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Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island of New Zealand. Located on the east coast, it is also known as the “Garden City,” thanks to its English-style architecture, extensive parks and public gardens.
The tree-lined Avon River runs through the city, offering punting and plenty of tranquil spots to sit and relax.
Unfortunately, in 2011 an earthquake caused absolute devastation to the city, but it is slowly being rebuilt, although some parts like the cathedral may never be restored to their former glory due to finance. That said, Christchurch is a very safe place to visit as it has invested heavily in some of the most advanced earthquake-proof infrastructure in the world.
Here’s how to spend three days in Christchurch.
Summary – 3-day Christchurch itinerary
Day 1
- Christchurch Botanic Gardens
- Punting on the Avon River
- Victoria Gardens
- The old tram ride
- Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
- Quake City Exhibition
- Grab dinner at Sal’s Pizza
Day 2
- The Gondola Christchurch
- International Antarctic Centre
- Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
- Dinner at Auntie Dai’s Dumplings, Westfield
Day 3
- The Southern Alps
- Arthur’s Pass
Getting to Christchurch
There are plenty of ways to get to Christchurch and usually it’ll be part of a larger New Zealand itinerary, with many people choosing to start off at Auckland and work their way down.
You can fly to Auckland from major airports in the UK. You can’t fly direct and flights usually have a stopover in the Middle East or Far East.
From Auckland, you can make your way to Christchurch. This can be via car hire, Intercity bus or a more popular option is by hiring a campervan.
There is however, nothing to stop you from doing it the other way round or including Queenstown in your itinerary.
There are plenty of ways to get to the airport from the city centre:
By bus: The Route 29 bus runs every 30 minutes, taking approximately half an hour to reach the city via Memorial Avenue and Fendalton.
Route 3 provides a service from the airport to Sumner via the city centre and Route 8 connects the airport to Lyttelton, passing through the central city. You can get the bus from the northern end of International Arrivals, next to the Novotel hotel (exit through Door 9). It costs approximately $5 NZD for a single ticket.
By taxi: Taxis are available from outside the terminal and take around 20 minutes, costing around $35-$50 NZD. Uber is also available in the area.
Top tip: Pick up a local sim. I picked up a One NZ (formally Vodafone) SIM card and the signal was solid throughout my travels in New Zealand so I’d recommend using them.
The prices were also quite reasonable if you plan to spend more than a few days in this beautiful country. There is a One NZ kiosk at the International Arrivals Hall, you can also pick up a sim at Relay Stores.
If you want to be prepared beforehand, you could buy an eSim online. They are so easy to use and save you the hassle of swapping out your physical sim.
How to get around in Christchurch
From my experience public transport was very easy and efficient. The city is not that big, so it is very walkable. Bus travel is available and is needed for attractions outside of the city.
Accommodation in Christchurch
There’s plenty of options for accommodation in Christchurch and a really great budget-friendly option is Haka House. They are super clean, with friendly staff and great resources.
As Haka House is a chain across New Zealand, after staying at one I decided to stay at others in different cities. Daffodil Motel is also a fantastic option, it’s more budget friendly, super clean and family run.
Christchurch three-day itinerary
Day 1: Discovering Christchurch
Christchurch Botanic Gardens is a great place to begin exploring this beautiful city. It’s free and has the lovely Ilex Café in the centre which is open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, offering great food and coffee, including vegan and gluten free options.
The Avon River runs through the gardens, and you can enjoy a relaxing punting trip passing through the gardens.
In the city centre, there’s plenty to see and do. Victoria Gardens is another great spot to sit and relax but if you really want to learn more about Christchurch, then I’d suggest taking the hop-on hop-off vintage tram tour.
It’s a great experience and the running commentary tells you all about the history including the earthquake. You can catch the tram from Cathedral Square and other stops around town and there’s a restaurant service too.
Other things to discover in the afternoon include the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, which is full of national and international art and is free to enter. The Riverside Market is a bustling indoor market selling all sorts from coffee to crystals.
Finally, the Quake City Exhibition is an interactive museum which tells you about the 2010–2011 earthquakes and how the city has slowly rebuilt after this natural disaster.
Lunch in Christchurch: Sal’s Pizza make huge pizzas which are fantastic.
The Gondola is a great place to enjoy the views over Christchurch, offering a panoramic view of the city and the sea below. Tickets are $42 NZD and after a short cable car to the top, you can enjoy the views and go on a prehistoric ride which is included with the ticket. The cafe is great and you can get some lunch here while taking it all in.
The gondola ride typically takes half a day and departs from Cathedral Square. You may want to just sit and chill in a park in the afternoon when you get back but there are plenty more trip options from the same place.
There is a shuttle to the International Antarctic Centre and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, where you can see New Zealand’s national bird, the kiwi.
Dinner for the evening: Auntie Dai’s Dumplings, Westfield.
Day 3: Exploring the natural beauty of the South Island
Christchurch serves as a gateway to the Southern Alps, which have plenty of outdoor activities including skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and coastal exploration. Arthur’s Pass is a great day trip located approximately two hours west of Christchurch via State Highway 73.
This area is accessible by driving, guided tour or even train. The TranzAlpine train is a very popular way to do this, offering breathtaking views across the Canterbury Plains and the Waimakariri Gorge. Trains depart from Christchurch, and arrive at Arthur’s Pass Village and from here you can explore the area.
This is quite a long day, so it’s best to eat along the way. If you go on the TranzAlpine train, they have a cafe bar and dining car that offers food and drinks.
Beyond Christchurch
There’s plenty more to do beyond Christchurch, with Queenstown deeper into the South Island but my pick would definitely be Kaikoura which is two hours north via car, InterCity bus or train. This beautiful town is home to heaps of wildlife and a huge colony of seals.
It’s absolutely stunning and not worth missing if you’re in the area. If you want something further away, New Zealand is the gateway to the South Pole, with flights leaving from the airport. If you are coming home, a great way to split the long journey would be a two to three day stopover in Singapore.
This is a guest post from Tim Jones from Wildness and Wellbeing, a podcast and blog with a focus on how the outdoors can help your mental health. Tim travelled New Zealand last year.
