What are the top things to do in Christchurch?

Christchurch Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park, Christchurch Art Gallery, Arts Centre, Cardboard Cathedral, and more. Paste your own list into Tripsapien and it checks each place's hours, closures, and booking pressure for your exact dates.

Which neighborhoods should I explore in Christchurch?

Cathedral Square and CBD, Arts Centre and Worcester Boulevard, Riverside, Cashel, and High Street, Hagley, Riccarton, and Ilam. Tripsapien groups your places by neighborhood so each day stays in one or two areas instead of zig-zagging.

When is the best time to visit Christchurch?

February, January, December balance comfortable temperatures with fewer rainy days. Pick your month below to see that month's events, public holidays, and seasonal timing.

Will the places on my list be open when I'm in Christchurch?

Tripsapien checks each place against the exact dates you're in Christchurch and flags closures, limited hours, and sell-outs before the trip.

Christchurch New Zealand

Things to do in Christchurch

By Tripsapien Research / Updated May 20, 2026

Christchurch is the South Island gateway where the Avon River, Hagley Park, Cathedral Square, Riverside Market, the Arts Centre, Riccarton, and Sumner show a city rebuilt around gardens, cycling, and post-2011-earthquake recovery. The city works as both an urban base and a launch point for Akaroa, Waipara, Arthur Pass, and the TranzAlpine rail route.

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About Christchurch

City overview

Food & drink

Christchurch food reads like Canterbury produce: lamb and venison show up in pub and bistro mains, blue cod is the South Island fish-and-chips staple, and whitebait fritters bind tiny fish with egg into a delicate pan-fried patty. Riverside Market, Christchurch Farmers Market, New Regent Street, Addington cafes, Lyttelton restaurants, and Riccarton food strips add pies, cheese, craft beer, coffee, and Waipara wine.

Top sights

Ranked for suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.

Map of Christchurch with pinned top attractions (1 through 10)

1
Christchurch Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park
4.7★ · 14,773
The gardens and park form the central green core, with the Avon River, conservatories, lawns, sports grounds, and walking paths west of the CBD.
2
Christchurch Art Gallery
4.5★ · 3,689
The central gallery has New Zealand and international art collections in a rebuilt civic precinct close to the Arts Centre and Avon River.
Wikipedia
3
Arts Centre
4.6★ · 729
The restored Gothic Revival university buildings on Worcester Boulevard now hold galleries, food, shops, events, and earthquake-restoration evidence.
Wikipedia

Show 8 more sights

4Cardboard Cathedral
5Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial
6Quake City
7Riverside Market
8Punting on the Avon and Antigua Boatsheds
9Christchurch Gondola
10International Antarctic Centre
11New Regent Street and heritage tram

Neighborhoods

1
Cathedral Square and CBD
The rebuilt core has Cathedral Square, laneways, tram tracks, offices, hotels, libraries, public art, and visible recovery work.
2
Arts Centre and Worcester Boulevard
This cultural strip has the Art Gallery, Arts Centre, museum precinct, Avon bridges, heritage stonework, and short walks into the gardens.
3
Riverside, Cashel, and High Street
The market-and-retail zone is food-focused, with Riverside Market, Cashel shops, bars, new apartments, and evening dining.
4
Hagley, Riccarton, and Ilam
The western side is greener and university-linked, with Hagley Park, Riccarton Bush, malls, motels, student streets, and farmers markets.
5
Sumner and Lyttelton
The coastal edge adds beaches, Port Hills roads, Lyttelton harbour, cafes, surf, and weather-dependent walks.
6
Addington and Sydenham
The south inner suburbs are practical and local, with the railway station, coffee roasters, event venues, breweries, and easier car access.

Day trips

80km / 1.5h by car or shuttle from Christchurch
Akaroa and Banks Peninsula
The harbor town has French-settlement history, cruises, cafes, volcanic hills, and dolphin-focused trips when conditions allow.
150km / 2.5h by train to Arthur Pass from Christchurch railway station
TranzAlpine to Arthur Pass
The scenic rail route crosses the Canterbury Plains and Waimakariri gorge toward the Southern Alps, with Arthur Pass a practical day-turn point.
60km / 45min by car from Christchurch
Waipara Valley
The wine district north of the city is known for pinot noir, riesling, cellar doors, and vineyard lunches.

Getting around

Metro buses, the Bus Interchange, airport buses, bikes, taxis, scooters, and central walking handle Christchurch, with Metrocard lowering bus fares. The heritage tram is useful for orientation, while Akaroa, Waipara, and Port Hills days are easiest by car or booked shuttle.