 1848, with the intent of settling English emigrants in what was to become Christchurch and the Canterbury region. The city's name was chosen on 27 March 1848, named after the Christ Church college at the University of Oxford. The first settlers arrived in the future Christchurch in December 1850. Christchurch was declared a city in 1856, New Zealand's first. Construction began on the landmark ChristChurch Cathedral in 1864; the cathedral was completed and consecrated in 1881. The Port Hills, which separated Christchuch from the deepwater port of Lyttelton, proved to be an obstacle in the early days, with goods requiring transshipment onto smaller ships that could use the shallow port at Ferrymead, or carried on horseback across the hills. The separation was the impetus for New Zealand's first railway, opening in 1863 from central Christchurch to Ferrymead in 1863 and then to Lyttelton once the 2.6-km Lyttelton Rail Tunnel under the Port Hills was completed in 1867. Nearly a century later in 1964, the rail tunnel was supplemented by the 2.0-km Lyttelton Road Tunnel, which held the title of New Zealand's longest road tunnel until the Waterview tunnels in Auckland opened in 2017. At 4:35AM on Saturday, 4 September 2010, the city and region was hit by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake, located 10 km deep and 40 km west of the city centre. Parts of the city were damaged, but there were no fatalities. However, 5½ months later, at 12:51PM on Tuesday, 22 February 2011, a magnitude 6.3 aftershock struck 10 km south o

Getting there

By plane 1 Christchurch International Airport (CHC IATA). It's 12 km northwest of the city centre, and has regular international services from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Fiji, Singapore and Dubai (via Sydney), and seasonal services from Guangzhou, Hong Kong and San Francisco. There are frequent flights each day from most New Zealand airports, with direct flights to and from Auckland, Dunedin, Invercargill, Nelson, Queenstown, Rotorua, Wellington and many more places, provided by Air New Zealand and Jetstar Airways. There is a single terminal building that serves international and domestic flights. (updated Jun 2017) There are three regular public bus services from the airport to the city centre. The number 29 bus travels via Fendalton, and the number 3 bus travels via the University of Canterbury and Riccarton, however, the 8 travels through Burnside. The 30-min trip costs $6.00 (or $3.00 with a Metrocard) and between the two routes buses operate every 15-30 minutes during the day, 7 days a week. A door-to-door shuttle service to all parts of Christchurch is available; the price to the city centre is $24 for the first person and $5 for each additional person travelling to the same destination. Taxi stands (about $45-65 to the city centre) and rental car parks are close to the terminal building. If you have a few hours to spare and no heavy luggage, you can walk to the airport. There is a footpath alongside Fendalton Road/Memorial Avenue all the way to the airport and the 8 km walk through residential neighbourhoods is quite pleasant.

By car Christchurch lies at the intersection of State Highways 1 and 73. State Highways 1, 74 and 76 form a ring road through the outer suburbs of the city. From the Upper South Island, follow State Highway 1 southbound through Waipara, Amberley, Woodend and Kaiapoi to approach Christchurch from the north. From the West Coast, follow State Highway 73 over Arthur's Pass and via Darfield and West Melton to approach Christchurch from the west. Alternatively, you can follow State Highway 7 over the Lewis Pass, meeting State Highway 1 at Waipara and approaching Christchurch from the north. From the Lower South Island, follow State Highway 1 northbound through Ashburton and Rolleston to approach Christchurch from the south-west. Typical distances and non-stop travel times to Christchurch are:

Picton – 340 km, 6 hr (via Kaikoura); 480 km, 7 hr (via Lewis Pass) Blenheim – 310 km, 5 hr 30 min (via Kaikoura); 450 km, 6 hr 30 min (via Lewis Pass) Nelson – 420 km, 6 hr (via Lewis Pass) Greymouth – 240 km, 3 hr 15 mi

Getting around

Christchurch is mostly flat with a grid-pattern layout, so navigation by road is generally simple. The central city is contained by the "four avenues": Bealey Ave in the north, Fitzgerald Ave in the east, Deans Ave in the west, and Moorhouse Ave in the south. Watch out for one-way streets and bus-and-taxi-only intersections in the central city.

By bike Many people get around on bicycles, and special-purpose bicycle lanes have been added to many streets to help promote cycling. The city is more bike-friendly than many other New Zealand cities and almost all Australian cities. The Central City also has a uniform 30 km/h limit on all streets, which means that it is mostly safe to cycle even on the main street. Drivers in general are also a bit friendlier toward cyclists compared to other cities in the region.

By car Parking in the city uses a pay and display system and costs $2.60/hour. You can pay with coins, credit card (Visa, MasterCard or AmEx) or with a mobile phone text message (the latter two attract a 50c surcharge) then display the ticket with the expiry time visible on the kerbside dash. Rental cars are available. Most depots are on the airport side of town, with just a few near the CBD.

By taxi Grab a taxi via +64 33799799 (Blue Star), +64 33775555 (First Direct), or +64 33795795 (Gold Band). Uber is also available in Christchurch.

By tram The city has a small heritage tram loop, best regarded as an attraction rather than a transport system due to its small size of coverage, high price ($40 day pass), limited hours, and odd choice of route (it is faster to walk in most instances). Refer to Tram Ride in the Do section for more details.

By bus

The city bus service is called Metro. Buses interconnect through the 3 Bus Interchange on Lichfield St, just east of Colombo St. A standard cash bus fare within the city is $6 or $3 with a Metrocard. The Metrocard costs $5 and needs to be topped up with a minimum of $5, its purchase will then cost you $10. By using the card you will travel for free the same day after paying two trips, and a maximum cost of $24 per week. Services cover the whole city and areas of interest for a visitor that lie outside the central city, such as Sumner and New Brighton beaches, Lyttelton, and the Gondola. The core bus network has four cross-city routes and a circular route through the inner suburbs. Buses on these routes run every 15 minutes during the day, seven days a week. The four cross-city routes converge at the Bus Interchange.

Route 1 - Runs north–south between Belfast and Princess Margaret Hospital (PM

See

Art centres

1 Arts Centre, Worcester Blvd, Central City. Gothic Revival stonework of former University campus. This area was damaged during the 22 Feb 2011 earthquake. By late 2022 reconstruction work was mostly complete, with two buildings still to be restored. The beauty and historical significance of these building can be appreciated by viewing them from surrounding streets such as Worcester Blvd and Hereford St, or from the internal courtyard. Four art galleries, the Great Hall (and the courtyard outside) and Rutherford's Den (donation requested), an exhibition on physics, are open. If you want to stay, the Observatory Hotel has 33 upmarket rooms. There is also a cinema (Lumière Cinemas) located here showing art-house films. To access spaces not accessible to the public, join the 90 minutes guided walk tour from Wednesday to Sunday (summer hours: 11AM–12:30PM & 1-2:30PM, $30 per adult and $15 per child (12–18 years)). Centre entry free. (updated Dec 2024)

2 Christchurch Art Gallery, Worcester Blvd and Montreal St (one block east of Botanic Gardens), ☏ +64 3 941-7300. Th-Tu 10AM-5PM, W 10AM-9PM. Spectacular $47-million facility opened in 2003, the largest in the South Island, with over 5000 items and visiting exhibitions. The gallery reopened in Dec 2015, after 5 years of being a Civil Defence Centre and then repairs. You can store your suitcase at the reception, so it is a nice place to go in the morning if you are leaving in the afternoon. Usually free. (updated Oct 2016) 3 Centre of Contemporary Art (Toi Moroki, CoCA), 66 Gloucester Street. 9am–5pm. Contemporary Art by New Zealand artists. (updated Jan 2025)

Cathedrals and churches 4 Cardboard Cathedral (Transitional Cathedral), 234 Hereford St, Central City, ☏ +64 3 366 0046. Designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, well known for his use of cardboard elements in buildings. Completed in August 2013 to serve as the transitional Anglican cathedral since ChristChurch Cathedral was damaged in an earthquake in 2011. Unfortunately the original Christchurch Cathedral still has not finished its repair in 2025 so this Transitional Cathedral served and will serve a longer term for Christians in Christchurch. It is built on the site of St Johns church, which was demolished after being severely damaged in the 2011 quake. (updated Jan 2025)

5 St Michael and All Angels Church, 86-90 Oxford Terrace. Services Su 8AM, 10AM, 7PM; M-F 9AM; and for viewing at other times. This wooden Anglican church dating from 1872 suffered only minor quake damage (it was closed for three months). It has an unusual separa

Do

1 Antigua Boatsheds, 2 Cambridge Tce, Central City, ☏ +64 3 366-5885. Daily; summer 9:30AM-5:30PM, winter 9:30AM-5PM. Boat hire from historic British boatsheds for a hands-on water experience. $12/hr canoe, $25/half-hr rowboat, $25/half-hr paddle boat. (updated Sep 2015) 2 Christchurch Adventure Park, 225 Worsleys Rd, Cracroft. Very good mountain biking trails for advanced, intermediate and beginner bikers, and also zip-lines. Take the chairlift up then bike down. There are bike and gear rentals, lessons and skills clinics, and a cafe and bar. There are charges for the chairlift, rather than the biking as such – you can take the uphill trail for free. (updated Jun 2018) 3 Christchurch Casino, 30 Victoria St, Central City, ☏ +64 3 365-9999. Daily except Good Friday, 25 Apr, 25 Dec. Dress code (jeans now allowed). You get a free meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner) if it is your birthday (booking essential). 4 Christchurch Gondola, 10 Bridle Path Rd, Heathcote Valley (take #28 bus southeast, or take Purple bus and change to #535 bus at Ferrymead), ☏ +64 3 384-0310. summer 10AM-5PM, winter 10AM-4PM, 26 Dec–31 Jan 9AM–6PM. Ride in an enclosed gondola car up to the summit of the Port Hills then view the Heritage Time Tunnel exhibit, take an outdoor nature walk, visit the cafe and shop. The trip takes 10 min but it is recommended to allow an hour all up. An hourly shuttle bus with the sign "Gondola" runs from 9:30AM-4PM in summer from Cathedral Square (beside Tram Stop 2). The shuttle bus costs $6 one way, and you can buy tickets in advance at Tram Stop 1 in Cathedral Junction (no dates on the ticket thus can be used anytime) or from the bus driver directly. Alternatively, you can take #8 public bus from Bus Interchange. Adult $42, child (5-15 years) $22, family (2 adults and up to 3 children) $117, passenger & own mountain bike $30, or with mountain bike hire $70. Discount of 10% when booking online 7 days in advance. $5 discount when buying together with Tram one day pass. (updated Jan 2025)

Cricket: 5 Hagley Oval, 57 Riccarton Ave, ☏ +64 27 720 9221. With a capacity of 9000, it hosts Test matches, plus Canterbury Knights men's and Magicians women's teams. (updated Oct 2023) 6 Garden City Helicopters, 515 Memorial Ave (next to Christchurch Airport), ☏ +64 3 358 4360, toll-free: 0800 359 424, [email protected]. Scenic flights from 20 min to 3 hours. From $199. (updated Jun 2017) 7 Punting on the Avon, 2 Cambridge Terrace, Christchurch Central, ☏ +64 3 366 0337, [email protected]. Summer 9AM-5PM, winter 9:30AM-4PM. Punts depart from Antigua Boatsheds (s

Buy

1 Riverside, 100 Oxford Terrace (On Oxford Terrace / Lichfield St / Cashel St). Daily. Indoor market with fresh produce and food stalls - full of artwork, local products and seating areas 2 Ballantynes, cnr Colombo and Cashel Sts, ☏ +64 3 379 7400. M–F 9AM–5:30PM, Sa 9AM–5PM, Su 10AM–5PM. This major upmarket department store has been through its fair share of disasters – as well as the earthquakes of the 2010s, in 1947 the store was gutted by the deadliest fire in New Zealand history, with 41 deaths. (updated Dec 2024) 3 Christchurch Farmers' Market, 16 Kahu Rd, Riccarton. Sa 9AM–noon. Meet the growers, farmers, brewers and other artisan producers. A lively affair in the grounds of Riccarton House. (updated Sep 2017) 4 New Regent Street. A beautiful street of terraced Spanish Mission-style speciality shops that opened in 1932 and have reopened since the quake. The tram runs along the street. Suburban malls include: 5 Northlands Shopping Centre, 55 Main North Rd, Papanui (Blue or Orbiter bus), ☏ +64 3 352-6535. M–W Sa 9AM-6PM, Th F 9AM-9PM, Su 10AM-6PM. 135 stores over 42,000 m2, including Woolworths, Farmers, Hoyts cinemas, Pak'nSave and The Warehouse. (updated Dec 2025) 6 The Palms, cnr Marshland & New Brighton Rds, Shirley (Orange or Orbiter bus), ☏ +64 3 385-3067. M–W Sa 9AM-6PM, Th F 9AM-9PM, Su 10AM-6PM. 110 stores over 34,000 m2, including Woolworths, Farmers and Reading Cinemas. (updated Dec 2025) 7 Westfield Riccarton, 129 Riccarton Rd, Riccarton (Purple, Yellow or Orbiter bus), ☏ +64 3 983-4500. M–W Sa 9AM-6PM, Th F 9AM-9PM, Su 10AM-6PM. The South Island's oldest (1965) and largest (55,000 m2) mall. 200 stores, including Briscoes, Farmers, Hoyts cinemas, Kmart and Pak'nSave. (updated Nov 2016) 8 Riccarton Rotary Market, Riccarton Racecourse, 146 Racecourse Rd, Sockburn. Su 9AM-2PM (wet or fine). Selling all sorts of things from plants, fruit and vegetables to Kiwi souvenirs and cheap Asian wares. Has performances, bouncy castles and food. 9 Ashe Gallery (Ashe Art & Design), 3/153 High Street, Christchurch Central City (In the Salt District, near the corner of High and Tuam Streets). M-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-3PM. A boutique art gallery and design store showcasing contemporary New Zealand art, homeware, and unique gifts. They also offer interior design services and feature works from local New Zealand artists. (updated Dec 2025)

Eat

Self-prepared Fruit and vegetable shops offer locally grown high quality fresh produce for prices often much cheaper than supermarkets.

Supermarkets 1 Fresh Choice, Lichfield St (Across the road from the Bus Interchange). The most central supermarket, but also the smallest, and not the cheapest. (updated Dec 2018) 2 Woolworths, cnr Moorhouse Ave & Madras St. Daily 7AM-11PM. Supermarket. (updated Dec 2025) 3 New World, 175 Durham Street South. Daily 7AM-10PM. (updated Dec 2024) 4 Pak'n'Save, 297 Moorhouse Ave. Daily 7AM-11PM. The cheapest supermarket chain overall, but may not have as wide a range as Woolworths and New World. (updated Jun 2017) Other 5 Aha Wildlife Bakery, 100 Oxford Terrace (Inside Riverside Market), [email protected]. Daily 7AM-6PM. Wildlife themed bakery shop - bakes delicious animal-shaped bread and cookies fresh on the market. Try a kiwi, have a whale - and enjoy the artwork on the walls! $10. (updated Oct 2019) 6 Funky Pumpkin, 290 Colombo St, Sydenham. Daily 8AM-6PM. Fresh fruit and vegetables and some meat. (updated Jun 2017) 7 Holy Smoke, 650 Ferry Rd, Woolston (cnr Catherine St), ☏ +64 3 943-2222. Tu-Sa 9AM–3PM. Deli specialising in food that has been manuka-smoked in house. The smoked salmon alone is well worth the trip. (No longer has a restaurant.) (updated Jun 2017)

Budget

Fish'n'chips is the cheapest meal out. The Asian district is mainly in the Riccarton/Upper Riccarton area. Church Corner is often considered the unofficial 'Chinatown'. It has Chinese supermarkets, all kinds of Asian restaurants and more. There are many Korean restaurants there, and in the shopping precinct near Westfield Riccarton. KOSCO, a Korean supermarket, has several branches in Christchurch, including one in Riccarton.

8 Perry's Cafe, 145 Madras St (opposite Ara Institute of Canterbury – formerly Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology). M-F 7AM-4:30PM. Surprisingly good cafeteria-style food with touches of cafe class, gets crowded around lunchtime. mains $7-12, coffee $4. (updated Jun 2017) 9 Welcome, 2 Wharenui Rd, Riccarton (just off Riccarton Rd). Delicious Chinese vegetarian meals. Don't miss the hotplate and clay pot special dishes too! Mains around $20. (updated Jun 2017) 10 Afghan Restaurant (AFG), 314 Lincoln Rd, Addington (Orange Line bus), ☏ +64 3 338 7029. Daily 5:30-9PM. A rustic place that offers tasty chicken or lamb cooked over an open flame grill, served with rice and salad. A chicken curry is usually available too. Large portions, and you can takeout any leftovers. There is no menu and no toilet on site.

Drink & nightlife

1 Aikmans, 154 Aikmans Rd, Merivale. An upscale bistro and bar in trendy Merivale. Mains $25–35. (updated Jun 2017) 2 Bealey's Speight's Ale House, 263 Bealey Ave. Mains $21–34. (updated Jun 2017) 3 The Craic Irish Bar, 84 Riccarton Rd. (updated Jun 2017) 4 No. 4, 4 Mansfield Ave. Bar and restaurant. Relaxed during the day and busy (but not too busy) on weekend nights. Great wines, Monteiths beers and a solid menu. Pint of beer $10, mains $25–44. (updated Jun 2017) 5 Speight's Ale House Tower Junction, Tower Junction Mega Centre, 55 Clarence St, Riccarton (near the railway station). A relaxed atmosphere bar, a great place for meals. Mains $23–38. (updated Jun 2017) If you fancy a short drive or bus ride (approx. 15 minutes from city centre), go to The Wunderbar in Lyttelton. It has a small room for gigs and is popular with artists. The Monster Bar (downstairs, next door) is an excellent Yakitori restaurant and bar though smaller and with more of a focus on DJs. 6 The Beer Library, 78 Buchan St (one block west of Colombo St between Byron St and Sandyford St; take the 1, 8, or 44 bus), [email protected]. M-W 11AM-6PM, Th-Sa 11AM-7PM. A family-run bottle shop and tap room with craft beer, over 300 varieties of craft beer, wine, and small-batch spirits, and a draft station. (updated Apr 2024)

Sleep

Following the earthquakes, some major hotels were demolished. This reduction in supply and the increased demand due to construction work means that accommodation in Christchurch is a little more expensive than other cities in New Zealand. Backpackers are safe, clean, cheap and cheerful. The cheapest option is a share/dorm room usually costing around $30 per night. Most offer single rooms, twin and double rooms and shared rooms. The standard of backpackers is very good in New Zealand. Motels are a notch up. Low end around $79 per night. There are also many good quality B&Bs in Christchurch and surrounding district.

Budget

1 Dorset House Backpackers, 1 Dorset St, Central City, ☏ +64 3 366-8268, toll-free: 0800 367 738, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Charming hostel accommodation in an 1871 heritage home, top-rated. Open again after full renovation and re-decoration. Free Wi-Fi, car-parking, spacious rooms, no bunks, all beds fully made. Set among flower gardens and 50 m from Hagley Park. On the airport bus route. Multi-share and family rooms available. Secure online bookings available. Share rooms from $26, doubles, twins, single rooms from $69. (updated Dec 2024) 2 Jailhouse Accommodation, 338 Lincoln Rd, Addington, ☏ +64 3 982-7777, toll-free: 0800 524 546, [email protected]. Check-out: 10AM. Renovated heritage backpacker accommodation with a colourful history - the former Addington Prison (closed to inmates in 1999). The Jailhouse has single, double, twin, dorm and family rooms. Wi-Fi and free parking. Secure online bookings available. Dorms from $45, rooms from $80. (updated Dec 2024) 3 Haka House Christchurch, 36 Hereford Street, ☏ +64 21 243 6564. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. In a heritage building, formerly YHA Christchurch. from $55 for a dorm bed, $110 for a twin room. (updated Dec 2024) 4 Drifter Christchurch, 96 Lichfield Street (next to bus interchange), ☏ +6436590066. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Very convenient if you get in or go around Christchurch via buses. Beds in dorms have curtains and USB chargers. Its kitchen has nice facilities but is usually crowded and thus sometimes messy. Don’t forget to bring in your photo ID or passport since it is required to check in, but you can self-check in online, which only requires you to input the number of your photo ID or passport; you can use the Goki app to open the door of your room. Beds from $40 in winter. (updated Jan 2025)

Mid-range 5 AAA Northlands Motel, 232 Main North Rd, Northcote (on SH 74, cnr Momorangi Cres), ☏ +64 3 352-8478, toll-free: 0800 24 01 22,

Go next

As a major gateway to the South Island, Christchurch is often the starting or finishing point for touring the rest of the island.

Greater Christchurch The Greater Christchurch area covers the Banks Peninsula southeast of Christchurch and the lowland areas of the Waimakariri and Selywn district, approximately in a 50 km radius of central Christchurch.

Lyttelton, the port town just over the Port Hills from the city, is accessible by car/bus through the tunnel, or by the scenic Port Hills route via the seaside suburb of Sumner. (The road from Sumner over Evans Pass to Lyttelton is closed because of earthquake damage; the epicentreepicentre of the 2011 earthquake was close to the surface here.) Although only 15 km (9 mi) from the central city, Lyttelton feels like another world entirely, with its cafes, bars, shops and locals, its ever-busy port, its stunning hilly backdrop and beautiful harbour. But because of the 2011 earthquake damage, Lyttelton is no longer the port of call for cruise ships visiting Christchurch; it has been shifted to Akaroa. Banks Peninsula is on the edge of the city, and offers a quieter beauty than the Alps, but quite lovely. At its southern end of the peninsula is Akaroa – beautiful, quaint and packed with good eateries. Try out the "Swim with the Dolphins in the sea" trip.

Further afield Arthur's Pass National Park for a bush getaway, a fantastic train journey and on to the West Coast, containing the Glacier Region, Punakaiki (Pancake Rocks), Greymouth and Hokitika with its Wild Foods Festival Hanmer Springs to soak in the hot pools and then via the Lewis Pass to Nelson for sun, wine, art and the beaches of the Abel Tasman NP Kaikoura for crayfish and whale watching, on the way visiting Waipara, the newest wine region Timaru and on to Otago Queenstown for high-octane pre-packaged adventure tourism and stunning scenery