Christchurch

The "Garden City": punting on the Avon, Hagley Park and the Cardboard Cathedral, an old-meets-new city centre rebuilt after the earthquakes, Hector's dolphins at Akaroa, and the starting point of the TranzAlpine train.

Christchurch (Māori: Ōtautahi) is the largest city on New Zealand's South Island and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Its English character and expansive parks and green spaces have earned it the nickname "the Garden City". Two major earthquakes in 2010–2011 devastated the city centre, which has since been rebuilt with projects such as the Cardboard Cathedral, Riverside Market and the Margaret Mahy Playground — today the blend of old and new is the city's defining feature. This destination centres on the city and covers Banks Peninsula (Akaroa, Lyttelton) as well as classic day trips to the west and north; the whale-watching hub of Kaikōura and Lake Tekapo/Aoraki Mount Cook are covered as separate destinations. Climate: seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are the reverse of those in China. Summer (Dec–Feb) is warm with long days; in autumn (Mar–Apr) Hagley Park's trees turn gold; spring (Sep–Nov) brings blossoms everywhere; winter (Jun–Aug) is colder, a good time to ski at Mount Hutt or soak in the hot pools at Hanmer Springs. Areas to explore: ① City centre — punting on the Avon, the Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park, the Arts Centre, the Art Gallery, Cathedral Square, the Cardboard Cathedral and the 185 Empty Chairs memorial, the trams on New Regent Street, and Riverside Market; ② Port Hills and the coast — the Gondola, Adventure Park, Sumner, New Brighton, Godley Head and Lyttelton Harbour; ③ Around the airport — the International Antarctic Centre, Orana Wildlife Park, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve and the Air Force Museum; ④ Day trips — Hector's dolphins at Akaroa, the TranzAlpine train or a drive via Castle Hill to Arthur's Pass, Hanmer Springs, and skiing at Mount Hutt in winter. Getting around: the airport is about 12 km from the city centre, around 30 minutes by bus. In the city you can walk, cycle or ride the heritage tram; for the surrounding area, renting a car is recommended (driving is on the left, and Chinese driving licences require a certified translation). Plan to stay 3–4 days. UV levels in New Zealand are high, and biosecurity checks on arrival are strict.

Top sights

• Punting on the Avon – Glide along the willow-lined Avon River through the Botanic Gardens on a flat-bottomed punt, poled by guides in Edwardian dress.
• Hagley Park & Christchurch Botanic Gardens – A 165-hectare city park and the Botanic Gardens founded in 1863, the heart of the Garden City, free to enter.
• Akaroa – A French-flavoured town in a flooded volcanic crater harbour on Banks Peninsula, where boat trips spot the world's smallest dolphin, Hector…
• TranzAlpine Train – One of the world's great scenic rail journeys, running from Christchurch across the Canterbury Plains and the Southern Alps to the West Coa…
• Transitional (Cardboard) Cathedral – A temporary post-earthquake cathedral designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, primarily using paper tubes as its structure. It is a sym…
• New Regent Street & Christchurch Tram – A colorful pedestrian street in Spanish Mission style from the 1930s, with a vintage tram running through the middle. The tram loops around…
• Christchurch Gondola – Take the gondola up Mount Cavendish, about 500 meters above sea level, on the Port Hills, for 360-degree views over Christchurch, the Cante…
• International Antarctic Centre – An Antarctic-themed experience center next to the airport, where visitors can try an Antarctic blizzard room, ride an Antarctic all-terrain…
• ChristChurch Cathedral & Cathedral Square – The Gothic Revival cathedral that gave the city its name was severely damaged in the 2011 earthquake and is undergoing long-term restoratio…
• Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū – A public art gallery with a streamlined glass facade that rises and falls like waves. It holds New Zealand and international art, with free…
• The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora – A complex of Gothic Revival stone buildings that were once the Canterbury College. It has been restored as an arts center after the earthqu…
• Quake City – An earthquake-themed exhibition operated by the Canterbury Museum. It tells the story of the 2010-2011 earthquakes through fragments of the…
• Riverside Market – An indoor food market by the Avon River, where dozens of prepared-food stalls, produce shops, and bars gather. It is the most popular lunch…
• 185 Empty Chairs – 185 white chairs of different shapes commemorate the 185 people who died in the earthquake of February 22, 2011. The installation is quiet…
• Bridge of Remembrance – A stone arch memorial bridge over the Avon River that honors the Canterbury soldiers who set off for the battlefields of World War I from h…
• Christchurch Adventure Park – A mountain biking and zipline park on the slopes of the Port Hills. Visitors can ride a chairlift up and then bike downhill or zip across t…
• Orana Wildlife Park – New Zealand's only open-plan savanna zoo, where visitors can ride a cage vehicle into the lion area for close views of feeding, and see nat…
• Willowbank Wildlife Reserve – A native wildlife reserve close to the airport that takes part in kiwi breeding. Visitors can see kiwi, kākā parrots and blue duck, and an…
• Mona Vale – An Edwardian-era garden estate on the upper Avon River, with a rose garden, fernery and riverside lawns that are elegant and peaceful. You…
• Riccarton House & Bush – A Victorian estate on the western edge of the city beside a remnant of native bush. The Riccarton Farmers' Market on Saturday mornings is a…
• New Brighton Pier – A concrete pier stretching about 300 metres into the Pacific. On the beach you'll also find New Zealand's largest free seaside playground a…
• Sumner Beach & Cave Rock – A seaside village beach at the foot of the Port Hills. At low tide you can walk into the sea-carved cave rock, and the village is lined wit…
• Lyttelton – A small port town in a sheltered crater harbour, with colourful timber houses built up the hillsides. The Saturday farmers' market and bohe…
• Godley Head / Awaroa – A headland at the entrance to Lyttelton Harbour. The loop track passes the remains of WWII coastal defence batteries, with dramatic cliffs…
• Margaret Mahy Family Playground – One of the largest public playgrounds in the Southern Hemisphere, named after a New Zealand children's author. A slide tower, water play an…
• Air Force Museum of New Zealand – Located at Wigram, the birthplace of New Zealand's military aviation, this air force museum displays dozens of retired military aircraft fo…
• Castle Hill / Kura Tāwhiti – Huge limestone boulders are scattered across grassy slopes in front of the Southern Alps. Regarded as sacred by Māori, the site was also a…
• Arthur's Pass National Park – A high-country national park spanning the Southern Alps. The small village where the TranzAlpine train stops is the starting point for trai…
• Mt Hutt Ski Area – Canterbury's largest commercial ski field, with a long and reliable snow season. On fine days, runs offer views over the Canterbury Plains…
• Waipara Valley – A wine region about an hour’s drive north of Christchurch, known for Riesling and Pinot Noir. Its wineries are clustered together, making i…

Where to eat

• Inati – A Michelin-starred sharing-plate restaurant where guests sit around a brass chef's counter to watch the cooking. Famous…
• Earl – A popular local European bistro opened in 2018, holding a Michelin Bib Gourmand, with a highly cost-effective Pasta Nig…
• Manu – A sharing-plate restaurant fusing Asian, Pacific Island, and Māori flavors, ranking at the top of Tripadvisor's Christc…
• Soul Quarter – A Michelin Bib Gourmand bistro tucked away in Stranges Lane, blending Louisiana and Latin American flavors.
• Fiddlesticks Bar & Restaurant – An established bar and restaurant in the Arts District, open all day, with Canterbury lamb shoulder and Akaroa salmon h…
• Dimitris Greek Food – A popular Greek souvlaki spot in a corner of Riverside Market, offering generous portions of lamb souvlaki and quick se…

Itineraries

• New Zealand South Island In-Depth Grand Loop – A complete loop of the South Island starting from Christchurch, connecting coastlines, glaciers, fjords, peninsulas, an…
• Christchurch to Queenstown Lakes & Fjords – A one-way self-drive through the Mackenzie Basin, Mount Cook, Wanaka, and Fiordland, ending in Queenstown.
• TranzAlpine Train & West Coast Glaciers – Cross the Southern Alps on the TranzAlpine train, then drive along the West Coast glaciers to Queenstown.
• New Zealand North to South: Auckland to Queenstown – Head south from Auckland through geothermal areas and Wellington, cross the strait, and explore the lakes and fjords to…