The best things to do in Christchurch: A local's guide to the Garden City
Written by Anna Gillan Senior Travel Consultant, The New Zealand Touring Co. Anna has been planning New Zealand itineraries for international travellers for 20+ years.
Last updated: December 2025
Overview:
Otautahi Christchurch is where most South Island road trips begin or end and too many travellers treat it as just a place to sleep before or after a flight. That’s a mistake. The city has been completely reimagined since the 2010–2011 earthquakes, and what’s emerged is one of the most interesting cities in New Zealand, a blend of heritage gardens, bold new architecture, world-class food, and creative energy that you won’t find anywhere else in the country.
We always recommend at least one to two full days in Christchurch before heading south. It sets the tone for your whole trip.
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Why Christchurch is worth more than a night
Christchurch earned its “Garden City” nickname in 1906, when Sir John Gorst, a special commissioner from England was so taken by the parks and tree-lined avenues that the name stuck and an international award made it official in 1997. The Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park remain beautiful, and along the Avon River that winds through the city centre. But what makes Christchurch fascinating right now is the contrast of heritage stone buildings sitting beside striking contemporary architecture.
The Cardboard Cathedral. The Margaret Mahy Playground. Riverside Market. The Tannery. These didn’t exist before the earthquakes, and each one reflects a city that chose creativity over simply rebuilding what it lost.
What visitors often don’t realise is how close Christchurch is to stunning scenery. The Port Hills rise right behind the city with views across the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps. Banks Peninsula, a volcanic harbour with French heritage, dolphins, and penguins is less than 90 minutes drive away. And the Southern Alps themselves are close enough to see from the Gondola summit.
Many of our South Island itineraries begin or end in Christchurch and we always recommend spending at least one full day exploring the city before picking up your rental car and heading south.
In the City Centre
Christchurch Botanic Gardens & Hagley Park
The Christchurch Botanic Gardens are the heart of the Garden City with 21 hectares of curated gardens, glasshouses, and mature trees right in the city centre. Entry is free. The Heritage Rose Garden is stunning in spring and summer, and the native plant section showcases species unique to New Zealand.
Next door, Hagley Park covers 165 hectares and it is the largest urban park in Christchurch. Locals use it for walking, running, cricket in summer, and weekend picnics. The two together make for an easy, beautiful morning stroll, and a guided Garden Tour adds commentary on the seasonal highlights.
Punting on the Avon River
You climb into a flat-bottomed boat while a guide in a straw hat propels you along the Avon River with a pole, drifting past the Botanic Gardens and through the city.
It’s unhurried, scenic, and surprisingly relaxing, about 30 minutes on the water. Good for all ages, and a lovely way to see the city from a different perspective.
The Christchurch Tram
The heritage Christchurch Tram runs a hop-on-hop-off loop through the city centre with 17 stops, live commentary, and an all-day pass. It’s a great way to orient yourself on your first morning ride the full loop to get the lay of the land, then jump off at the stops that interest you.
For something special, the Tramway Restaurant offers a unique dining experience: a multi-course meal served aboard the tram as it rolls through the evening streets. It’s not something you’ll find anywhere else in New Zealand.
New Regent Street & the Cardboard Cathedral
New Regent Street is a short, charming pedestrian precinct of pastel-coloured Spanish Mission buildings dating from 1932. It’s home to boutique shops, cafés, and a tram stop and it’s one of the most photographed streets in the city.
A short walk away, the Cardboard Cathedral (Transitional Cathedral) is one of Christchurch’s most striking post-earthquake landmarks. Designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban and opened in 2013, it was intended as a temporary replacement for the damaged Christchurch Cathedral but it’s become a destination in its own right. The A-frame structure, built partly from cardboard tubes, is a powerful symbol of the city’s creative rebuild.
Street Art
Christchurch’s post-earthquake street art scene is widely regarded as one of the best in Australasia. Where buildings once stood, murals now tell stories and the quality and scale of the work is impressive.
You can explore the street art on a guided walking tour with Watch This Space or go self-guided (maps are available from the i-SITE visitor centre). While you’re at it, visit The Arts Centre for boutique galleries, museums, and weekend craft markets, and CoCA (Centre of Contemporary Art Toi Moroki) for free contemporary exhibitions. It’s a short walk from the Botanic Gardens.
The best views: Christchurch Gondola & the Port Hills
The Christchurch Gondola is one of the city’s best experiences. The cable car takes you nearly a kilometre up to the crater rim of an extinct volcano that erupted six million years ago, and the views from the top are panoramic, the central city laid out below, Lyttelton Harbour curving away to the south, Banks Peninsula in the distance, and on a clear day, the snow-capped Southern Alps stretching across the western horizon.
At the summit, there’s a café, the Time Tunnel heritage experience, and the start of several walking tracks. The Bridle Path Walk from the Gondola summit down to Lyttelton is a classic Christchurch walk, the same route Canterbury’s first European settlers used in 1850. It takes about an hour downhill, and you can catch a bus back or arrange a pick-up.
Beyond the Gondola, the broader Port Hills offer walking and mountain biking trails with some of the best accessible views near any New Zealand city. The Rapaki Track and the Crater Rim Walkway are popular options, both reward with stunning views.
Lyttelton: Charming Harbour Village
Lyttelton is only a 10-minute drive from central Christchurch through the road tunnel, but it feels like a completely different world. This historic port village sits on the rim of an ancient volcanic harbour, and it has a creative, slightly bohemian character that sets it apart from the city.
The Lyttelton Farmers Market on Saturday mornings is one of the best in the South Island, local produce, baked goods, coffee, and a community atmosphere. The village itself has excellent cafés and restaurants: Lyttelton Coffee Company for coffee, Eruption Brewing for craft beer, and Super for a Japanese Maori culinary fusion, a meal you won’t forget. If you have a free Saturday morning in Christchurch, Lyttelton is where we’d send you.
Where to eat & drink in Christchurch
Christchurch is now one of the best dining cities in the South Island. This isn’t just our opinion, there’s so many quality restaurants, cafés, and food markets in the central city you will be spoilt for choice!
Riverside Market is a must. It’s an indoor food hall on the banks of the Avon River with local producers, fresh seafood, craft beer, and international flavours. It’s a great spot for lunch or an evening meal. Nearby, Little High Eatery takes a similar approach, multiple vendors under one roof, with everything from dumplings to burgers.
For sit-down restaurants, our current favourites include King of Snake (pan-Asian, buzzy atmosphere), The Monday Room (European and New Zealand cuisine), and For brunch, Child Sister and Grizzly Baked Goods are both worth the walk.
Craft beer lovers should visit Cassels at The Tannery in Woolston, an excellent brewery with a restaurant or Dux Central in the city centre.
Christchurch Adventure Park
For active travellers, the Christchurch Adventure Park on the Port Hills offers ziplines, mountain biking trails, and a chairlift all with views over the city. It’s a fun half-day option if you want to burn off some energy before a long drive south.
When to visit Christchurch
- Summer (December–February): warmest and driest. The Botanic Gardens are at their best, outdoor dining is everywhere, and the long evenings make the most of the Port Hills walks. Busiest season, book accommodation early.
- Autumn (March–May): beautiful golden light, Hagley Park turns copper and gold, and visitor numbers drop. One of the nicest times to be in the city.
- Winter (June–August): cooler and crisper, but Christchurch rarely gets snow at sea level. A great base for skiing at Mt Hutt ( approx 90 minutes away). Indoor attractions, museums, galleries, restaurants are at their most appealing.
- Spring (September–November): cherry blossoms in the Botanic Gardens, daffodils across Hagley Park, and a lovely shoulder season before the summer rush.
Frequently asked questions:
How many days do you need in Christchurch? One to two full days for the city highlights. If you want to add day trips (include the link to day trip blogs) to Akaroa, Arthur’s Pass, or Kaikōura, allow extra time. We recommend at least one full day in the city before heading south on your South Island self-drive tour.
Is Christchurch worth visiting? Yes, the city’s rebuild has made it one of the most interesting and creative cities in New Zealand. The combination of heritage gardens, bold new architecture, excellent food, and proximity to dramatic landscapes (Port Hills, Banks Peninsula, the Southern Alps) makes it well worth more than a night.
Is Christchurch a good base for South Island trips? Absolutely. With an international airport, easy rental car access, and day-trip distance to Akaroa, Arthur’s Pass, Kaikōura, and Lake Tekapo, Christchurch is the natural starting point for South Island self-drive tours. See our day trips from Christchurch guide.
Start your South Island journey here
Christchurch is where your South Island adventure begins and we can make sure you don’t waste a moment of it. Our team builds Christchurch days into your itinerary with restaurant recommendations, activity bookings, and accommodation sorted before you arrive.
Whether you’re spending a day exploring the city before heading south, or using Christchurch as a base for day trips to Akaroa and Arthur’s Pass, we’ll make sure you see the best of the Garden City.
