Check out these fab things to do in Christchurch!
Christchurch is whole lot more than the gateway to the South Island, but after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes, tourists could be forgiven for breezing through the city and on to somewhere else.
I try to go every year to 18 months, but it had been a two year gap since I last popped down and I last went back, seven years on, thanks to Hilton Hotels and their Hilton Discover campaign designed to show the best of cities within cooee of a Hilton hotel.
The city is looking amazing and I discovered a bunch of cool things to do in Christchurch for first timers or old timers – like me!
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But first, where to stay in Christchurch.
The elegant old lady that is Chateau on the Park, a Doubletree by Hilton hotel is managed as Doubletree and since joining the Hilton family has had a beautiful soft refurbishment in the 192 rooms, with the restaurant up next. And for those of you who know Doubletree you’ll know that you get a huge warm cookie on arrival!
First impressions are of a majestic building complete with turrets, a moat and dark wood accents with lots of car parking space. Step into the lobby and a glass fire roars beside comfy couches and floor to ceiling windows look onto the moat surrounded by flowers and a fountain with the restaurant behind it, and beyond that are five acres of gorgeous gardens hidden on the property. This is a great hotel for business meetings as they have conference spaces and a separate bar from the dining room.
There is a heated outdoor pool and they have their own winery, all located across Hagley Park, about 3kms from the city centre and about three blocks from the famous Riccarton Farmer’s Market – which is a fab spot to go for breakfast on a Saturday.
I also like Ibis. It’s an Accor property and pretty cheap and cheerful. However it’s been built since the earthquakes, is clean and comfortable and it’s the location I choose this property for. It’s right next to all the restaurants and bars along the river, and just walk a block through to the main shopping precinct.
6 great things to do Christchurch
Take a cycle tour
Pedal off with Chill Urban Tours from their centrally located office on Durham Street with a handy little courtyard out the back to have a “refresher” practice peddle in before hitting the road. And when I say road, Christchurch has very cleverly added cycle lanes to the footpaths in most of the areas we rode, plus trails through Hagley Park, so there was virtually no road cycling at all on our tour.
A cycle tour is such a great way to have a good look around this city that still seems to be opening new doors on a weekly basis. We did a private tour with owner Stu Waddell and talked through the two-hour itinerary we wanted, because we’d done a bit of strolling already through some of the CBD.
He designed our tour to take us past sculptures in Hagley Park (which is so huge you’d never get round it on foot) and around the gardens by the hospital, a stop at the historic Art Gallery building in town, past the Terrace with its new restaurants and bars along the river, down Cashell St to see how the new shops are coming along and a whip through the fun kids Margaret Mahy Playground
Margaret Mahy Family Playground
This is theee place to go if you want to kill a couple of hours with the kids!
New Zealanders know Margaret Mahy as one our most favourite children’s authors and this new park is the largest of its kind in New Zealand, spread over 2.5 hectares, and has been designed with input from local school children who were asked what would make an awesome park.
There is a story arc which takes elements of Margaret Mahy’s books and interprets them into slides, climbing activities, swings, trampolines and flying foxes. And the best part? It’s free!
Ride the tram
Take a tram ride on one of the historic trams where a $25 (per adult) ticket allows you to hop on and off all day and with a conductor/driver you’ll learn about the city and hear some fascinating stories about the earthquake recovery as you tootle past new buildings and look at a few old ones still to be demolished and/or rebuilt.
The tram also stops at the Christchurch Cathedral which is about the saddest thing to see and even more so because it is the central hub of the city waiting patiently for a decision on its future. Meanwhile the birds have moved in and it’s just crumbling away behind the fence.
Shopping in Christchurch
After years without the shopping heart of the city, new city blocks have been designed with laneways to ensure not only is there more shop frontage for smaller stores and boutique businesses, but to provide shelter from the weather depending on any direction of wind or rain.
I loved strolling down Cashell Street (avoiding being run over by e-scooter riders) and ogling into the massive windows of the many new stores. There’s a lot of glass in the new buildings in Christchurch and that’s always good for window shopping!
If you use the tram as a hop-on hop-off you’ll pop down New Regent Street for the eclectic shops, Cashell Street for chain stores and the laneways in between for you to discover some hidden gems.
Riverside Market is the newest shopping, eatery and bar space, down on the Terrace, filled with lots of smaller local retailers and weekend pop ups.
Have breakfast at the Farmer’s Market
Walk to the Christchurch Farmer’s Market on a Saturday morning from Chateau on the Park, a Doubletree by Hilton. It’s about three blocks away and is a great spot to come to for breakfast, especially if you love porridge!
Check out the girls at the Posh Porridge tent, but make sure you come hungry because there’s lots of food to sample and pick up some fresh produce, smoked meats, home made pies for dinner, or just chow down on pastries and empanadas over a coffee and live music.
Go zip lining!
By far the most adrenalin-inducing thing I did was zip lining at Christchurch Adventure Park. I absolutely loved this!
Allow about two hours to zip through the four lines with two guides making sure you are properly harnessed in and comfy before releasing you down the longest zip line in NZ and another one which is the longest zip line in NZ – and stunning views of the city.
You’ll sign up (and provide your height and weight- gulp) then head off to the chair lift to be taken on a stunning, gentle scenic ride up the hillside with beautiful views along the way. At the top you’ll start with a short line to get your eye in. But I was all set for racing!
They are set up so two people can zip line side by side and race each other, or not. However while the others were keen to look around and admire the views out to the sea and over the city, I was all shaping my body like a missile and making sure I won!
You can also mountain bike here and they have a cafe and lockers to leave your handbags while you go out clad in your hardhats and harnesses.
Read more:
If you’re looking for some delicious places to eat and drink in Christchurch, you’ll like this post which I update whenever I visit.
I took a Southern Lights flight from Christchurch and chased the Aurora Australis across the night sky!
I used to work in this hotel about 40 years ago – a few different names ago. It’d be so interesting to see how it is now – and to enjoy the renewing city
Amazing regeneration of an amazing city.
We foster newborns and two of my previous longer term foster children are in chch and ashburton in beautiful families. My heart goes with these kiddies and the latest one to leave us we have a special mummy/baby bond. Though we still have video contact i know i know a visit down to chch before xmas would be beyound words.We are having this special miss premmie for a month in feb as her parents head overseas for a wedding and miss has medical problems that she is better off in nz.make two families and a special wee bubs very happy ? and send me down to chch xx
Had our wedding reception at Chateau on the Park, what seems like a 100 years ago! It was beautiful then and I’m sure it still is. Would love to have a weekend back in Christchurch.
I love Christchurch. My son lives there now. I haven’t seen him for nearly a year so this prize wud be awesome. I cud see him and have some luxury at the same time. Thank you.
Love to see the rebuild christchurch after a long long time.
To come home to my beautiful city for two days of luxury at the Chateau, to explore the new Christchurch, so much fun
What an amazing prize. To gave something like this would make up for some very hard times. Thank you for the chance.
Oh to have a stress free relaxing break with my hubby in Christchurch. What bliss.
Going to Christchurch for some fun and adventure, a bit of shopping and culture. I’d especially like to see the cardboard Cathedral and how things are being redeveloped in the inner city.
Looking forward to it!
Many Thanks Sandi.
This would be an awesome prize as I have a neice living in Christchurch whom I don’t see nearly of 🙂
So much to do in Christchurch great write up makes me want to spend more time there
I have stayed here many years ago and it is so peaceful and so close to everything.
The Chateau On The Park holds beautiful memories for me . First the many years I stayed there as Cabin Crew for Air New Zealand . Second I met my husband while flying and we both had romantic fun nights there . Sadly my husband has passed away .. it would be so lovely to go back there .. to re live those memories I hold close to my heart…♥️
I visited Christchurch 60years ago,would love to go back and see the changes and progress after the earthquake
I went to chch two years ago and am looking forward to visiting again ,I would love the chance to stay enjoy a shòw and look at the new library built there .its truly an awesome city and I’m glad great new hotel helps this city become the colorful great place it was.
This looks amazing would love to win for me and my partner a great way to relax after a loooong year ?
Would love a breakaway in Christchurch, would be nice to go away & relax in style.
My husband took me to the Chateau about 35yrs ago . It was for my birthday he told me he was taking me out for a burger. Then said when we arrived that we were just going in for a drink first. He then said come with me and took me into the restaurant he had booked a table. Gave me a parcel which was a beautiful nighty set. We ate and stayed the night which he had booked. I never forgot it especially in the morning as I went out in the same lovely dress I went out in.
What a fabulous story!
I have my sister Mary over from England I live in Oamaru, would be fabulous to visit Christchurch to show her around the beautiful city n stay at this lovely place x
Would love to have time out with my husband for our 50th wedding anversary. Christchurch is my husbands home town
Would love to take my son. Woohooooo fabulous!
Would love to take my 15 year old Granddaughter down as a treat for doping so well at school, dancing, netball and volleyball.
She is a beautiful, kind, caring and loveable girl and I am.So proud of her :). Thanks.
Would love to go and explore and just love Akaroa!
Last time I was in Chch was two years ago but I loved the shopping & cafes and told my hubby we need to go back for a weekend and check out the restaurants & sights.❤️???☕️?
Came to Christchurch for the first time in 40 years this year.
Would love to come back and explore again.
I would love to win this for my husband Bryan and I, we haven’t had a good look around the centre of Christchurch since the big shake , thank you for the chance to do that 🙂
Just lovely to be able to stay in a beautiful place overlooking a great city that’s been through heaps and Is picking itself up ? with lots to do and see Yes please ?
Would love to take my daughter. Last time we were in Christchurch was when she was a preschooler and I took her to see the sights and experience snow. It was the one weekend it didn’t snow! She’s now 19 and still hasn’t seen the snow.
How wonderful this would be as I’ve haven’t stayed in a lovely Hotel in many years. It’s my daughters Birthday ? this Monday and I would love to SURPRISE her and Celebrate it in style this time. We can just relax and have some pampering. Thank you for this amazing opportunity ?
Lovely informative post and Chateau on the Park sounds beautiful. We have an elderly friend in Christchurch who has recently had a heart attack and so it would be wonderful to be able to visit him after his ordeal. Thanks for the opportunity!
I would love to take my mum?
Would like a couple of nights in Christchurch be ause we always seem to go straight throught since the earthquakes.
My wonderful friend Pam is going to bring her husband to Chch. She married an English guy in London after her 2,girls had grown up.. They landed in Auckland a week ago & are slowly weaving their way South & plan a stay in Chch where she bought the girls up. Oh to be able to gift her this prize & she would be amazed at THe Garden City. So many attractions
Entry wouldn’t be accepted.
Try again, or maybe it’s already gone through?
I have never been to Christchurch and would love the opportunity as it looks beautiful
Would just love to spend time in Christchurch and experience as much as I can with my daughter who has never been there. By the way love your travel blog and handy hints.?
Christchurch is home, though sometimes we don’t see that we don’t have to go far away to enjoy top notch venues and activities we may take for granted 🙂
Have only been to Christchurch once in the 44 years I have lived here – would take my husband and enjoy
the opportunity to see the city post quake. Here’s hoping ?
Love CHCH, love your blog, love winning!!! Pleaeeeeese pick me!! 23 year wedding anniversary coming up!!! Jo
Lol, the app chooses the winner! Did you fill in the form on the blog? 😉
Great post, As usual filled with lots of helpful hints.
We would love to visit Christchurch again and see the progress in their rebuild, visit Akaroa again and just enjoy the place.
I have recently been here for a 70th birthday party and enjoyed the ambience so much. Some of our friends stayed the night and said it was fab, so would love the opportunity to do the same.
Awesome post. Haven’t been to Christchurch yet. Will look this up again to help me plan my trip when I do get to go.
All the blog suggestions look fabulous . I worked in Christchurch immediately after both earthquakes and it would be great to visit the central city as it comes alive again and to see the post earthquake changes.
I would love the opportunity to visit Christchurch and visit my sick brother. Have some quality time with him and be able to take him to a few special places
Have booked Chateau on the Park for visitors – but have never stayed there myself – would love that experience.
I haven’t been able to visit Christchurch since the earthquake, and would really like to see what changes have occurred since I was last there.
? to take my hubby on a well deserved break – think farmers market and a cycle tour would be top of our list
Also good a good friend that lives there who I haven’t seen for 5-6 years be awesome to meet up at Margaret Mahy park and have some fun with her little ones ?
Love all your blogs. I would love to visit Christchurch for my birthday and see all the changes that have been made to this beautiful city. Thanks for your updates.
Would love to try the ZipLiner and Restaurants along with all that Shopping ? with a ride on the Tram as well
Have only been to Christchurch once – would love to visit again.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Christchurch. I would love to go with my partner everything looks amazing.
Would love to visit Christchurch. I have not been back since I was a child.. I would love to see the changes and enjoy the food. Also it would be great to explore the area again and have a tram ride. Last time I had a tram ride was as a child going to Wellington Zoo. The Antarctica display and the Animal Park would be a must go to for me.
I visited Christchurch for the first time last year.
Would love to go back again ?
Sounds lovely would love to take my husband to Christchurch and explore the city together the zip lining sounds amazing
Our son is heading to Canterbury Uni next year .. we need somewhere to stay when we go visit so would be great to check out the new look Chateau on The Park to see if it ticks the boxes.
I have decided I would like to go to Christchurch to celebrate my 70th birthday in March as we havent been there for 20 years! This would fit the bill. Keep seeing wonderful things about the city. Thank you
I have only been to Christchurch for work…would live to stat at the château for pleasure 🙂
Chateau on the Park sounds lovely – and that steak! (Though you had me at ‘warm cookie’). I have a friend living in Christchurch who experienced the earthquake and I would love to have her join me for two nights of luxury and a couple of days visiting the markets and restaurants.
I love Christchurch the rebuild is coming along good big job.
Good shopping there