Guidebook for Christchurch
Food Scene
All round good Italian food. Located in Merivale, 25mins walk from the house.
52 locals recommend
Tutto Bene Restaurant & Pizzeria
192 Papanui RdAll round good Italian food. Located in Merivale, 25mins walk from the house.
Great Thai food if you're on a budget, and this place is huge so it's perfect for large groups.
15 locals recommend
Keo Thai Restaurant
123 Papanui RdGreat Thai food if you're on a budget, and this place is huge so it's perfect for large groups.
9am-1pm every Saturday. Amazing food, would definitely recommend the Posh Porridge!!
72 locals recommend
Christchurch Farmers' Market
16 Kahu Rd9am-1pm every Saturday. Amazing food, would definitely recommend the Posh Porridge!!
Experience eight different restaurants inside a modern marketplace with plenty of shared seating. Casual dining, great food! Very popular and you cannot reserve a table. Fully licensed.
180 locals recommend
Little High Eatery
255 St Asaph StExperience eight different restaurants inside a modern marketplace with plenty of shared seating. Casual dining, great food! Very popular and you cannot reserve a table. Fully licensed.
This is a lovely indoor market in the heart of the CBD supporting local growers and small businesses. You can find organic produce, meat seafood and more alongside some great eateries offering a range of cuisines - Greek, French, Asian...
99 locals recommend
Riverside Market
96 Oxford TerraceThis is a lovely indoor market in the heart of the CBD supporting local growers and small businesses. You can find organic produce, meat seafood and more alongside some great eateries offering a range of cuisines - Greek, French, Asian...
Drinks & Nightlife
Great on a sunny day for a quiet drink. 25mins walk from the house, near Merivale Mall.
41 locals recommend
No.4 Bar and Restaurant
4 Mansfield AveGreat on a sunny day for a quiet drink. 25mins walk from the house, near Merivale Mall.
Great spot for a few drinks, good outdoor area and nice food. The Brew Bar has 180 beers to choose from, and the Emerald Room has over 70 wine choices. The Poplar Social Club, a speakeasy from the Prohibition era, is dedicated to cocktails.
66 locals recommend
Dux Central
144 Lichfield StGreat spot for a few drinks, good outdoor area and nice food. The Brew Bar has 180 beers to choose from, and the Emerald Room has over 70 wine choices. The Poplar Social Club, a speakeasy from the Prohibition era, is dedicated to cocktails.
There are a few places along The Terrace, with Fat Eddies being the most popular for a late night of live music and dancing.
55 locals recommend
Fat Eddie's
76 Hereford StThere are a few places along The Terrace, with Fat Eddies being the most popular for a late night of live music and dancing.
Shopping
An upmarket mall with some great boutique shops. 25mins walk from the house.
50 locals recommend
Merivale Mall station
An upmarket mall with some great boutique shops. 25mins walk from the house.
Large department store that's worth a visit when you're in the city centre.
52 locals recommend
Ballantynes
Cashel StreetLarge department store that's worth a visit when you're in the city centre.
Discounted shopping mall, but can be a nuisance to get to if you don't have a car.
If you do visit, I recommend the 5min drive further out of town to the Cookie Time factory!
60 locals recommend
Dress-Smart
409 Main S RdDiscounted shopping mall, but can be a nuisance to get to if you don't have a car.
If you do visit, I recommend the 5min drive further out of town to the Cookie Time factory!
Boutique shopping emporium, boasting stunning architecture and art. Described as quirky and eclectic, old-time charm meets modern attraction.
205 locals recommend
The Tannery
3 Garlands RdBoutique shopping emporium, boasting stunning architecture and art. Described as quirky and eclectic, old-time charm meets modern attraction.
Essentials
Only a 15 minute walk away and you'll have shopping, a cinema, Post Office, banks, and two supermarkets (Pak n Save and Countdown). Outside the mall is a good bus exchange for getting around the city.
40 locals recommend
Northlands Mall (Christchurch) station
Only a 15 minute walk away and you'll have shopping, a cinema, Post Office, banks, and two supermarkets (Pak n Save and Countdown). Outside the mall is a good bus exchange for getting around the city.
Parks & Nature
Great to wander around the Botanical Gardens on a sunny day. Hire a bike (available in South Hagley Park) and cycle along the many paths.
253 locals recommend
North Hagley Park
14 Riccarton Ave Great to wander around the Botanical Gardens on a sunny day. Hire a bike (available in South Hagley Park) and cycle along the many paths.
Hire a surf board and attempt the waves, go for a swim or simply sit by the beach with an ice cream.
123 locals recommend
Sumner Pharmacy
17 Wakefield Ave Hire a surf board and attempt the waves, go for a swim or simply sit by the beach with an ice cream.
Taylors Mistake - Godley Head walk: 3 hrs return.
The walkway passes historic military buildings, with spectacular views of the city, New Brighton Beach and on a clear day the Southern Alps. Make sure you keep your eyes out to sea and on the rocks below - you may spot a seal, dolphin or even a whale.
24 locals recommend
Taylors Mistake
Taylors Mistake - Godley Head walk: 3 hrs return.
The walkway passes historic military buildings, with spectacular views of the city, New Brighton Beach and on a clear day the Southern Alps. Make sure you keep your eyes out to sea and on the rocks below - you may spot a seal, dolphin or even a whale.
This is a great dog park if you have a pet with you, but they also have a truly wonderful picnic area (where dogs are not allowed) that's perfect for a sunny day. It can get quite busy here in the weekends.
19 locals recommend
The Groynes
This is a great dog park if you have a pet with you, but they also have a truly wonderful picnic area (where dogs are not allowed) that's perfect for a sunny day. It can get quite busy here in the weekends.
Lovely to walk around, there's a cafe and it's easy access to the Museum.
297 locals recommend
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Rolleston AvenueLovely to walk around, there's a cafe and it's easy access to the Museum.
Sightseeing
Head over the Port Hills to Lyttelton and enjoy a coffee or lunch in one of the funky cafes. There are also some quaint little shops and a market on Saturdays from 10am-1pm. Take the 10min ferry (departs every hour, approx. $12 return) across to Diamond Harbour for beautiful views.
100 locals recommend
Lyttelton
Head over the Port Hills to Lyttelton and enjoy a coffee or lunch in one of the funky cafes. There are also some quaint little shops and a market on Saturdays from 10am-1pm. Take the 10min ferry (departs every hour, approx. $12 return) across to Diamond Harbour for beautiful views.
Park departure point: travel leisurely from the historic Antigua Boat sheds, through the Botanic Gardens, and enjoy the spectacular flora that our ‘Garden City’ is famous for.
City departure point: takes you through the heart of our city through the progressing Avon River precinct and past the many exciting developments that are underway as part of the city’s rebuild.
The return trip from either departure point takes approximately 30 minutes.
109 locals recommend
Punting on the Avon
2 Cambridge TerracePark departure point: travel leisurely from the historic Antigua Boat sheds, through the Botanic Gardens, and enjoy the spectacular flora that our ‘Garden City’ is famous for.
City departure point: takes you through the heart of our city through the progressing Avon River precinct and past the many exciting developments that are underway as part of the city’s rebuild.
The return trip from either departure point takes approximately 30 minutes.
Iconic Cathedral built between 1864 and 1904 in the centre of the city, it was damaged badly in the September 2010 and February 2011 earthquakes. It really gives you an idea of the damage the earthquakes caused.
37 locals recommend
Christchurch Cathedral
Iconic Cathedral built between 1864 and 1904 in the centre of the city, it was damaged badly in the September 2010 and February 2011 earthquakes. It really gives you an idea of the damage the earthquakes caused.
Known as the Cardboard Cathedral, it is a temporary Cathedral that was opened in August 2013. Materials used include 60-centimetre diameter cardboard tubes, hence the name. Eight shipping containers form the walls.
76 locals recommend
Christchurch Transitional Cathedral
234 Hereford St Known as the Cardboard Cathedral, it is a temporary Cathedral that was opened in August 2013. Materials used include 60-centimetre diameter cardboard tubes, hence the name. Eight shipping containers form the walls.
About 1hr 30 mins drive from our house, Akaroa is an historic French and British settlement. It's worth a visit for the architecture, galleries, craft stores, and cafés. In Flea Bay you can take 4WD trips to see the penguins. Take a harbour cruise and spot dolphins, or hire a sea kayak for a few hours. There are cruises, sail boats, cycle tours and an excellent range of walking tracks.
162 locals recommend
Akaroa
About 1hr 30 mins drive from our house, Akaroa is an historic French and British settlement. It's worth a visit for the architecture, galleries, craft stores, and cafés. In Flea Bay you can take 4WD trips to see the penguins. Take a harbour cruise and spot dolphins, or hire a sea kayak for a few hours. There are cruises, sail boats, cycle tours and an excellent range of walking tracks.
Entertainment & Activities
Your base for epic adventures and chilled out down-time set in Christchurch’s Port Hills. Race through the valley on the dual zip-line tour. Take in the stunning views from the chairlift or walking track. Enjoy the many mountain bike trails or just chill out on the large deck of our café nestled in the Pine forest.
100 locals recommend
Christchurch Adventure Park
225 Worsleys RoadYour base for epic adventures and chilled out down-time set in Christchurch’s Port Hills. Race through the valley on the dual zip-line tour. Take in the stunning views from the chairlift or walking track. Enjoy the many mountain bike trails or just chill out on the large deck of our café nestled in the Pine forest.
This is a fantastic playground for kids of all ages, it is very popular on a sunny day and finding a park can be tricky so be prepared to park a block away. It's worth it though!
150 locals recommend
Margaret Mahy Playground
Armagh StreetThis is a fantastic playground for kids of all ages, it is very popular on a sunny day and finding a park can be tricky so be prepared to park a block away. It's worth it though!
This is a wildlife park and nature reserve, where you can feed some of the animals. They have a 100% kwi viewing guarantee.
Animals range from deer, pigs, goats, sheep to lemurs, gibbons, parrots and emu.
153 locals recommend
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
60 Hussey RdThis is a wildlife park and nature reserve, where you can feed some of the animals. They have a 100% kwi viewing guarantee.
Animals range from deer, pigs, goats, sheep to lemurs, gibbons, parrots and emu.
Brand new theatre with reclining seats right in the city centre. Hoyts Lux offers a unique dine-in experience.
36 locals recommend
Hoyts EntX Christchurch
617 Colombo StBrand new theatre with reclining seats right in the city centre. Hoyts Lux offers a unique dine-in experience.
New Zealand's largest theatre company, there are always new and exciting shows on offer. They also host 'Scared Scriptless', a late night improvised show, every Friday and Saturday night at 1015pm.
49 locals recommend
The Court Theatre
36 Bernard StNew Zealand's largest theatre company, there are always new and exciting shows on offer. They also host 'Scared Scriptless', a late night improvised show, every Friday and Saturday night at 1015pm.