CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND

Photo Oct 21, 4 20 42 PM.jpg

Known for its sprawling green spaces and susceptibility to earthquakes, "The Garden City” is home to nearly 400,000 Kiwis (over 25% of the South Island’s population). Since 2010, Christchurch has been hit by four earthquakes measuring 5.5 or higher on the Richter Scale. The most notable of these earthquakes hit in February 2011, measured 6.3, and led to 185 people passing away. The way this city has rebuilt itself since is fascinating and admirable. Be sure to spend at least a few days here!

Photo Oct 20, 8 02 55 PM.jpg
Photo Oct 20, 8 43 57 PM.jpg

Attractions:

  • Castle Hill & Arthur’s Pass: While these are not technically in Christchurch, I am not sure where else to make note of these (and believe me, they are well worth the mention). These two spots are quite possibly the coolest natural attractions in all of New Zealand! If you are driving west from Christchurch (in the direction of either Punakaiki and/or Franz Josef Glacier), this is definitely the route you will want to take as it will blow your mind! Castle Hill is 90 minutes from CC and Arthur’s Pass is 2 hours from CC.

  • Sign of Takahe Walk: 15 minutes by car from the city center, this is a super easy stroll. It is free, takes less than an hour round-trip, and will give you a commanding view of the city at Cashmere Hill. Be sure to stop by Cup Café afterwards for a cuppa as well!

  • Victoria Park & Port Hills: Less than 5 minutes by car from the Sign of Takahe, this park is a great place to spend a few hours. You will find plenty of treks throughout the area, the most notable being Harry Ell Track. This lovely hike takes 1.5 to 2 hours round-trip and ends at Sign of the Kiwi (a café built over 100 years ago)! Other treks in Victoria Park can be found here and other hikes in the Port Hills region can be found here.

  • North Hagley Park & Botanic Gardens: You can wander these areas for free. The gardens are beautiful and the park is huge. A perfect location to relax for hours on end!

  • Christchurch Gondola & Time Tunnel Experience: For $30 NZD ($22 USD), ride a cable car up to one of the best views in Christchurch. At the top, experience the Time Tunnel, which is an interactive tour of the region’s history.

  • Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial & 185 Empty Chairs: Both of these public memorials commemorate those who passed away in the earthquake of February 2011. They are free and able to be visited 24/7.

  • Punting on the Avon: Take a 30-minute guided boat tour along the Avon River from one of two locations - Antigua Boat Sheds and Worcester Bridge. Tours cost $30 NZD ($22 USD).

  • Explore the Surrounding Area: If you have a car, two places I recommend checking out are Sumner and Governors Bay Road. Sumner is a quiet, southeastern neighborhood of Christchurch with a pretty beach you can swim at. Governors Bay Road is a lakeside drive and one of the most scenic roads I drove on in New Zealand - which is saying a lot!

  • Christchurch Tram: Discover all the must-see spots in downtown CC via old-fashioned tram! Day tickets cost $25 NZD ($18 USD).

  • Other things to do: New Brighton Pier, Quake City, Canterbury Museum, Cardboard Cathedral, and Travis Wetland Nature Heritage.

Photo Dec 05, 5 56 36 AM.jpg
Photo Oct 19, 4 08 10 PM.jpg
Photo Oct 22, 6 36 57 PM.jpg
Photo Oct 21, 4 18 18 PM.jpg
Photo Oct 20, 9 49 47 PM.jpg

Accommodation:

Photo Oct 20, 8 47 19 PM.jpg
Photo Oct 19, 4 19 52 PM.jpg
Photo Oct 17, 5 57 26 AM.jpg

Transportation:

Christchurch’s main bus station is Christchurch Bus Interchange; all buses below leave from here. The main train station is Christchurch Railway Station; all trains below leave from here.

  • Arthur’s Pass is 2 hours by car from Christchurch. The train ride is 2.5 hours and costs $129 NZD ($93 USD).

  • Lake Tekapo is 3 hours by car from Christchurch. The bus ride is 3.5 hours and costs $56 NZD ($40 USD).

  • Punakaiki is 4 hours by car from Christchurch. The bus ride is 6 hours (indirect) and costs $153 NZD ($110 USD).

  • Mount Cook Village is 4.5 hours by car from Christchurch. The bus ride is 5.5 hours and costs $229 NZD ($165 USD).

  • Wanaka is 5.5 hours by car from Christchurch. The bus ride is 7.5 hours (indirect) and costs $110 NZD ($79 USD).

  • Nelson is 5.5 hours by car from Christchurch. The bus ride is 8.5 hours (indirect) and costs $101 NZD ($73 USD).

  • Fox Glacier is 5.5 hours by car from Christchurch. The bus ride is 9.5 hours (indirect) and costs $194 NZD ($140 USD).

  • Queenstown is 6 hours by car from Christchurch. The bus ride is 8 hours and costs $85 NZD ($61 USD).

  • The Catlins are 7 hours by car from Christchurch. The bus and taxi ride is 11 hours and costs upwards of $175 NZD. The bus ride from Christchurch to Invercargill is 10 hours (indirect) and costs $53 NZD ($38 USD). From Invercargill, a taxi to the Catlins is 1 hour and costs $125-$175 NZD ($90-$126 USD).

  • Te Anau is 8 hours by car from Christchurch. The bus ride is 11 hours and costs $65 NZD ($47 USD).

  • Wellington is 8 hours by car from Christchurch. The bus and ferry ride is 10.5 hours and costs $108 NZD ($78 USD).

Christchurch Airport (CHC) is 11km (7 miles) northwest of the city center and accessible via bus, shuttle, or taxi.

  • Bus: The ride via bus #3 (purple line) or bus #29 is 35 minutes and costs $8.50 NZD ($6 USD). Buses depart every 30 minutes from 6:15am-10:30pm.

  • Shuttle: The ride via SuperShuttle is 30 minutes and costs $19 NZD ($14 USD); shuttles must be booked in advance.

  • Taxi: The ride is 20 minutes and costs $45-$65 NZD ($30-$43 USD) depending on the time of day.

Photo Dec 06, 5 52 33 AM.jpg
Photo Oct 19, 7 45 59 PM.jpg
Photo Oct 19, 5 42 26 PM.jpg

Thanks to my sister, Jackie, and some fellow travelers for snapping a few of these incredible photos!