Christchurch, New Zealand: The Ultimate Travel Guide
Christchurch, New Zealand - it’s a special place to us. It’s where Barnaby grew up, it’s where most of Jo’s family lived, and it’s where the two of us met during high school. So yeah, it’s got a lot of memories for us. And we’ve spent a lot of time exploring every nook and cranny. So boy are we excited to have put this ultimate city guide together to show you all of the best things to do in Christchurch New Zealand.
Entertainment/Things to do in Christchurch
The Christchurch Gondola
10 Bridle Path Road, Heathcote Valley
The Christchurch Gondola is one of those iconic activities that everyone who grew up in Christchurch has done at least once. And let’s be honest, usually a whole lot more than once. We last took it for a ride back in 2022, and it completely lives up. The ride itself offers stunning views of Christchurch and the Port Hills. Nothing quite prepares you for the view at the top, where you look down on Banks Peninsula and it’s stunningly blue body of water, which is made even cooler due to the fact it’s an actual volcano centre. We booked our Christchurch Gondola tickets via this link.
Lyttelton
Just a quick ten or so minute drive from Christchurch - and through a tunnel, no less, is the beautiful hillside settlement known as Lyttelton. Full of beautiful old wooden houses and a stunning view to match, you might even recognise Lyttelton from the 1996 movie, the Frighteners by Peter Jackson. As if Lyttelton needed more clout, it had Michael J. Fox exploring it back in the day. How cool is that? As well as a beautiful view, Lyttelton also has a main street with fish and chip shops (a kiwi essential), gorgeous cafes, and one of the most unique bars we’ve ever visited - The Wunderbar. Rumour has it, one of the James Bond set designers worked on the bar design.. Either way, we love it, and it’s got a very personal connection - Barnaby used to perform here every week!
Punting on the Avon
2 Cambridge Terrace
Another must do in Christchurch is punting down the Avon River. Essentially, you sit in your boat while a punter stands on the back and pushes you down the river. And yes, it’s every bit as beautiful as it sounds! You start off at the uniquely beautiful boat sheds, covered in their signature green and white candy stripes, before sailing off into the botanical gardens. In the spring and summer, expect ducks swimming alongside you, and in the winter you’re provided with a hot water bottle and a blanket. We booked our tickets for punting on the Avon here.
Lord of the Rings tour
You’re in New Zealand, so of course you need to lean into it and go on a Lord of the Rings tour. We loved going on this one that had us exploring the real life Edoras, as seen in The Two Towers. As well as dazzlingly beautiful landscapes, you also get lunch included and the opportunity to interact with props - and take photos too, of course!
The Christchurch Tram
109 Worcester Street
The tram is another one of those iconic Christchurch institutions. Take a ride through the streets of Christchurch in one of the historical trams, from all the way back in 1882. This is a beautiful way to see the Christchurch central city and to get a sense of what it was really like back in the day. One particular spot to look out for is New Regent Street, where the buildings are Spanish Mission style and painted in various shades of pastel. We booked our Christchurch tram ride here.
Canterbury Museum
66 Gloucester Street
This is another rite of passage for ANYONE who grew up in Christchurch - and a definite must do for tourists. Housed within this classically Cantabrian stone building are beautifully curated scenes to help you learn more about the history of Christchurch. To speak honestly, some of the exhibitions are quite dated, but highlights include the infamous moa skeleton (complete with an adjoining tunnel you can climb through) and a beautiful paua shell house - Jo’s favourite thing in the entire museum! And if you’re not looking to explore the museum itself, the building is a great landmark in helping you find your way around the central city.
Christchurch Cathedral
Cathedral Square
Although it’s definitely changed somewhat (to put it lightly) since the 2011 earthquake, Christchurch Cathedral is absolutely worth a visit. It’s where the city got its namesake, after all. Once upon a time, you could climb up the spire to behold the town square, and although this no longer an option, Christchurch Cathedral definitely offers something unique. We reassure you that it is being fixed up, but while its still a crumbling ruin, you need to go have a look. It’s something that’s both beautiful while also highlighting the devastation that the earthquake caused this city.
Cardboard Cathedral
234 Hereford Street
To replace Canterbury Cathedral, the city decided to do something truly groundbreaking - they made a cardboard cathedral! Although there are the usual things associated with churches - stained glass and high ceilings for starters, the main pillars are actually giant tubes of cardboard. The structure cost about five million dollars to build and is also constructed out of shipping containers.
Christchurch Botanical Gardens
Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch Central City
Christchurch is often referred to as the Garden City, so of course we had to include the Botanical Gardens in our Christchurch City Guide. The Christchurch Botanical Gardens pay tribute to the city’s British background, with these beautifully curated English style gardens. It gets progressively more interesting the more you wander in, as you walk between rows of brightly colored daffodils, before reaching the rose garden and humidity house in the centre. If you’re looking for easily accessible nature in the heart of Christchurch, this is absolutely where you need to go. There's also a really neat tour you can do around the gardens - you can book your tickets here.
Christchurch Beach Guide
Godley Head
One of our favourite places in Christchurch simply has to be Godley Head. It’s a bit of a lesser known spot for tourists, but if you’re local then you know that all you need to do is go to Taylor’s Mistake beach, and you can walk up the hill and find your way there. Offering some of the most spectacular views of where the sea and mountains meet, Godley Head has a very interesting history, and even still has military bunkers from 1939 that you can explore today. And one of the best things about Godley Head - it’s completely free!
New Brighton
Although it’s definitely not the fanciest beach in Christchurch, New Brighton does have a charm of its own. If you visit the New Brighton library, an impressive structure itself, you will also be able to see the pier, which really lets you take in the beauty of the beach, while also experiencing the everyday fisherman looking for his latest catch. Other perks of New Brighton beach are the regular sandcastle building competitions they host here, kite day - when hundreds of kites are flown through the sky, and the He Puna Taimoana hot pools, again, right next to the library. In case you hadn’t worked it out yet, the library is a good starting base.
Sumner
Now it’s time for Christchurch’s fancy beach. Welcome to Sumner. Sumner is really, really nice. Just a short drive from Christchurch, but one that truly transports you into another world. Just imagine a sunny day, a beautiful beach, shops within walking distance, gorgeous cafes, and fresh ice cream spots all around. That’s Sumner. It’s beautiful and it’s definitely worth a visit.
Corsair Bay
This is another one of those gorgeous spots that isn’t really known by tourists. Basically, to get here, you go through the Lyttelton tunnel and drive along the bay until you see the sign that tells you you’ve reached Corsair. That’s it. You’ve done it. You’ve found the perfect beach. Corsair Bay is small but mighty and has an awesome little floating pontoon on the water for loads of summertime swimming fun.
Taylor’s Mistake
This one is a bit of a local gem and a favourite surfing spot to many Cantabrians. It’s not the easiest place to get to, but wind your way through the roads of Sumner and you’ll get there in the end. There’s not much more to this beach than, well, the beach itself, a public bathroom, and the occasional food truck. But there’s just something about this place… good views, great waves, it’s somewhere you need to visit if you’re an avid beach goer. Oh, and if you’re curious, the name comes from the fact that in 1875 someone (presumably Taylor) accidentally crashed their boat here while trying to get to Sumner.
Good for children
Codebreakers Escape Room
166 Saint Asaph Street
We always love a good escape room, and this one in Christchurch is one of the best. So good in fact, that we did four of the rooms on our last trip to Christchurch. The attention to detail is excellent, the staff are helpful, the location: perfect. This is a great activity for people of all ages. Our favourite room was ’Into the dark’ where you’re literally blindfolded until the very end. It’s quite the experience!
Orana park
793 McLeans Island Road, Harewood, Christchurch
Orana park is a really beautiful zoo on the outskirts of Christchurch. It’s designed in a way where you don’t feel like there’s much separating you and the animals. There are no traditional cages at Orana Park, it’s a stunning space where the animals have plenty of space to roam. As well as having a section dedicated to native New Zealand animals (yes, there are kiwis!) it also has the country’s only gorilla exhibition and an impressive collection of African animals like lions and cheetahs. Make sure to book your tickets and check it out!
Willowbank
60 Hussey Road, Northwood, Christchurch
Willowbank is another excellent place for children. If you’re looking to see native New Zealand wildlife then this is exactly where you need to go. Yes, there are kiwis, as well as other native birds such as kakapo, and pukeko. There are animals from slightly further afield, such as wallabies, and there’s a petting zoo too. You can book your Willowbank tickets here.
International Antarctic Centre
Corner Roy Place and Orchard Road, Christchurch Airport
Christchurch is one of the closest places to the Antarctica bases, so of course it makes sense that there’s a whole centre dedicated to educating and inspiring more people about it. The Antarctic Centre truly is fun for the whole family, with options to ride on Hagglund (the all terrain Antarctic vehicle), visit a fully functioning snow room, and even get up close and personal with the penguins that are part of their rescue programme. Definitely worth a visit and you can book your Antarctic Centre tickets here.
Margaret Mahy playground
Armagh Street, Christchurch Central City
The Margaret Mary playground was installed in 2015 and has delighted children in Christchurch ever sense. With its revolutionary fun designs, challenging physical obstacles, and central location, this is somewhere you can pop into as you make your way around the central city. There are so many different things for your children to play with - after all, this is the biggest playground in the Southern Hemisphere! FYI, it can get a little busy in the afternoons - and fair enough too, it’s free!
Where to eat
C1 Espresso
Old Post & Telegraph, Office building 185 High Street
C1 is an absolutely iconic spot in Christchurch, New Zealand. It’s hard to know just where to start. Having survived multiple earthquakes, C1 has gone from strength to strength, now settled in a gorgeous building on High Street in Christchurch. New Zealand does coffee well, and c1 does it impeccably. But it’s the little things that makes C1 so much more than just an average cafe. From getting your burgers delivered in pneumatic tubes (yes, really!), having Harry Potter audiobooks read to you on the toilet, hidden bookshelves that lead to said toilet, and filling up your glass from water dispensed from an old Singer sewing machine. There’s no other way to put it: c1 is very, very cool.
Riverside Market
96 Oxford Terrace
Not sure what to eat? Well head on down to Riverside Market, where there are cuisines a-plenty that are sure to tickle your tastebud’s fancy. With a ground floor solely dedicated to dining, you’ll find it hard to decide on just one choice. it really does all look that good! We recommend trying a souvlaki, another Christchurch favourite.
The Arts Centre
2 Worcester Boulevard
Every Sunday the Arts Centre, you know, that stunning stone building in the middle of Christchurch, holds a market. There are crafts, sure, but the food, the food is what you need to come and try. We have been frequenting this market since we were teenagers and still love it! We recommend the fried rice with satay sauce, and wandering into the Fudge Cottage to pick up a slice.
Where to stay
Observatory Hotel
9 Hereford Street
We’ve talked about the Arts Centre, and now it’s time to introduce the Observatory Hotel, the only hotel right in the middle of said Arts Centre. The building itself is made of old stone, genuinely making you feel as though you’ve woken up inside a castle. The rooms are tastefully done, decorated with colorful prints that somehow don’t overshadow the building itself. Some of the rooms have skylights, and as you’d expect from the name, you have access to the Arts Centre’s observatory while you stay here. Book in your stay now!
The Heritage
28 Cathedral Square
After the earthquake, Christchurch (understandably) lost many of it’s beautiful old buildings. One of the few remaining is The Heritage - a stunning hotel, where we actually stayed after we got married. The building itself is in a word: beautiful, from the outside, while inside offers more of a modern luxury (while also being really beautiful too!) The rooms are a mezzanine style layout, with the lounge downstairs and bedroom and bathroom upstairs. Book in your stay at the Heritage now!
Jailhouse Accommodation
38 Lincoln Road, Addington
If you’re looking for a more budget friendly hotel in Christchurch, then you need to visit the Jailhouse hotel. As you’d guess from the name - this was a former prison and you are literally staying in a cell. Don’t worry, it’s been modernized and you have your own bed as well as access to all of the usual hotel (not prison!) amenities. This hotel is in a great location and they let you try on prisoner costumes so you can get that iconic photo for your socials. Book in your Jailhouse stay here!
Where to shop
The Tannery
3 Garlands Road, Woolston
Located in Woolston, right alongside Christchurch’s beautiful Port Hills, is the simply stunning building known as The Tannery. As you’d expect from the name, the Tannery was a functioning tannery back in the 1870s. Nowadays it has been refitted, supposedly drawing inspiration from buildings you’d see in Melbourne, Australia. The end result is a delightfully gorgeous building housing a range of shops, from luxury designer, to second hand at the Recycle Boutique. There are cafes galore, an independent cinema, and even a flower shop (that crafted the bouquet for our wedding!)
Westfield Riccarton/Riccarton Mall
129 Riccarton Road, Riccarton
Riccarton mall is by far the largest in Christchurch, and also happens to be Christchurch’s oldest mall. It’s a two storey building, which is a bit of a rarity for malls in New Zealand, and it’s housed with all of the big high street brands. As well as finding many Australian chains like Cotton on, Dotti and K mart, you can find more local goodies too, such as New Zealand favourite, Glassons. In short, if you’re looking for the mall experience in Christchurch, Riccarton mall is where to do it.
Where to drink
Mr. Brightside rooftop bar
152 Oxford Terrace
Mr. Brightside gave Christchurch something it never knew it needed - a rooftop bar! Housed on top of the iconic Public Trust building in central Christchurch, Mr. Brightside has a penthouse like layout that lets you take in all of the gorgeous city and Hagley Park views. Oh, and the drinks are really nice too.
OGB bar (in the Heritage)
28 Cathedral Square
You remember that gorgeous building we were talking about earlier - the Heritage? Well this is the bar inside that building. And as you can see, it’s a real beauty . OGB has such an atmosphere about it. And with the staff wearing their Peaky Blinder style outfits, you’ll almost feel like you’ve traveled back to the Christchurch of yesteryear. One other incredibly specific thing we love about OGB? It has custom shaped ice cubes in its drinks. Very, very cool move.
New Regent street
New Regent Street, Christchurch Central City
There are so many cool little bars down New Regent Street, you simply have to show up to take your pick! The buildings are delightfully pastel om the outside, and close attention has been paid to the inside too. In short, New Regent street is a vibe.
And that's it! Now you know your way around Christchurch. We hope you have fun exploring the city, and make sure you leave a comment on our Christchurch travel guide video and let us know what you enjoyed!