Christchurch (Māori: Ōtautahi) is the largest city on the South Island, with a population of over 380,000. The city was originally named after Christ Church College at the University of Oxford and is the oldest city in New Zealand. Christchurch is the ideal place to start your road trip through New Zealand. During the summer, temperatures range from 12 to 24 degrees Celsius, while in winter they hover between 3 and 14 degrees.
One of the most remarkable cities you can visit in New Zealand is Christchurch, especially since the Christchurch earthquake of 2011. In February of that year, the city was hit by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale.
However, Christchurch is evolving rapidly. Creative projects throughout the city have been launched to give it a real boost. Damage from the earthquake? Yes, you can still see it. Many broken and empty buildings still stand, and the numerous holes scattered throughout the downtown area, often temporarily filled as parking lots, mark where something else once stood. But the positive atmosphere and colorful vibe of the city highlight an important fact: New Zealanders prefer to look to the future rather than dwell on the past.
Arrival in Christchurch: Affordable Transfer to the City
Christchurch is easily accessible by plane. Even if you’re coming from abroad, arriving at Christchurch International Airport is a breeze, especially if you’re used to the hustle and bustle of airports like Auckland. In Christchurch, you’ll breeze through immigration and biosecurity in half an hour and be outside with your luggage.
The connection between the airport and the city center is excellent. You can choose from the following transfer options:
Public Transport – You can choose from these bus lines: line 3 (to Sumner), line 29 (Airport – City), and line 125 (Redwood – Westlake). Line 29 is the fastest route to the city. These bus services to the city cost only $4.20 cash or $2.65 with a Christchurch public transport card. The special higher airport fare ($8.50) has been scrapped, so you can simply board at the airport to get this lower price. And there’s more good news: until the end of June 2023, all bus fares in Christchurch are halved! That’s a 50% discount on the bus from or to the airport, so you now pay only $2.10 cash or $1.30 (public transport card) on this bus route.
Super Shuttle (shared van taxi): $24 for 2 people
Taxi: always the most expensive option
Uber: often slightly cheaper than a taxi, but depends on demand and supply around your arrival time.
Christchurch Attractions
There are countless attractions in Christchurch, with Cathedral Square being the most important. Here you’ll find the remains of the Christchurch Cathedral, which collapsed in 2011 and has yet to be restored. You’ll find information panels here about the past and future, learning more about the events in the city during and just after the earthquake. As it stands now, Christchurch Cathedral is expected to reopen in 2027.
Just nearby is the ‘Cardboard Cathedral’ (Transitional Cathedral), a cathedral entirely made of cardboard. This replaces the collapsed cathedral, and here you can donate to the reconstruction of Christchurch Cathedral.
Also beautiful are the numerous gardens and city parks, with the Christchurch Botanical Gardens being the most famous. Take a few hours to explore this botanical garden in its entirety. The adjacent Hagley Park is also worth a visit.
Furthermore, it’s nice to walk along the River Avon or visit a museum, such as the Canterbury Museum or Quake City.
Be aware that not all buildings in Christchurch have been rebuilt, and the earthquake damage is still visible in various places.
1. Christchurch is adorned with street art
It doesn’t really matter where you walk in the downtown area, just keep your eyes open and you’ll come across some fantastic street art in the city. Some artworks are gigantic, covering the entire side of a building. Think of a herd of elephants, a boy in a paper boat, a giant ballet dancer, or a girl on a brick wall with a beautiful plant next to her. Trust us: just keep your eyes open and you’ll spot some fantastic street art on the walls! In addition to beautiful walls, you’ll also come across special art objects.
The murals are colorful, sometimes gigantic, and there’s much more to find than just artworks on walls. You’ll encounter plenty as you wander through the downtown area, but if you want to be sure, check out this website for the exact locations of certain artworks.
2. Lunch with very special fries at C1 Espresso or choose a Blue Bowl for breakfast
One of the coolest spots for lunch or just a coffee and simply watching everything around you is C1 Espresso! You’ll find this restaurant on High Street in the downtown area and it’s a must-visit when you’re in Christchurch. Make sure you can sit inside, because not only is the food a reason to go here, but also the interior! For example, there’s a sewing machine converted into a tap, and it’s always funny to see everyone struggling to get water out of it. The toilets are hidden behind a bookcase that only opens when you’re close to it. Ordering fries with your lunch? They’ll be delivered to your table through a kind of pneumatic system, via tubes. It’s like you’ve ended up in some kind of nerd lab or Harry Potter classroom, but one that just looks like a very hip coffee shop. Definitely worth a visit! Oh, and not in the mood for fries? Then the Blue Smoothie Bowls are also highly recommended!
Address in Christchurch: 185 High St, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8142
3. Reflect on the earthquake that struck Christchurch in 2011 at the 185 White Chairs
Unfortunately, you can still see the damage from the earthquake that struck Christchurch in 2011 (as of early 2019). For example, the big church is still fenced off and needs to be renovated. But besides that, you’ll also see large open spaces scattered throughout the city and buildings that, due to broken windows and crumbling stones, have a ghostly appearance. However, on the other hand, the city is also flourishing enormously. The earthquake, of course, happened a few years ago now. To be precise, the earthquake occurred on February 22, 2011, with a magnitude of 6.3 on the Richter scale. Especially the downtown area of Christchurch suffered, and that’s why a memorial site has been created where you can reflect on this terrible event. The 185 White Chairs can be found on Cashel Street, and the various white chairs symbolize the people, each with a unique character, who died during the earthquake.
185 White Chairs in Christchurch: 236 Cashel St, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8011
4. Explore Christchurch on a scooter
When you walk through Christchurch, you’ll quickly notice that many people are whizzing by at top speed on electric scooters. Alone, with a child in front of them, or even friends and couples on one scooter. Where we use OV-bikes in the Netherlands, tourists and locals in Christchurch use electric scooters. And if it’s as hot as when we were in New Zealand, it’s an ideal way to get around! The scooters are called Lime Scooters, and you can grab them whenever and wherever you want. You’ll find the scooters in many places in the city. You can use the steps by downloading the Lime App, and then the app will guide you, allowing you to explore on wheels!
5. Stroll through New Regent Street
One of the nicest streets in Christchurch, where you also feel like you’re walking through an old part of the city, is New Regent Street. This street has been around since 1932. Here you’ll find a handful of shops and restaurants, but the upper parts of the houses painted in soft pastel colors are the coolest. Be careful when strolling through New Regent Street, as the tram may suddenly come rolling through!
6. Visit exhibitions at the Canterbury Museum
The Canterbury Museum is located on the edge of Hagley Park and offers a wide range of exhibitions on the present, past, and future of the Canterbury region and New Zealand itself. If you’re not much of a museum lover, it’s still worth walking past the museum, as the building it’s housed in is beautiful. And you might come across some cool street art. (Psst, walk to the side of the building for that.)
Address: Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch Central
Opening hours: daily from 09.00 to 17.00 between October and March and from 09.00 to 17.30 between April and September
Admission: free
7. Shopping during your New Zealand trip? Head to downtown Christchurch
Whether you want to buy a prepaid SIM card from Spark (very handy if you’re road tripping in New Zealand and want to navigate with your phone or use your phone to find campsites) or you want to score a cool outfit, downtown Christchurch is a good place to shop! You’ll find an H&M, a store from The North Face, but also shops that you mainly encounter in Australia and New Zealand, such as Glassons.
8. Immerse yourself in culture in Christchurch? Go to one of these attractions
There’s also plenty of culture to soak up in Christchurch. For example, visit the Cardboard Cathedral, a special church designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. The Botanic Gardens are a must-see in Christchurch, and for those who love museums, you can visit the Canterbury Museum for free. There you can learn more about New Zealand and Canterbury, the region where Christchurch is located. After a visit, you’ll understand more about the culture and history of NZ. Want to see more of the city and learn more at the same time? Take a ride on one of the trams and learn more about the city during the ride, as the drivers tell you a lot about the stops you pass.
9. Dining out? Have lunch at the indoor food market at Little High Eatery
The newest and hippest place to eat in Christchurch is Little High Eatery. Inside, you’ll find a kind of mini food market where you can get the best Pad Thai, perfectly roasted Argentine steaks, Mexican food, and plates full of dumplings. There are all kinds of stands where you can get different kinds of food. A big recommendation and also handy if you’re with someone who prefers a different cuisine than you!
You can see Little High Eatery as a kind of food market, where they serve Korean, Thai, Mexican, and Japanese food, among other things. In addition to the fact that the food is delicious and not too expensive for New Zealand, the interior is also very nice. Really a must-visit.
Address in Christchurch: 255 St Asaph St, Christchurch Central, Christchurch 8011
A few more handy tips for when you go to Christchurch during your New Zealand trip
Want to see a lot of Christchurch? Rent a scooter from Lime Scooters through the app or take a ride on the tram.
There are supermarkets in Christchurch, but they’re a bit further out of the center, for example, the affordable Pak ’n Save supermarket. You can walk there, though.
You don’t have to stay long in Christchurch, as you’ll see the city in just one full day.
