Things to do in Christchurch
Christchurch rewards a wander. Glide along the Avon by punt, lose an afternoon in the Botanic Gardens, ride a heritage tram through a strikingly rebuilt centre, and climb the gondola for a view from the Alps to the sea. Add the Riverside Market, the free art gallery and the Antarctic Centre, and you've a full, easy-going city stay. Here are the essentials.
Tram, punting & the gondola
Start with the heritage tram, which loops past Cathedral Square, the pastel New Regent Street and the riverside — a great orientation. Punt the Avon from the Antigua Boat Sheds and stroll the Botanic Gardens. Then ride the Christchurch Gondola up the Port Hills for a panorama over the plains, the Alps and Banks Peninsula. It's a wonderful first day. See our South Island tours.
Galleries, market & street art
The rebuilt centre is full of life. Graze the Riverside Market, browse the free Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, and trace the story of the city at Quake City. Everywhere you'll find bold street art and striking new architecture alongside restored heritage. Pause for a coffee on New Regent Street. It's a compact, creative and moving cityscape. See our city centre & rebuild guide.
Antarctic Centre, Akaroa & day trips
Near the airport, the International Antarctic Centre is a fun, all-weather highlight (and a nod to the city's role as an Antarctic gateway) — see our families & wildlife guide. Beyond the city, French Akaroa and the scenic TranzAlpine and Kaikōura are all within easy reach. See our day trips guide.
Things to do in Christchurch: your questions
Punt the Avon and wander the Botanic Gardens; ride the heritage tram through the reborn centre; take the Christchurch Gondola for Port Hills views; browse pastel New Regent Street and the Riverside Market; and visit the International Antarctic Centre. Add a day trip to Akaroa and it's a full, varied stay. See our South Island tours.
A great day combines the Botanic Gardens and a punt on the Avon, a tram loop through the centre past Cathedral Square and New Regent Street, lunch at the Riverside Market, and the Christchurch Art Gallery (free) or Quake City. Finish with the gondola at sunset. It's a compact, walkable city, so you fit a lot in. See our Garden City guide.
Yes — the Christchurch Gondola climbs the Port Hills to a summit with sweeping views over the city, the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps, and Lyttelton Harbour and Banks Peninsula on the other side. There's a café and a short heritage ride at the top. It's especially lovely near sunset, and a good way to grasp the lie of the land. See our things to do.
New Regent Street is a beloved pedestrian lane of pastel Spanish Mission-style shops from the 1930s, lovingly restored after the earthquake. The heritage tram runs right through it, and it's lined with cafés, boutiques and chocolate shops — a charming, photogenic spot for a coffee or a browse in the heart of town. See our city centre & rebuild guide.
Ideal — as the South Island's main gateway, Christchurch is perfect for a night or two at the start or end of a trip. Even in a short stay you can enjoy the gardens, the tram, the market and the gondola, and it's the departure point for the TranzAlpine train and drives to Kaikōura, Aoraki/Mount Cook and beyond. See our day trips guide.