Christchurch isn’t the city it was ten years ago, and that’s a good thing. Since the rebuild, the inner city has filled up with new laneways, public art, restored heritage buildings and fresh green spaces. Add the parks, beaches, hills and harbours just outside town, and there’s genuinely heaps to do whether you’ve got a weekend or a full week.
This guide pulls together the best things to do in Christchurch, from free walks in the gardens to easy day trips out to Akaroa. We’ve kept it practical rather than trying to list every cafe and gallery in town. Where you base yourself makes a big difference too, and we’ve covered that side of things in our guide to staying in Christchurch CBD if you haven’t sorted accommodation yet.
Free Things to Do in Central Christchurch
Some of the best stuff in Christchurch costs nothing.
Christchurch Botanic Gardens. 21 hectares of gardens inside Hagley Park, with rose gardens, an alpine garden, the conservatory and a herbaceous border that puts on a proper show in summer. Free, open every day, easy walk from the city centre.
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū. Free entry to a genuinely world-class permanent collection plus rotating exhibitions. The building itself is worth the visit. Good wet day saver.
Cathedral Square and the Transitional Cathedral. Christ Church Cathedral is still under restoration, but the Square is back as a public gathering space. A short walk away, the Transitional Cathedral (the cardboard one designed by Shigeru Ban) is open and worth a look.
The Avon River walk. Follow the river from the Botanic Gardens through town. Plenty of benches, the occasional punt drifting past, and easy access points to grab a coffee or duck into the gallery.
Riverside Market. Technically not free if you actually eat anything, but free to wander. The fresh produce, fish counters, butchers and bakery section make it a proper local market.
Iconic Christchurch Experiences
A few things are just classic Christchurch. Worth doing once even if they feel a bit touristy.
The Christchurch Tram. A heritage tram that loops the inner city, stopping at most of the major sights. Hop on, hop off for the day. The drivers double as guides and the commentary is decent.
Punting on the Avon. A flat-bottomed boat, a punter in Edwardian gear, half an hour on the river. Slower than walking, more relaxing than just about anything else in town.
Margaret Mahy Family Playground. One of the biggest playgrounds in the Southern Hemisphere. If you’ve got kids, you’ll lose an afternoon here. Climbing frames, slides, a flying fox, water play in summer. Free.
Christchurch Gondola. Cable car from Heathcote Valley up to the summit of Mt Cavendish on the Port Hills. The 360 degree view covers the city, the Canterbury Plains, Lyttelton Harbour and on a clear day the Southern Alps.
New Regent Street. A short pastel coloured pedestrian street lined with cafes and bars. The tram runs straight down it. Brilliant for an afternoon coffee or a wander before dinner.
Museums and the Rebuild Story
If you want to actually understand Christchurch, spend a morning in its museums.
Canterbury Museum. Currently in a temporary CBD location while the main Rolleston Avenue building gets rebuilt. Still worth visiting for the Māori taonga, the natural history collection and the Antarctic exploration gallery.
Quake City. A small but powerful museum run by Canterbury Museum, telling the story of the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes and the rebuild. Honest, well done, and useful context for everything else you’ll see around town.
Air Force Museum of New Zealand. Out at Wigram, free entry, restored aircraft from Tiger Moths through to a Skyhawk. Easy half day, especially good for families.
International Antarctic Centre. Near the airport. Storm room, Hägglund rides, husky pups, a proper introduction to New Zealand’s Antarctic connection. Ticketed but worth it for kids and anyone heading south afterwards.
Getting Outdoors In and Around Christchurch
The thing about Christchurch is that wild country sits right on its doorstep.
Hagley Park. 165 hectares of parkland wrapping around the Botanic Gardens. Walk it, run it, picnic in it, watch a cricket match in summer. Locals use it constantly and so should you.
Port Hills. The volcanic ridge that separates Christchurch from Lyttelton Harbour. Drive up the Summit Road for views in both directions, walk the Bridle Path, mountain bike at Christchurch Adventure Park or just stop at a lookout with a flask of coffee.
Sumner and New Brighton beaches. Sumner has the cafe strip and Cave Rock. New Brighton has the pier and He Puna Taimoana, the saltwater hot pools right next to the beach. Either is about a 20 minute drive from the CBD.
**Lyttelton.** The port town just over the hill. Quirky, hilly, full of cafes, second hand bookshops and a Saturday morning farmers market that’s genuinely one of the best in the country.
Wildlife and Animals
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. Best place in the city to see a kiwi up close. Also has farm animals, a Māori cultural experience and plenty of native birdlife. Family friendly.
Orana Wildlife Park. New Zealand’s only open range zoo, out near the airport. Lions, giraffes, white rhinos and a proper African savannah enclosure. Bigger day out than Willowbank, plan a few hours.
Where to Eat and What to Do at Night
The food scene has come a long way. Christchurch has its own coffee culture, a solid cocktail bar scene, and restaurants doing genuinely interesting things with South Island produce.
Riverside Market is your go-to for casual lunch with lots of vendors under one roof. Victoria Street covers restaurants from cheap and cheerful through to fine dining. New Regent Street is the spot for cocktails and after-work drinks. The Terrace runs along the river for waterfront dining, and Christchurch Casino sits just up the road if a late night is what you’re after.
For couples wanting a quieter evening, a Deluxe Spa Studio means you can head out for dinner and have somewhere properly relaxing to come back to.
Easy Day Trips From Christchurch
If you’ve got more than a couple of days, the day trips are where Canterbury really shows off.
Akaroa. 75 minutes east, a French flavoured harbour town with dolphin swimming, harbour cruises, fresh seafood and a scenic drive through Banks Peninsula. Long day but doable as a return trip.
Hanmer Springs. 90 minutes north, hot pools in an alpine setting. Family favourite. The drive up through the Waiau Valley is worth doing on its own.
Arthur’s Pass. 90 minutes west, the road climbs through the Castle Hill rocks and into the Southern Alps. Stop at Castle Hill, push through to the village, walk the Devils Punchbowl track. Take it as a day trip or stay a night.
Waipara wineries. An hour north, Canterbury’s main wine region. Pegasus Bay, Black Estate, Pyramid Valley and a dozen others. Take a tour or be the designated driver.
TranzAlpine. The Christchurch to Greymouth train, one of the great rail journeys in the world. Day return is tight but doable.
A two-bedroom apartment gives families room to spread out between these day trips. Pack for a beach day, a mountain day and a museum day without anyone living out of a suitcase.
Where to Base Yourself
Where you stay shapes the trip more than people realise. A central base means you walk to most of the city stuff and only drive for the bigger excursions. Terra Vive Suites and Apartments is at 175 Bealey Avenue, on the northern edge of the CBD, with serviced apartments in central Christchurch covering everything from studios for solo travellers through to two-bedroom apartments for families. Free on-site parking, in-room kitchens, fast wifi, and daily servicing.
For longer stays or anyone in town for work, an Executive Deluxe Studio gives you a proper workspace, in-room laundry and a separate seating area so it doesn’t feel like you’re living in a hotel room.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Christchurch best known for?
The Botanic Gardens, the tram, the rebuild after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, and being the gateway to the Southern Alps and Antarctica. It’s also one of the few cities in the world with proper green space running right through the centre.
Is Christchurch worth visiting?
Yes. The rebuild has given the city a fresh, walkable centre with a strong arts and food scene, and the surrounding Canterbury region has some of the best day trips in New Zealand within easy reach.*How many days do you need in Christchurch?
Two days covers the inner city. Three or four lets you add a couple of day trips. A full week if you want to do Akaroa, Hanmer, Arthur’s Pass and a wine tour at a relaxed pace.
What is there to do in Christchurch with kids?
Margaret Mahy Family Playground, the tram, punting, the Antarctic Centre, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, Orana Park, the gondola and the New Brighton hot pools all work well with kids.
What’s there to do in Christchurch when it rains?
The Art Gallery, Canterbury Museum, Quake City, the Air Force Museum, the International Antarctic Centre and Riverside Market are all undercover. A wet day in Christchurch is a museum day.