New Regent Street, a short street in central Christchurch, is often called New Zealand’s most beautiful street. While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, most visitors would agree that the pastel-colored shop fronts on New Regent Street are definitely attractive. They were built in the 1930s in the Spanish Mission style, which is unusual in New Zealand, making New Regent Street a worthwhile detour while touring Christchurch.
Stretching across the Avon River, the Bridge of Remembrance was unveiled in 1924 to honor the servicemen and women who bravely fought in World War I. Hundreds of soldiers have since marched on its stones. Today, the bridge and monument arch are viewed by many as the center of downtown Christchurch.
Spa-lovers may find it hard to leave Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa. The standout attractions are the nine open-air geothermal pools, ranging in temperatures from 91°F to 107°F (33°C to 42°C). There are also three sulphur pools, six private indoor thermal pools, and a sauna. Anyone who wants to relax will search for reasons to linger.
The Christchurch Tram combines leisurely transportation with narrated city sightseeing aboard a restored vintage tram. Visitors learn about historical landmarks in central Christchurch as well as the Garden City’s revival efforts following the earthquake damage of 2011. With 17 hop-on hop-off stops, it’s an easy and fun way to get oriented to New Zealand's third-largest city.
Take a break from the cars and crowds of Christchurch without leaving the city. Covering 407 acres (165 hectares) of central Christchurch, Hagley Park is a tranquil park full of green, open spaces. Take a paddleboat down the Avon River, play a match of soccer or rugby, or explore the flower beds and glasshouses of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
Walking and cycling trails crisscross the green, rumpled Port Hills landscape. To get to know this outdoor playground, skip the tunnel linking Christchurch and the harbor community of Lyttleton to the southeast. Instead, take the long way around and over the hills. The extra travel time pays off in scenery and gorgeous views.
The Transitional Cathedral opened in 2013, after the city’s iconic ChristChurch Cathedral was severely damaged in the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. In contrast to the 19th-century stone church it replaces, the cathedral has a very modern, A-frame design supported by dozens of cardboard tubes, lending it the nickname the Cardboard Cathedral.
The face of Cashel Street is ever-changing—from the heart of Christchurch’s once-bustling downtown to its post-earthquake Re:START mall. Today the city mall, also known as Cashel Street Mall, is rebounding as a thriving pedestrian thoroughfare offering shopping, a farmers market, and top-grade people watching.
The Waipara Valley is a well-regarded wine region north of Christchurch, and Torlesse Wines is one of the oldest wineries there. They produce a variety of wines, which visitors can taste at their cellar door every day of the week. At an hour’s drive from Christchurch, Torlesse Wines is a convenient place to visit on a day trip to the Waipara Valley.
The Waipara Valley, just north of Christchurch, is one of the most active wine-growing regions in the country. The Waipara Springs Winery is a family-run winery that’s one of the oldest in the region, having been established in 1981. Visitors can sample fine wines and enjoy a meal at the restaurant, all in a beautiful rural setting.
Burkes Pass in South Canterbury’s Mackenzie Country is a mountain pass with a namesake heritage village tucked at its base. First utilized by indigenous Maori people, the outpost later grew into a township around a hotel that was opened for weary Mackenzie pioneers. Today, it makes an ideal base for outdoor explorations.
Towering high above the Canterbury Plains, Mt. Hutt Ski Area is an award-winning, internationally recognized ski resort suitable for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels. But it’s not only a hot destination during ski season—there’s plenty to do during the summer, including hiking, hot-air ballooning, and jet boating in the Rakaia Gorge.
Meandering from the majestic Southern Alps through the Canterbury Plains to the Pacific Ocean, the Waimakariri River is known for its scenic beauty. It is also the hub for a number of popular water sports and outdoor activities, from beech forest–lined canyon hikes to jet boat rides that take you spinning around rugged Waimakariri Gorge.
Christchurch is bursting with independent artists, artisans, and storytellers producing vibrant and cutting-edge work, and many of them call the Christchurch Arts Centre (Te Matatiki Toi Ora) home. Redeveloping and reopening in stages following the damaging 2011 earthquake, the center is an exciting, creative hub full of studios, stores, galleries, and museums.
Although it is located in a former British colony, Akaroa Harbour is decidedly French—down to the baguettes and street names—as this Christchurch enclave was originally founded by pioneering French settlers. Located on the rugged Banks Peninsula, 90 minutes by car from Christchurch, Akaroa drifts along at a pace that's more rural, laid-back—and French—than New Zealand’s third-largest city.
Dedicated to the Royal New Zealand Air Force, this museum includes exhibits that vary from historic aircraft to a hands-on flight simulator. Memorials here are dedicated to members of the air force who have died in service, while a collection of photographs offers a window into New Zealand’s military history.
New Zealand’s largest theater company was founded in 1971 and puts on about 19 productions each year, ranging from serious drama to light-hearted comedy. Following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the company relocated from the Arts Centre in the heart of the city to a former grain shed in the Christchurch suburb of Addington.
In 2010 and 2011, the city of Christchurch and the surrounding areas of Canterbury were hit by two powerful earthquakes. The first, in September 2010, was larger, but the second, in February 2011, caused more damage and loss of life. Opened in 2017, the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial in Christchurch commemorates these natural disasters.
At Orana Wildlife Park in Christchurch, visitors will get chance to come face-to-face with gorillas, orangutans, giraffes, and lions. You might even enjoy a rare sighting of New Zealand’s national bird, the kiwi, the In fact, more than 70 exotic species can be found at the only open-air wildlife park in the country.
Although the Waipara Valley wine region doesn’t always feature in glossy magazines, New Zealand oenophiles flock to this small slice of Canterbury for some of the country’s best gewürztraminer, as well as its uniquely rich pinot noir and riesling. Best of all, it’s more accessible from Christchurch than the South Island’s other wine destinations.
Established by French pioneers, the small town of Akaroa retains its Gallic feel with French street names and tricolor flags. Overlooked by craggy volcanic hills, Akaroa Port serves as a jumping-off point for the wildlife-filled Banks Peninsula, Christchurch, and the wider Canterbury region.
