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Christchurch Walking Tour: Hidden Gems & Quake Stories

Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Christchurch, New Zealand
Great choice
5+ bookings last month.
  • 2 hours (approx.)
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9
·
· Emily_M ·
May 2026
Absolutely amazing experience with Reg. His knowledge and friendly nature made it an absolute pleasure and great way to learn about the history and culture of Christchurch. A true gem of an experience.
· Michael_M ·
Apr 2026
Reg was brilliant.... so knowledgable and engaging. It gave us a perfect overview of the history, geography and culture of Christchurch (especially in how the 2011 earthquake shaped it). Highly recommend.

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Overview

While lots of tours help you experience Christchurch’s sights and sounds, not many include first-hand anecdotes from the 2011 earthquake that rocked the city. On this small-group walking tour, explore local landmarks and hidden gems that most travelers miss while listening to personal stories of the city’s rich culture and heritage.
  • Spot details across the city you’d otherwise miss
  • Learn facts about the 2011 earthquake that most guidebooks skip
  • A small-group tour means plenty of opportunity for questions
  • Get some recommendations for the rest of your trip after the tour

What's Included

  • All the areas and sites we visit are free of any additional charges.

    Meeting and Pickup

    Meeting point

    • Bridge of Remembrance
      Cashel Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand

      Look for us with the PURPLE umbrella! This archway walking only bridge is on the corner of Cashel Street and Oxford Terrace. It is perhaps the most central of city iconic places so pretty much all locals can point you in the right direction.

    End point

    • 50 Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand

      We finish at the Christchurch Arts Centre - the original home of Canterbury College - the home to New Zealand's most historical cluster of historic buildings.

    Itinerary

    1

    Bridge of Remembrance

    3 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    2

    The Terrace

    3 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    3

    Riverside 3d Mural

    2 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    4

    City Mall

    3 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    5

    Cathedral Square

    7 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    6

    Turanga

    5 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    7

    Avon River / Ōtākaro

    4 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    8

    Victoria Square

    5 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    9

    Robert Falcon Scott Statue

    5 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    10

    Christchurch Art Gallery (Te Puna o Waiwhetu)

    5 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    11

    The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora

    7 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    12

    Rutherford's Den

    5 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

    Additional Info

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
    • Most travelers can participate
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
    Supplied by

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

    Traveler Photos

    Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
    Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

    Reviews

    4.9
    based on 35 reviews
    Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
    We perform checks on reviews
    Sort by: Most insightful

    Christchurch city tour

    Barry_C, Aug 2026
    Our Guide was Informative and very pleasant. He was new as a guide and went out of his way to make sure that our questions were addressed. Great work

    Walk and talk chch

    Susan_H, Jul 2026
    Reg was great..totally committed and very knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend this to Christcurch visitors We had a few good laughs as well along the way.

    Highly recommended

    Rob_H, Jul 2026
    Would highly recommend this tour particularly with the history of Christchurch. Richard the guide was fantastic. He clearly loved his job, was very informative, humorous and welcoming.

    A true gem of an experience.

    Emily_M, May 2026
    Absolutely amazing experience with Reg. His knowledge and friendly nature made it an absolute pleasure and great way to learn about the history and culture of Christchurch. A true gem of an experience.

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Thanks Emily, that’s incredibly kind of you! I’m really glad you enjoyed the experience and that the history and culture of Christchurch came through in an engaging way. Lovely to hear you found the tour such a memorable part of your visit. Thanks again for joining me, and safe travels back to Brisbane! Kindest Regards Reg

    A must for every traveller

    Linda, May 2026
    Great tour, Reg was a great guide providing a very informative and interesting commentary. It was good to see the buildings that were established after the earthquake and the effect it had on the people of Canterbury.

    Response from Host, May 2026

    Thanks very much, I appreciate that! I’m glad you enjoyed seeing how Christchurch has rebuilt since the earthquakes and hearing about the impact it had on the people of Canterbury. It’s a huge part of the city’s story and one that still shapes Christchurch today. Thanks again for joining me! Kind regards Reg

    Great tour of city. Very...

    Francis_J, Apr 2026
    Great tour of city. Very well knowledgeable on the city and its history, famous people and the 2011 earthquakes

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    Thanks very much, I appreciate that! Glad you enjoyed the mix of Christchurch’s history, its characters, and the earthquake story—it’s quite a combination. Thanks again for joining the tour and taking the time to leave a review! Regards, Reg

    Recommended tour

    Mark_H, Apr 2026
    It is a very good review of Christchurchs establishment and history and recovery from the earthquakes 15 years ago.

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    Thanks Mark — really appreciate that. Glad you found the overview of Christchurch’s early history and its recovery since the earthquakes useful. It’s been quite a journey for the city, and there’s still more to come. Thanks again for joining the tour. Cheers, Reg

    Reg was brilliant.... so...

    Michael_M, Apr 2026
    Reg was brilliant.... so knowledgable and engaging. It gave us a perfect overview of the history, geography and culture of Christchurch (especially in how the 2011 earthquake shaped it). Highly recommend.

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    Thanks so much — really appreciate that. Glad you enjoyed the overview of Christchurch’s history, geography, and culture — it’s a city that makes a lot more sense once you see how those pieces fit together, especially with the impact of the 2011 earthquake. Great to hear you found it engaging, and thanks for the recommendation. Cheers, Reg

    Basic but informative

    SIVARAJAH_J, Mar 2026
    Key areas/ places visited impact of 2011 earthquake and how the city was rebuilt was well explained. The guide was new to the job but she did her job very well

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    Thanks so much — really appreciate you taking the time to share this. Great to hear you found the explanation of the earthquake and the rebuild clear and worthwhile — it’s such an important part of Christchurch’s story. And I’m especially pleased to hear your feedback about your guide. She’s relatively new, so it’s fantastic to know she’s doing such a good job and making a strong impression. Thanks again for joining the tour! Cheers, Reg

    Its very informative and...

    Wendy_B, Mar 2026
    Its very informative and he is very passionate about christchurch , beautiful walk around the city !!

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    Thanks so much — really appreciate that. Glad you enjoyed the walk and found it informative. Christchurch is a great city to explore on foot, so it’s nice to hear that came through. Thanks again for joining the tour! Cheers, Reg

    Great walk

    Fraser_S, Mar 2026
    Wondered why we did not go to the earthquake memorial wall. It was brilliant but sue was great and very informative.

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    Thanks so much — really appreciate that. Glad you enjoyed the walk and found it informative. Christchurch is a great city to explore on foot, so it’s nice to hear that came through. Sometimes including the Earthquake Memorial extends the time beyond the time we've committed to. There's such a lot to see! Thanks again for joining the tour! Cheers, Reg

    We had a wonderful time...

    Brenda_C, Mar 2026
    We had a wonderful time on our Christchurch walking tour with Reg. He was knowledgeable, engaging, and shared great insights about the city’s history, culture, and rebuild. The pace was perfect. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Christchurch!

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    Thanks so much — really appreciate that. Glad you had a wonderful time and enjoyed the mix of history, culture, and the rebuild story — it’s always the goal to give a well-rounded feel for Christchurch. Great to hear the pace worked well too. Thanks again for the recommendation and for joining the tour. Cheers, Reg

    Local guided tour

    Dennis_B, Mar 2026
    An excellent walking guide through Christchurch. Reg provided an informative, interesting and friendly tour of the city. Would highy recommend the tour.

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    Thanks very much — I really appreciate that. Great to hear you found the tour informative and interesting, and that it all came across in a friendly way as well. That’s exactly what I aim for. Thanks again for the recommendation and for joining the tour! Regards Reg

    Enjoyed the tour

    Gary_M, Mar 2026
    Reg is a very personable and engaging guide to the city of Christchurch. Keen to share his knowledge of the city, past & present. Enjoyable 1.75hrs engaging with Reg who speaks with great pride about the city in which he resides,

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    Thanks so much — that’s really appreciated. I’m glad you enjoyed the time on the tour and the chance to explore both the past and present of Christchurch. It’s a city I care a lot about, so it’s great to hear that came through. Thanks again for joining me — and for taking the time to share your thoughts! Regards Reg

    Excellent walk

    Ruth_L, Mar 2026
    The walk was excellent and a great introduction to the city and the impact of the earthquake. Our two guides were very informative and provided lots of insight alongside the history of the city

    Response from Host, Apr 2026

    Thanks very much — we really appreciate that. Great to hear you found the tour a good introduction to the city and its earthquake story — it’s such an important part of understanding Christchurch today. And I’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to the guides as well — always nice to hear the team effort is coming through. Thanks again for joining the tour!

    Ecxellent

    Haobin_X, Feb 2026
    The tour guide was very friendly and gave everyone detailed explanations about some important attractions in the city center as well as some historical background. It was excellent.

    Response from Host, Feb 2026

    Thank you — that’s lovely to hear. I’m really pleased you enjoyed the explanations and the historical background. The city centre has some important stories behind those attractions, and it’s great when that context adds to the experience. I appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. It was a pleasure having you on the tour. All the best, Reg

    Good one

    BrianPatrick_P, Feb 2026
    Good background to understand Christchurch . Geography physical and social Good pace . Clear talking

    Response from Host, Feb 2026

    Thanks very much — I appreciate that. Christchurch makes a lot more sense once you understand the geography and the social history behind it, so I’m glad that came through clearly. And good to hear the pace and delivery worked well — no one enjoys feeling rushed or straining to hear. Thanks again for joining the tour and for taking the time to leave feedback. All the best, Reg

    Local guide is the best

    Linda_L, Dec 2025
    The guide was local and very knowledgeable. He took me to all historical places and patiently wsiting when I was taking photos of places.

    Response from Host, Jan 2026

    Thanks Linda. I also enjoyed you company. Good fun! :)
    Likely to Sell Out

    From $15.21

    per person

    up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

    Book ahead!
    On average, this is booked 15 days in advance.

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