Christchurch Travel Guides & Itineraries

Christchurch is a compact city that’s easy to explore on foot, with the added benefit of being completely flat. It features streets named in traditional English style, several vibrant parks and gardens, and the River Avon, which runs through the city lined with willow trees and decorative bridges.

On the western side, Hagley Park offers a large open area for a variety of activities, from leisurely weekend strolls to Kiwi-style touch rugby and volleyball games held year-round. Nearby, you’ll find the delightful Botanical Gardens, filled with geraniums, chrysanthemums, and meticulously trimmed lawns without a single blade out of place.

Surrounding Christchurch are the vast Canterbury Plains, one of New Zealand’s driest and flattest areas, consisting of fertile farmland framed by the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps.

The 2011 earthquake and its aftershocks caused significant damage to Christchurch, especially in the central business district and eastern suburbs. While this was a challenging time in the city’s history, it also marks an exciting period for its future. Rebuilding has happened and is an ongoing process.

Meanwhile, creative solutions were used to fill empty spaces—murals appear on blank walls, shops operate out of shipping containers, and a cardboard Cathedral, so loved by Cantabrians it has remained a permanent feature. The city is full of open spaces, riverside walks and social hubs with pop-up cafes and market stalls.

Thanks to this resilience and strong community spirit, Christchurch is now a better than ever place to visit and serves as a great base for exploring nearby attractions.