Experience the best of Christchurch
Christchurch is the South Island's largest city, a flat, green city on the Avon River with the Southern Alps and Banks Peninsula close by.
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Christchurch was planned by English settlers in 1850 around a central square and the Avon River, which winds through the city past willows and lawns. Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens cover a large green area beside the centre, and punts glide along the river. The Gothic Revival Arts Centre, built for the university, houses studios and cafés, and Canterbury Museum stands beside the gardens.
A gondola climbs the Port Hills, which look over the city and the plain, and Lyttelton, the port town in an old volcanic crater, lies on the other side. Akaroa, a harbour village on Banks Peninsula with French street names, is about an hour and a half away. North of the city, the thermal pools of Hanmer Springs are a similar drive, and the TranzAlpine railway runs west through Arthur's Pass to the West Coast.
Canterbury lamb, whitebait fritters, meat pies and hokey pokey ice cream, vanilla with honeycomb, are the local fare, with Pinot Noir and Riesling from the vineyards of Waipara to the north. Autumn colour fills the parks, and the nor'wester, a warm dry wind off the mountains, blows in summer.
- 1 hop-on hop-off route
- Free cancellation on 86% of experiences
- 4.7 across the top 24
Top 10 attractions in Christchurch
Special offers in Christchurch
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
Hop-on hop-off in Christchurch
Day trips from Christchurch
112
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Guided tours in Christchurch
103
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Shore excursions from Christchurch
20
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Go beyond Christchurch
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Akaroa · 40 kmAkaroa Lighthouse
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Akaroa · 40 kmThe Giants House
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Kaikōura · 145 kmKaikōura Peninsula Walkway
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Greymouth · 167 kmWestcoast Treetop Walk & Cafe
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Franz Josef & Fox Glacier · 211 kmFranz Josef Glacier
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Franz Josef & Fox Glacier · 211 kmFox Glacier
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Blenheim · 249 kmMarlborough Vineyards
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Blenheim · 249 kmOmaka Aviation Heritage Centre
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Picton · 273 kmMarlborough Sounds
Questions about Christchurch
- What is there to do in Christchurch?
- We list 343 experiences in Christchurch. The largest groups are day trips (112), city tours (51), attraction tickets (6).
- What are the top attractions in Christchurch?
- Ranked by the experiences that visit them, the top attractions in Christchurch are Lake Pukaki, Lake Tekapo, TranzAlpine Train, Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
- What is the most popular experience in Christchurch?
- By number of traveller reviews it is "Christchurch Hop-On Hop-Off Tram", rated 4.5 out of 5 from 977 reviews.
- Is there a hop-on hop-off bus in Christchurch?
- Yes. We list 1 hop-on hop-off bus tour in Christchurch; the most reviewed is "Christchurch Hop-On Hop-Off Tram" with 977 reviews.
- How long do tours and tickets in Christchurch take?
- The typical experience in Christchurch lasts about 7 hours; the middle half run between 3 hours and 11 hours.
- Can I cancel a booking in Christchurch?
- The operator lists free cancellation on 87% of the 343 experiences we hold for Christchurch. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.
Why book here
Compare before you buy
Every ticket, tour and pass we carry for a city, side by side on one page.
Free cancellation on most experiences
Where the operator offers it, the card says so before you click.
Real reviews, real photos
Ratings and reviews are collected from travellers by our booking partner and Tripadvisor; nobody pays for placement.
Secure checkout on our partner’s site
Card details are entered on our booking partner’s site, never on ours.