Christchurch is the South Island's largest city, a flat, walkable place on the Avon River with a rebuilt centre, a lot of green space and some of New Zealand's best day trips within reach. This guide covers the city and four trips beyond it: Akaroa, Kaikōura, Hanmer Springs and the TranzAlpine train. Most visitors are surprised by how much the city has changed in recent years, and by how easy it is to combine a few hours of sightseeing with a bigger outing on the same day.
What to book ahead
Book the whale watching trip from Kaikōura and the Akaroa dolphin cruise before you arrive, particularly in summer and school holidays, because departures are limited and weather can cancel sailings, so build in a spare day. The Antarctic Centre and the gondola are easier to book a day or two ahead, and the tram needs no planning at all.
Getting around
The central city is flat and compact, so most visitors walk between the Botanic Gardens, the art gallery, Cathedral Square and the river. The Christchurch Tram makes a one-way loop of the central sights with 18 stops and a circuit of about 50 minutes, and a day ticket lets you hop on and off. The gondola base is in the Heathcote Valley, and the Antarctic Centre and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve are out of the centre, so a hire car or a taxi helps for those. For Akaroa, Kaikōura and Hanmer Springs, you can drive, join a tour from the centre or combine the two.
How many days
Three days gives a good first visit. Spend the first day in the centre: ride the tram around, walk the Botanic Gardens, visit the Christchurch Art Gallery, which is free, and finish with the gondola at the end of the afternoon for the view. Use the second day for a wildlife day, either the Antarctic Centre and Willowbank, or a day trip to Akaroa for the harbour cruise. Give the third day to one of the bigger journeys, Kaikōura for whales or Hanmer Springs for a long soak in the hot pools. With five days or more you can add an overnight in Kaikōura and the TranzAlpine.
Where the headline sights fit
The Antarctic Centre is the best wet-weather choice and a family favourite. The gondola is the best orientation, because it shows the city between the plains and the Port Hills. Akaroa is the scenic day, Kaikōura is the wildlife headline, Hanmer Springs is the relaxing day and the TranzAlpine is the great rail journey, though it is the one to check carefully before you commit. Willowbank is where to see kiwi and other native species, and it also helps you recognise birds later in the trip.
Seasons and weather
Canterbury weather changes quickly, so carry layers and a rain jacket at all times. Summer is warm and busy, autumn is clear and colourful, winter is cold and good for hot pools, and spring brings gardens into flower. On the water, whether at Kaikōura or Akaroa, it is colder than it looks from the shore. The gondola and the coastal wildlife trips are the most weather-dependent activities, so schedule them early in your stay if you can, leaving room to move them.
Money and practical tips
Prices here are given in general terms, so check current fares before you go. The art gallery and the Botanic Gardens are free, which helps balance the cost of the bigger trips. Many attractions sell tickets online in advance, which saves time at the door. The Kaikōura and Akaroa trips involve long days, so allow time for meals, and for the Hanmer Springs pools check the notice about refurbishment of the Cascade pools before you go.
