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About Christchurch
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Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area. With a population of over 350,000
Christchurch is the international gateway to the
South Island. It is also known as the most English city outside of
England. The Garden City is also, arguably, the most attractive city in New Zealand, with extensive inner city public gardens and parks, the shallow Avon river meandering though the city centre, and a pedestrian oriented downtown centered on Cathedral Square.
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Christchurch has a dry, temperate climate, with mean daily maximum air temperatures of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F) in January, 11.3 °C (52.3 °F) in July. The summer climate is often moderated by a sea breeze from the Northeast. In winter it is common for the temperature to fall below 0 °C (32 °F) at night. Snow falls occur on average once or twice a year in the hill suburbs and about once or twice every two years on the plain. |
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Transportation & Accommodation
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Christchurch is served by
Christchurch
International
Airport and by buses (local and long-distance) and trains. The city has a well established Metro Public Transport System operated by Red Bus Ltd. Also, there is a free shuttle service that loops the city central area. The shuttle is a convenient way for locals and visitors to the city to travel between attractions in the central city area. The route passes by a number of hotels, shopping malls and cinema complexes as well as the Town Hall, Casino and
Cathedral Square. The car, however, remains the dominant form of transport. The central city has very flat terrain and the City Council is establishing a network of cycle lanes on roads.
Christchurch is very well connected to the rest of
South Island with its extensive road network and also scenic rail routes. There are many intercity coach services provided by private operators.
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Christchurch, offers a wide selection of accommodation options to suit most budgets.
Christchurch accommodation includes hotels, apartments, resorts, camping grounds, backpackers, home stays and farm stays. |
Visitor Attractions
Christchurch, with its natural beauty and wonderful attractions, is the world’s original ‘Garden City’. With a strong cultural heritage, numerous sports facilities, great shopping, tranquil parks and gardens and lively entertainment,
Christchurch is a visitor’s paradise. Emphasizing on its wealth of natural scenery and reserves,
Christchurch is just where you should go, when you are in need of peaceful surroundings. It is a place where its residents continue to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle amidst a natural environment world-renowned for its beauty. |
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Cathedral Square
Considered the best place to start touring
Christchurch,
Cathedral Square is in the heart of
Christchurch’s city centre and a major
Christchurch landmark. The area around this square and within the "four avenues" of
Christchurch (
Bealey Avenue,
Fitzgerald Avenue,
Moorhouse Avenue and
Deans Avenue) is considered the central business district of the city. Dominated by the magnificent Christ Church Cathedral, the square has many attractions including specialty shops, markets, vibrant street entertainment and many elegant 19th century Gothic-style buildings. |
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Christchurch Information Centre
The Christchurch Information Centre or i-SITE is located in the cathedral square, which provides a comprehensive booking service for a wide variety of accommodation, attractions, transport and activities throughout
New Zealand. The centre’s highly-trained, multi-lingual staff can advise on everything that
Christchurch and
Canterbury have to offer the visitor. To add to that, visitors can browse rack after rack of colourful, informative brochures. The information is up-to-date and accurate, and the service is quick, efficient and friendly. |
Christchurch Cathedral
The Anglican cathedral of Christchurch in the city of Christchurch was built in the second half of the 19th century. It is located in the centre of the city, surrounded by the plaza of Cathedral Square. It is the cathedral seat of the Bishop of Christchurch. The cathedral spire reaches to 63 metres above Cathedral Square. Public access to the spire provides for a good viewpoint over the centre of the city. Magnificent stained glass windows graciously enhance the interior of Christ Church Cathedral. |
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Christchurch Tramway
The world’s oldest working tramway, the historic Christchurch Tramway is a major
Christchurch attraction and is definitely the best way to explore the city central area. The 19th century tramway travels two and a half kilometers (one and a half miles) around central
Christchurch, the Arts Centre,
Cathedral Square and the Botanic Gardens. The ticket is valid for two consecutive days on hop-on hop-off basis. For a truly magical night out, you can dine aboard our unique restaurant tram while it follows the 2.5 km inner-city track.
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Avon
River Punting
Renowned for boat trips and punting in central
Christchurch, the
Avon
River is a key natural landmark in
Christchurch. Flowing adjacent to several gardens, parklands, scenic picnic spots and historic landmarks, the
Avon
River directly influenced much of the city’s wealth and design. Sit back; relax in a custom built beautifully upholstered punt as your boatman guides you past the sights of the central city. Enjoy the tranquility and calm which is uniquely
Christchurch. This is a must for honeymoon couples.
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Canterbury
Museum
The Canterbury Museum is located in Christchurch in the city's Cultural Precinct. This small provincial museum was built in 1867 and has since grown in size to encompass New Zealand's diverse natural and human heritage. The Museum has become a widely-renowned and an internationally-visited institution. The Museum has more than two million collection items and specialises in the stories of early Maori, European settlement and Antarctic exploration.
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Christchurch
Art
Center & Gallery
The Christchurch Arts Centre is a hub for arts, crafts and entertainment in Christchurch. It is located in the neo-gothic former University of Canterbury buildings. The Centre includes specialty shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, galleries, theatres and cinemas. There is also a weekend market, and the Centre is the site of many festivals and special events. There is truly something for everyone. You can also see the London style telephone booth along the street.
The Christchurch Art Gallery houses one of the foremost public art collections in New Zealand, including superb Canterbury paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, photography and applied arts. Its dynamic programme offers a range of collection-based, national and international touring exhibitions – lectures, films and other special events make the Gallery both an enjoyable and impressive place to visit.
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Canterbury Provincial Council Buildings
This fascinating treasure is New Zealand’s only remaining purpose-built provincial government building. Designed by leading Gothic Revival architect B W Mountfort and constructed between 1885 and 1865, the buildings show superior craftsmanship in timber and stone.
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Our City O-Tautahi
Our City O-Tautahi is housed in one of city’s finest Victorian Buildings. Built as the Christchurch City Council's original Municipal Chambers, the building now provides an accessible space for the City Council and the people and communities of Christchurch to meet to present and exchange ideas and knowledge about the city and important development, environmental and social issues, as well as celebrate its life, colour and creativity |
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Christchurch Casino
Christchurch Casino offers twenty four hour gaming entertainment to visitors to Christchurch. The casino has 428 gaming machines and a wide variety of Table Games including Blackjack, American Roulette, Mini Baccarat, Midi Baccarat, Tai Sai, Money Wheel and Caribbean Stud Poker as well as The Racing Game and Live Keno.
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Bridge of
Remembrance
Spanning the
Avon
River in
Christchurch city, the
Bridge of
Remembrance is a charming stone structure built in the 1920s, as a memorial to soldiers from
Canterbury who lost their lives during World War I. |
Mona
Vale
Gardens
A short drive from the central city, Mona Vale is a charming and historic Victorian home surrounded by landscaped English-style gardens. Dating from 1899, the house and garden belonged to the Deans, one of the first settler families in
Christchurch.
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The Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Christchurch's reputation as the Garden City is truly reflected in the Botanic Gardens.Containing one of the largest collections of indigenous and exotic plants in New Zealand, the Botanic Gardens are sure to delight any visitor. Covering an area of around 74 acres (30 hectares), the Gardens were sand dunes and natural wetlands until 1863.
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Hagley
Park
Located in central
Christchurch since the 1850s and covering around 161 hectares,
Hagley
Park is well-known for its mature woodlands and open spaces. It’s also renowned for its cultural and sporting events, and diverse leisure activities.
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 Christchurch Gondola
A major
Christchurch attraction, Christchurch Gondola offers scenic views of the
Southern Alps,
Christchurch
City and the Canterbury Plains. It’s a small cable car traveling along almost a kilometer (3280 feet) up the Port Hills where an observation deck, café and gift shop can be found. |
 Champagne Balloon Flights
Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of
Christchurch and the surrounding areas with a memorable balloon flight. With an abundance of sunny days and favorable weather in
Christchurch, balloon flights depart early morning from city centre parks.
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The International Antarctic Centre
Home to the
New Zealand,
United States and
Italy, the International Antarctic Centre is a working campus established to support Antarctic scientific programs and research. It comprises of the Antarctic Passenger Terminal, a
New Zealand and Unites States clothing store, post office and travel agency, warehousing, administration offices and the Visitor Centre, renowned as ‘The Antarctic Attraction’.
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Lyttelton
Harbour
Lyttelton
Harbour is a beautiful scenic harbour located right beside the city of
Christchurch. It offers the visitor spectacular scenery, a fascinating Maori and European history and an abundance of recreational opportunities. you can experience
Lyttelton
Harbour for yourself by driving the short distance through the Lyttelton Road Tunnel or over the Port Hills.
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Suggested Itinerary
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Day 1
Start early with a visit to the
Christchurch i-SITE center located in the cathedral square. You can book tours, adventure activities, accommodation and also collect one of those colorful travel maps and information brochures for free. Visit the Christchurch Cathedral, you can take part in the guided tours of the cathedral. Spend some time inside the Cathedral to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and relish the beautiful stained glass windows.
 Hop on to the famous Christchurch Tramway and enjoy the ride through the down town
Christchurch. The tram route covers the Our city O-Tautahi, Arts Centre, Art Gallery, Canterbury Museum, Botanic Garden, Victoria Park, Provincial Building and Regent street. You can visit these places as the tram ticket is valid for two consecutive days on a hop-on hop-off basis. Lunch at one of the restaurants in
Regent street known for fine dining experience. In the afternoon, visit the Mona Vale Homestead, which is 5 mins drive from city centre, to get a glimpse of heritage lifestyle in
Christchurch.
Visit the International Antarctic Centre located near the airport. You can get transportation from the cathedral square. Don’t miss the penguin encounter and Haggalund Ride used for Antarctic exploration.
 Dine at the tram restaurant for an absolutely unique dining experience while you enjoy the tram ride through streets, past the beautifully lit gothic style buildings in the night.
Day 2
Start the day early during sun rise with a hot air balloon ride. Enjoy the beauty of sun rising over the
Pacific Ocean and the
Canterbury plains with the southern alpine mountain range in the backdrop.
In the afternoon, take a guided tour to the
Lyttelton
Harbour, via the Estuary Wetlands, the Seaside Village of Sumner, up and over
Evans
Pass during which spectacular views are visible. You can also pick some water adventure activities such as swimming with the dolphins etc. In the evening you can visit the Christchurch Gondola. |
Tips for Travellers
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Christchurch weather is cold most of the year with wind blowing; hence always carry warm clothing with you. Shopping in
Christchurch is a unique experience, from international brands to traditional local products. Most of the shopping is located around the cathedral square,
Colombo street and City Mall. Boutique shops, jewelry outlets close very early in the evening; however souvenir shops are open till late in the evening.
Christchurch has a decent nightlife. Most of the pubs are located in the Oxford Terrace. |
Travel Resources
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