New Zealand
Christchurch
One to two days to recover from the flight and see the rebuilt center before driving inland. This guide pulls together 3 sights, 2 activities and 1 outdoor spot from our curated routes.
- Places
- 9
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Nov – Mar
- Warmest month
- January
- Coolest month
- July
- Wettest month
- June
3 See · 2 Do · 1 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink
South Island Alps & Fiords
from our route notes
24°C / 75°F avg high
10°C / 50°F avg high
about 80 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Christchurch
9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in Christchurch across Central City, Latimer Square and Airport. 2 of them are free.
Photo: Rafael Safaryan · GoogleSeeChristchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū
Free gallery with New Zealand and Māori art in a glass-fronted building.
Photo: Adyl · Google
Photo: Tzuhsun Hsu · CC BY-SA 2.0SeeInternational Antarctic Centre
Antarctic exhibits with a storm room, blue penguins and Hägglund rides, near the airport.
Tip Good stop on arrival or departure day.
Do
Hands-on ways to spend time in Christchurch across Hagley Park and Heathcote.
Photo: Punting On The Avon (Antigua Boat Sheds) · Google
Photo: Anon Mouse · CC BY 2.0DoChristchurch Gondola
Gondola up the Port Hills for views over Lyttelton Harbour and the Southern Alps.
Outdoors
Trails, views and open space in and around Christchurch.
Photo: Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0OutdoorsChristchurch Botanic Gardens
Riverside gardens in Hagley Park with rose gardens and conservatories.
Eat
2 places to eat in Central City, picked for groups who care about the food.
Photo: David Palmer · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michal Klajban · CC BY-SA 4.0
Drink
1 bar or café in Central City for coffee, a round or a nightcap.
Photo: Gary Roberts · Google
How to fit Christchurch into a trip
Christchurch is stop 1 of 4 on our South Island Alps & Fiords route. Follow it as-is or lift Christchurch into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 4
South Island Alps & Fiords
Fiords, peaks & long walks
- Trip length
- 10 days
- Best season
- Nov – Mar
- Pace
- moderate
- Next: Aoraki / Mount Cook
Getting here and onward
- Christchurch to Aoraki / Mount CookAoraki / Mount Cook is about 206 km / 128 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Christchurch month by month
Average daily highs run from 10°C / 50°F in July to 24°C / 75°F in January. June is the wettest month, with about 80 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan24° / 75°F average high, in our recommended season
- Feb24° / 74°F average high, in our recommended season
- Mar21° / 70°F average high, in our recommended season
- Apr17° / 63°F average high
- May14° / 57°F average high
- Jun11° / 51°F average high
- Jul10° / 50°F average high
- Aug12° / 53°F average high
- Sep14° / 58°F average high
- Oct17° / 62°F average high
- Nov19° / 67°F average high, in our recommended season
- Dec22° / 72°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Christchurch weather and the best time to visit →
Near Christchurch
3 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.
Christchurch questions, answered
How many days do you need in Christchurch?
Our route notes suggest 1–2 days in Christchurch. On our South Island Alps & Fiords route it is stop 1 of 4 in a 10-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 11 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Christchurch best known for?
One to two days to recover from the flight and see the rebuilt center before driving inland. Standouts on our list: Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū (Free gallery with New Zealand and Māori art in a glass-fronted building); Transitional Cathedral (Shigeru Ban's 'Cardboard Cathedral', built after the 2011 quake); International Antarctic Centre (Antarctic exhibits with a storm room, blue penguins and Hägglund rides, near the airport).
When is the best time to visit Christchurch?
Our South Island Alps & Fiords route is best Nov – Mar. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in January (24°C / 75°F), the coolest in July (10°C / 50°F) and the most rain in June (about 80 mm).
What are the best things to do in Christchurch?
Start with Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Punting on the Avon, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, Transitional Cathedral and Christchurch Gondola. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 3 sights, 2 activities, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.
Where should a group eat in Christchurch?
Our picks: Riverside Market (Central City); C1 Espresso (Central City).
What is near Christchurch?
The closest destinations in our guides are Aoraki / Mount Cook (about 206 km / 128 mi), Queenstown (about 357 km / 222 mi) and Milford Sound (about 397 km / 247 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Christchurch with your crew
Open the South Island Alps & Fiords route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.