Things to do in Christchurch

I can’t say enough good things about my hometown, Ōtautahi Christchurch. It has changed drastically in the decade or so since the devastating earthquakes that changed the city, and its community alike. If you’re heading to Christchurch as part of your travels around New Zealand and not sure what to do with your time in the city, I’m your gal. I’ve put together my list of great things to do in and around Christchurch, from city centre culture to hot pools by the sea, cracking day walks and a French-flavoured overnight escape to Akaroa. There will definitely be something here that interests you, and you might even see me too…

Check Out the City Centre

More than a decade on from the earthquakes, Christchurch has truly come into its own. It is still humbling to walk the streets of the central city and see the odd remnant of those years, but there is far more here to enjoy than to mourn, and the rebuilt city has a creativity and warmth all its own.

The Botanic Gardens

Take a stroll through Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens, open daily from 7am, with closing time shifting through the year from around 6.30pm in the cooler months to as late as 9pm in summer. Immerse yourself in more than 20 hectares of sculptures, flowers and native trees hidden in the middle of town. While you are there, take in the rare philodendrons and other indoor plants at Cunningham House, and if you would like to learn more about the gardens, one of the walking or shuttle tours is a lovely way to see the space.

Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna Waiwhetū

Head to the magnificent Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū and marvel at the work of Kiwi and international artists. The gallery is known for its striking wave-like glass facade, its name gifted by Ngāi Tūāhuriri in reference to the artesian spring beneath the building. In the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake the gallery became the headquarters for the city’s Civil Defence and recovery operations, and it did not reopen to the public until December 2015, following extensive strengthening work. Since then it has welcomed millions of visitors, and entry remains free, with a cafe and gift shop on site for a rainy afternoon.

Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre

Holds a special place in my heart, as my first job as a tour guide. Just across the street from the Art Gallery, the Arts Centre occupies the beautiful Gothic Revival stone buildings that once housed Canterbury College, the city’s first university, where a young Ernest Rutherford carried out his earliest experiments. Badly damaged in the 2011 earthquake, the precinct has been carefully restored building by building over more than a decade and today holds boutique shops, galleries, artist studios and places to eat, along with the Rutherford’s Den exhibition on the site’s scientific history. A weekend market brings the quadrangles to life, and it remains one of the loveliest places in the city simply to wander.

Canterbury Museum Pop-Up

If you love museums and want to learn more about the history of the area, the Canterbury Museum is well worth a visit, although not in its usual home. The much-loved Rolleston Avenue building closed in 2023 for a major redevelopment, a project expected to run for several years and reshape the museum for the next hundred. While the main site is rebuilt, the museum has opened a pop-up space in the CoCA building at 66 Gloucester Street, right in the central city. About half of the space is given over to highlights and favourites from the permanent collection, and the other half hosts changing temporary exhibitions, so it is well worth a look even if you visited the museum before it closed. Entry is free, with donations welcomed.

Isaac Theatre Royal

A short walk from the Art Gallery, the Isaac Theatre Royal is New Zealand’s only remaining working Edwardian theatre, first built in 1908 and beautifully restored after earthquake damage. The auditorium and ornate foyer, with their original chandelier and gold detailing, host everything from touring musicals and ballet to concerts and comedy throughout the year. If a show does not fit your itinerary, a guided tour through the foyer gives a good sense of the building’s history and its place in Christchurch’s performing arts scene.

The Court Theatre

Just around the corner, the Court Theatre reopened in a brand new, purpose-built home on the corner of Colombo and Gloucester Streets in May 2025, having spent the fourteen years since the earthquakes in temporary premises. New Zealand’s largest producing theatre company, the Court stages everything from original New Zealand works to major musicals and its long-running Court Jesters improvised comedy, and the new building brings a bar and casual dining space back to the heart of the Performing Arts Precinct.

Places to Eat

Christchurch’s dining scene has come a long way since the earthquakes, and the central city now has plenty of good options within easy walking distance of the Arts Centre and Art Gallery. Riverside Market, mentioned further below, doubles as one of the best lunch stops in town, with local producers and eateries under one roof by the Ōtākaro (Avon River). Oxford Terrace, known locally as The Strip, runs alongside the river and holds one of the highest concentrations of restaurants and bars in the city, good for everything from a casual bite to a proper night out. For something more relaxed, Little High Eatery on St Asaph Street is a food hall bringing together a range of local vendors under one roof, and New Regent Street, with its pastel heritage buildings, is a lovely spot for a coffee or lunch between sightseeing.

Greater Christchurch Area

Hot Pools by the Sea

Warm up after a beach walk with a seaside soak at He Puna Taimoana in New Brighton. The pools are open 10am to 7.30pm, seven days, with a late night on Fridays, and casual sessions are easy to drop into. It is hard to think of anything better after a big day of exploring what Christchurch has to offer, so check current pricing and session times on the He Puna Taimoana website before you go.

New Brighton Pier

Before or after the hot pools, take a stroll along the beach and pier in New Brighton. It is also great for a sundown walk, when the light installations along the pier come into their own. Once you are there, check out the small beach town shops surrounding the pier area. On a sunny day it might just feel like a summer holiday.

Visit Sumner

Sumner is a cosy wee suburb with plenty to do. A lovely spot for a paddle or swim in the Pacific Ocean, walk the beach to Cave Rock, search for seals at White Wash Head, have a coffee at Niche, and be sure to visit the brilliant L’Estrange Art Gallery.

Visit Quail Island

To pay a visit to Christchurch’s very own island escape, board a ferry at Lyttelton Harbour. Canterbury’s largest island was formerly used as a migrant quarantine station, as well as during past influenza and leprosy outbreaks. You can easily explore the island in a half day or a full day, with a scenic circuit walkway and a swimming beach for cooling off along the way.

Go to a Market

After the earthquakes, pop-up markets started blossoming across Christchurch, and several have become weekend institutions. The Christchurch Farmers’ Market at Riccarton House and the Lyttelton Farmers Market on Saturday mornings are both worth a visit, the latter especially good for a browse of local produce and a bite to eat. In the central city, Riverside Market is a great all-weather option, open seven days a week and bringing together local producers, eateries and bars on the banks of the Avon River.

Grab a Coffee

Christchurch is overflowing with good coffee. Some of our favourite spots to find the best coffee in Christchurch are C1 Espresso, Child Sister, Tom’s, Francis Nation and Embassy Coffee. Further afield, Niche Coffee and Eatery in Sumner has made Sumner a coffee destination, and Lyttelton Coffee Company in Lyttelton has done much the same for the wee harbour town.

Christchurch Gondola

Ride the gondola and take in panoramic views of the city, Lyttelton Harbour and the Southern Alps, and save your energy by skipping the climb to access heaps of walking tracks atop the Port Hills. With deals for families and children, this is a must-do when visiting Christchurch.

Take a Hike

There is something for everyone here, from easy one-hour walks to moderate hikes and challenging tramping tracks. The region around Christchurch has it all.

Bridle Path

The historic first connection between Lyttelton Harbour, Mount Herbert and Christchurch, this three kilometre trek will take about one and a half to two hours and reward you with stunning summit views over Christchurch and Lyttelton. Encounter informative historic signposts, as well as the Pioneer Women’s Memorial, as you make your way up the steep path.

When I stand on the summit, I always think of the people who immigrated to New Zealand in the mid-1800s and walked the Bridle Path to their new home. An absolute slog in crinolines, stiff clothing and all their belongings, on legs that likely hadn't walked more than a boat length in many weeks. They would have stood at the top, looking out over the Southern Alps, which are a magical sight, but goodness, the prospect of settling in Christchurch must have been awful - at that time, almost all of Christchurch and the wider region was little more than a vast swamp. Christchurch is a lovely city now - there's still swamp, but you won't be needing to battle through it, we have paving. 

Godley Head to Taylor’s Mistake Walkway

This hike follows the coastline from Taylor’s Mistake Beach. It is a well surfaced track that takes about three hours for the round trip of seven kilometres. Enjoy views of Lyttelton Harbour and the north face of Banks Peninsula, and as an add-on, discover the World War Two military installation on Godley Head.

Crater Rim Walkway

For sweeping views over both the city and Lyttelton Harbour in one outing, the Crater Rim Walkway along Summit Road is hard to beat. The full track runs from the Sign of the Kiwi to Godley Head, but it is easily broken into shorter sections, so it suits everyone from a gentle afternoon stroll to a full day on the hills. Keep an eye out for paragliders launching from the ridgeline on a fine day, and pack a jacket, as the wind on the tops can turn quickly even when the city below is calm.

Rapaki Track

Starting from Rapaki Bay on the Lyttelton Harbour side, this track climbs steadily up to Summit Road, where it connects with the Crater Rim Walkway. It is a return trip of around two hours, moderately steep in places, and rewards you with wide views over the harbour and, on a clear day, out to the Southern Alps. It is a favourite with locals after work, and a good option if you would like a proper climb without needing a full day.

If you want to check out another of the numerous hikes in the area, and trust us, there are a lot, visit our blog on day walks around Christchurch, or the Christchurch City Council and ChristchurchNZ websites for further inspiration.

Stay Overnight in Akaroa

If you have an extra day up your sleeve, an overnight trip to Akaroa is one of the best ways to slow down and see a different side of Canterbury. Tucked inside the rim of an ancient volcano, Akaroa sits on Banks Peninsula, known to Māori as Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū (the storehouse of Rākaihautū), in recognition of the abundance of food and resources long found there. Akaroa itself is just over an hour’s drive from Christchurch, or a little longer by scenic shuttle, and feels like a world away from the city. The town’s French and British history shows up in its street names, architecture and cafes, and giving yourself a night there means you are not racing the clock to get back.

Spend your afternoon on the water with a harbour cruise, keeping an eye out for the world’s smallest and rarest dolphin, the Hector’s dolphin, along with fur seals and little penguins. Wander the village, browse the galleries and boutiques, and stop in at the Giant’s House, a mosaic-covered garden and gallery that rewards a slow look around. If you are keen to stretch your legs further, the Banks Peninsula Track winds through the hills above the harbour and can be walked as a shorter day section or a longer multi-day tramp for the more adventurous. As evening falls, Akaroa’s dark skies make it a wonderful spot for stargazing, with a couple of local operators running guided evenings under the stars.Akaroa has accommodation to suit most tastes, from boutique lodges and homestays to waterfront motels and holiday parks, but rooms fill quickly over the summer season, so it pays to book ahead. You can drive yourself over the Port Hills and across Banks Peninsula, or leave the car behind and take one of the scenic shuttle services that run daily from central Christchurch, with hotel pick-ups available.

Cultural Experiences

Right in the central city, Waka on Avon offers a Māori-operated paddling experience on the Ōtākaro (Avon River), the first time waka have been back on the river in more than 160 years. Local Ngāi Tūāhuriri guides open with a mihī whakatau (traditional welcome) before taking you out on a handcrafted waka (canoe), sharing stories of the river as a mahinga kai, a traditional food-gathering place, and its shared history between Māori and early settlers. It is a wonderfully accessible way to get out on the water and hear Christchurch’s story from those who know it best, and tours run daily from the booking office on Colombo Street, opposite Victoria Square.

Christchurch offers a genuine chance to connect with Māori culture and New Zealand’s history. At Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, the Kō Tāne Māori Experience opens with a pōwhiri (traditional welcome), followed by a kapa haka (Māori performing arts) show of waiata, haka and poi, and a wander through a recreated pre-European village. Many evenings finish with a hāngī (food cooked in an earth oven) dinner, making it an easy way to spend a full evening immersed in the culture.

History lovers should also make time for the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, which tells the story of aviation in this country through beautifully preserved aircraft and hands-on exhibits, and Quake City, which shares the personal stories behind the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes and the city’s remarkable rebuild. Together with the Botanic Gardens, Canterbury Museum and Christchurch Art Gallery mentioned above, these experiences give visitors a rounded picture of the people, culture and resilience behind the city you see today.

Getting To and From the Airport

Christchurch Airport sits around 20 minutes’ drive from the city centre, and there are options to suit every budget and schedule. The Metro bus Purple Line runs directly between the terminal and the central Bus Interchange and is the most affordable way in, particularly if you are travelling light. For door-to-door convenience, taxis and rideshare services such as Uber and Ola operate from clearly marked pick-up areas just outside the terminal, and shared shuttle vans offer a good middle ground for solo travellers or small groups. If you plan to explore further afield, all the major rental car companies have desks in the terminal, and a hire car is well worth considering if Akaroa or the wider region is on your list.

Take your time, enjoy this beautiful city, its many green spaces, art spaces, culture and sight-seeing opportunities. 

Words by Anna @ HikingNZ