Overview

Christchurch was one of New Zealand's most important early settlements, and it maintains a great deal of its heritage and charm. The city is built around Cathedral Square, the site of a prominent Anglican church. There are several cultural centres onsite including Ferrymead Heritage Park, Canterbury Museum and the Mare of the Four Winds. Families enjoy visits to the Discovery Centre, viewing wildlife at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve or snorkelling at one of the local beaches.

Christchurch Cathedral

Christchurch Cathedral is the city's central landmark, towering over Cathedral Square (often referred to simply as ‘the square'). This Anglican church was founded in 1864 and is one of the South Island's most important buildings. The church sports beautiful stained glass windows and a wooden ceiling. Climb the bell tower for a fine panoramic view over the Southern Alps.

Botanic Gardens

The Christchurch Botanic Gardens lie along the Avon River and hold the country's finest collection of plant life. A series of well-manicured trails cut through herb, rock and rose gardens. The visitors' centre has maps and brochures that explain the various plant species and there is also an onsite restaurant.

International Antarctic Centre

For the past century, Christchurch has been an important staging ground for Antarctic expeditions, and formalised facilities emerged in the 1950s. The International Antarctic Centre is a portal for tourists, with themed environments that introduce the public to the challenges explorers face in the Antarctic Circle. The most popular feature is the ‘polar room', complete with snowy slopes where children play. Visitors can borrow jackets from the admission counter before entering the icy atmosphere.

Beaches

Christchurch has several public beaches situated along the public transportation network. Water sports like snorkelling, scuba diving and even surfing are popular pursuits. New Brighton Beach has the longest stretch of sand and is well suited for fishing. Sumners and Redcliffs beaches are also close to the city.

Ferrymead Heritage Park

This fun family attraction recreates the city's 19th century roots. Re-enactors are positioned throughout the Victorian village, offering accounts of their role in the settlement. A tram and train run a circuit, passing the school house, jailhouse and church. There are several tea rooms where visitors can rest and speak with the volunteer actors.

Canterbury Museum

This well-known museum is housed in an historic, Victorian-era house and covers a range of topics related to history, culture and wildlife. The most popular exhibit is a recreated street from the 19th century. Other exhibits examine the life and culture of Maori tribes as well as the region's geological history. The family-oriented Discovery Centre sits on the third floor and offers hands-on science-themed exhibits with an emphasis on palaeontology.

Mare of the Four Winds (Nga Hau E Wha Marae)

This site is sacred to the Maori and remains the best place for visitors to learn about the South Island's indigenous people. It functions as both a living community and cultural centre, with home stay opportunities available. Those who'd rather visit in a single day still have plenty to see and do, including cultural workshops, refurbished Maori meeting houses and a nightly cultural program that includes singing, folk dancing and Maori cuisine.

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

This is one of the nation's finest wildlife sanctuaries. The star attraction is the nocturnal kiwi bird, which can be viewed (along with several other nocturnal species) during the Wildlife by Night Tour. Tourists have the added option of viewing kiwi during the day in the special daylight observation area. Sheep and other New Zealand livestock are on display in the onsite barnyard. Another wildlife viewing area is Orana Wildlife Park, which is actually an open-range zoo with species from around the world.

Overview

One of New Zealand's most impressive assets is its stunning natural landscape, and visitors will find a number of ways to enjoy the outdoors in every season. Skiing is possible in the Arthur's Pass area, while adrenaline junkies will find adventure activities at Rangitata Gorge and Waimakariri Canyon. Cycling, diving and boating are also popular pursuits.

Cycling

Cycling is a major sport here, and the best venue is the Denton Oval Stadium in Hornby district. Cyclists will find well-maintained paths throughout the suburbs and in portions of the city centre. Mountain bikers can head to Mount Cavendish in the countryside, where fresh air and a network of single tracks await. It's even possible to book mountain biking tours that make use of the gondola to haul tourists and their equipment up Mount Cavendish to take the steep climb out of the equation.

Skiing

The nearest ski slopes are at Arthur's Pass, which can be reached by car in roughly one hour. Craigieburn Valley has the most satisfying slopes, especially for veterans of the sport in search of a challenge. Across the board, Porter Heights caters to a broader range of skill sets and offers the steepest slope in the country.

Gondola riding

The Christchurch Gondola is open in every season. It starts at Cathedral Square and climbs 3,300 feet to an intermediate summit in the Port Hills. From here, visitors can bask in views of the Southern Alps and Christchurch city proper as well as enjoy a meal at the onsite café.

Adventure sports

Extreme sporting is a favourite activity in Christchurch (or across New Zealand for that matter). White water rafting tours are popular in Rangitata Gorge, while Waimakariri Canyon is known for jet-boating. Another excellent destination is Port Hills, where visitors can hike or even book a paragliding tour. Sports like bungee jumping and rock climbing are possible across the region.

Sport fishing

The waters surrounding the South Island get deep quickly, and an abundance of large, deep-sea fish is found here. Fishing boats can be chartered at the harbour, and most captains have all the necessary equipment. But those who'd rather not push out to sea still have fishing options on-island. Christchurch's fresh waterways are stocked with trout and salmon so fly fishing is a popular sport.

Harbour cruises

Regularly sightseeing and dinner cruises depart from Lyttelton Harbour, taking passengers along scenic portions of the coast where they can view caves and wildlife including blue penguins and Hector's dolphins. Cruises can be booked at travel agencies in the city or 15 minutes away at the harbour. Punting on the Avon River is another way to take to the waters.

Scuba diving

Scuba diving is a popular sport in the clear Pacific waters of New Zealand. Travel agencies within the city can get you set up on an excursion that lasts anywhere from a few hours to several days. Newcomers to the sport can enrol in a PADI certification course and be ready to go within a few days. The best dive sites are southeast of Christchurch, along the coast of the Banks Peninsular.

Dining and shopping

Christchurch is one of New Zealand's best shopping and dining cities, with a range of venues to choose from. Shopping begins in modern department stores and spills out into open-air markets and fashionable boutiques. The local dining scene is just as diverse, with restaurants catering to every taste and budget.

Christchurch boasts the South Island's greatest selection of restaurants. In fact, there are more restaurants per resident here than anywhere else in New Zealand. The most concentrated dining district is in the city centre though dining also spills over into the suburbs.

The best one-stop dining district is Oxford Terrace though diners will find plenty of options on Victoria and Colombo streets. Oxford Terrace serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and then transforms into a nightclub district after the sun sets. Western cuisine is the mainstay of local dining, but there's an ever-growing presence of Indian restaurants.

Seafood and lamb are the most popular ingredients in ‘kiwi cuisine'. The latter comes from the island's booming sheep herding industry, which lays claim to 45 million sheep. Ostrich and venison are also farmed on the South Island. The local wine industry is known for crisp and fruity whites, especially Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling.

The Maori hangi is not to be missed. Essentially a barbecue, a hangi blends dinner with a Maori cultural show. Meat, seafood and vegetables are steamed and smouldered in a buried barbecue pit while Maori performers dance, sing and tell traditional stories.

There are just as many shopping options available to visitors as there are dining choices. Venues range from open-air markets to modern shopping malls and department stores. Setting a day aside to peruse the pedestrian shopping squares is an essential element of a holiday in Christchurch.

The Riccarton Rotary Sunday market is the largest outdoor market in the country and boasts hundreds of merchants. The best selection is available early in the morning, when the market opens. The Arts Centre hosts another weekend market (on Saturdays and Sundays) where shoppers will find a range of artwork and handicrafts.

Victoria Street holds a collection of refined boutiques dealing in everything from high fashion and home furnishings to souvenirs and accessories. Manchester Street specialises in artwork while High Street is better known for fashion.

Popular purchases in Christchurch reflect the nation's culture and unique set of industries. Sheepskin and wool products are available everywhere, ranging from socks to jackets. Maori handicrafts are popular, especially wood and bone carvings. New Zealand jade (or greenstone) is found in large deposits across the South Island, and it finds its way into jewellery, statuettes and a host of Maori handicrafts.

Christchurch has an outstanding array of restaurants with cuisine representing New Zealand, the Pacific Rim, Asia and abroad. There's something in every price range, from unpretentious (but often excellent) cafés to glamorous reservations-only establishments. The country's eclectic, international personality is apparent in the sweeping range of ethnic restaurants onsite.

Overview

Christchurch International Airport is the island's main gate of entry though it's also possible to arrive by ferry from the North Island. On South Island itself, trains and buses connect to all major cities and sightseeing destinations. Within the city, the Metro Bus is the centrepiece of the public transportation network, backed up by the world's oldest operable tramway and a fleet of taxis.

Airports

Christchurch International Airport is an important regional hub serving 600,000 passengers each year. As the gateway to the South Island, this is one of New Zealand's most important airports. Between two terminals, the airport operates regularly scheduled domestic flights along with international connections to Australia and Singapore. Charter flights connect to and from Dubai, Los Angeles and Tokyo, to name a few prominent destinations.

Carriers serving Christchurch International Airport include Qantas, Air Pacific, Virgin Blue, Air New Zealand and Jetconnect. Despite the airport's international capability, most passengers connect via a domestic flight from Auckland.

An expansion project is currently underway, with plans to add more extensive parking facilities, a new control tower and an additional domestic terminal. Onsite facilities include ATMs, banks, a post office and business services. Passengers can also take advantage of several shops (including duty-free outlets), restaurants, cafés and bars.

The airport is well-connected to the city centre with a range of public transportation options. The city centre can be reached by car in 20 minutes, and many visitors choose to hire a car in the Arrivals Hall. Buses are the most affordable means of transit and take just over 30 minutes to reach the city centre. Taxis queue outside the Arrivals hall and offer the most convenient service.

Public transportation

It's also possible to arrive in Christchurch by rail from neighbouring cities. The train station sits to the southwest and is connected to the city centre by a complimentary shuttle bus. Trains travel to and from South Island cities like Kaikoura, Blenheim and Picton. The most scenic rail journey crosses to Greymouth via Arthur's Pass.

Travel by bus is also convenient. Coaches may not be as spacious as trains, but they still offer comfortable seats and affordable fares. The bus terminal is in the city centre on Worcester Street. The two major bus companies are Mount Cook and Intercity, both of which connect to every major city on the island. The Kiwi Experience caters to budget travellers, especially backpackers, with service across South Island. Passengers can board and disembark wherever they like.

Picton is the main harbour on South Island, accessible by train or bus. Ferries cross from here to the North Island, docking at Wellington. Christchurch's Port Lyttleton provides service to nearby coastal areas.

The Metro Bus is the primary mode of public transport within the city centre. It covers a vast network of streets throughout the city centre and into the outlying residential neighbourhoods. The main station, the City Bus Exchange, is on Colombo Street. Yellow shuttle buses pass the major sites in the city centre and are free to use. There is no bus service from 04:00 to 06:30.

Alternative means of seeing the city include the Christchurch Tramway, a nostalgic service that runs a circuit through the city centre. Double-decker tourist buses can be booked for sightseeing, while taxis are the most convenient mode of point-to-point transportation.