Christchurch Destination Guide

Trivia: Named after Christ Church College at the University of Oxford, it was originally known as Christ Church, the name being abbreviated by common usage by the 1880s.

The large number of public parks and well-developed residential gardens with many trees has given Christchurch the name of The Garden City.

Christchurch has played a significant role in the history of Antarctic exploration. Both Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton used the port of Lyttelton as a departure point for expeditions, and there is a statue of Scott (sculpted by his widow) in the centre of the city.

Transport I Hotels I Entertainment I Food & Drink I Nightlife I Tourist Tips I History

Transport:

Christchurch is served by Christchurch International Airport (CHC) and by buses (local and long-distance) and trains. The local bus service, known as MetroInfo, is provided by Environment Canterbury, the Canterbury Regional Council.

Public Transport:

The free central-city electric shuttle is bright yellow; its pickup points are designated by bright-yellow street towers. The shuttle travels between the Casino, Town Hall, Victoria Square, Cathedral Square, City Mall, South City, Smiths City, and Hoyts 8 on Moorehouse Avenue at 10-minute intervals during the day, 15-minute intervals at night. The service does not operate on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day or Good Friday.

Most of the main central-city attractions are well placed for easy walking, especially in the Arts Centre/Botanic Gardens area. Shopping areas are fairly far-flung, but you can make use of the free electric shuttle or the very reasonably priced tram to take the load off your feet every so often.

By Train:

The South Island Main Trunk Railway, which that runs the length of the South Island's east coast splits in two in Christchurch, the Main North Line and the Main South Line. The former travels northwards via Kaikoura to Picton and is served by the famous TranzCoastal passenger train, while the latter heads to Invercargill via Dunedin and was used by the Southerner until its cancellation in 2002. The most famous train to depart Christchurch is the TranzAlpine, which travels along the Main South Line to Rolleston and then turns onto the Midland Line, passes through the Southern Alps via the Otira Tunnel and terminates in Greymouth in Westland. This trip is often regarded to be one of the ten great train journeys in the world for the amazing scenery through which it passes.

Getting There:

Christchurch International Airport is a major transit airport for international and domestic travellers. There are international services to and from Australia, Japan, Singapore (and Los Angeles from 2005) as well as a frequent daily schedule to and from most New Zealand airports with direct flights to and from Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Invercargill, Queenstown, Nelson and Mount Cook by a number of airlines.

Flights to and from McMurdo Station in Antarctica also use the airport. This is one of the few international airports in the world where military and civilian aircraft regularly share the same runways.

There is a regular public bus service to the City Centre. The 30 to 40 minutes trip costs and the buses operate half-hourly during the week and at least hourly on weekends. There is also a privately-run 8-passenger "5 dollar bus" which runs between the Square and airport
about every 15-20 minutes during the day. A door to door shuttle bus service to all parts of Christchurch is available for 12-18 NZ dollars per person depending on the number of persons travelling. Taxi stands (about 25 NZ dollars to City Centre) and rental car parks are also located close to the terminal building.

Hotels:

5 Star Options:

• The George Hotel Christchurch
• Crowne Plaza Christchurch
• The Charlotte Jane Boutique Hotel
• Huntley House Christchurch
• Merivale Manor Christchurch
• Heritage Hotel Hanmer Springs

4 Star Options:

• Rydges Hotel
• Warners Historic Hotel
• The Heritage Christchurch
• Copthorne Durham Street
• Apollo Motel
• Gunyah Country Estate
• Millenium Hotel Christchurch
• Aloha Motel Christchurch
• Off The Square Hotel
• Outrigger at Clearwater Resort
• Chardonnay Motor Lodge
• Chateau on the Park Christchurch
• Hotel Grand Chancellor
• The Classic Villa Christchurch
  

Entertainment:

Nga Hau Wha National Marae:

This venue is the South Island's largests Maori Cultural Centre, a place to experience the unique customs and history of Aoteoroa/New Zealand. Experience A Night  of Maori Magic begining with the spellbinding drama of the powhiri the traditional Maori welcome,a tour of the whare or meeting house, see the Maori concert with action songs, dances and the famous haka, followed by dinner cooked in the hangi (earth oven).

Culture:

The culture of New Zealand is a fusion of Maori culture and that of the descendants of the early British colonists and later settlers, many of whom were of working class origin.

The three "R's" of New Zealand culture are Rugby, Racing and beeR. This cultural image probably has its origins in colonial agricultural New Zealand, when hard farm work such as harvesting, shearing and droving took place in hot summer conditions.

Sporting and outdoor activities still play a significant part in the recreation of New Zealanders. Participation in a sport, rather than mere spectating, is considered a worthy pursuit. Team sports and sporting abilities are generally held in high regard, with top-performing players often becoming celebrities. However, New Zealanders can often be scathing when national sports teams and athletes lose.

Kiwi is the nickname used internationally for people from New Zealand. The name derives from the flightless bird native to New Zealand, the national bird.

The first New Zealanders to be widely known as kiwis were the military. The Regimental Signs for all New Zealand Regiments feature the kiwi, including those which fought in the Second Boer War then with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in World War I. The Oxford English Dictionary give the first use of the Kiwi to mean New Zealand in 1918, in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force Chronicles.

Festivals:

Christchurch is the festival capital of New Zealand, no matter when you visit, it's bound to coincide with a festival of some sort. The World Buskers Festival, from mid-to late January, is the largest street performance festival in the Southern Hemisphere. You'll be treated to jazz and comedy shows, as well as acts of juggling, contortionism, and more. In February, the city bursts into bloom with the Garden City Flowers & Romance.

The Arts Centre:

The Christchurch Arts Centre includes two art house cinemas, Cloisters and The Academy, screening a wide selection of contemporary, classic and foreign language films. These cinemas participate in an annual film festival. It is located in the neo-gothic former University of Canterbury buildings, designed by Benjamin Mountfort. Arts Centre of Christchurch Incorporated was created in 1974, when the University completed its move to the new Ilam campus, and ownership of the site was transferred in 1978.

The Centre includes specialty shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, galleries, theatres and cinemas. There is also a weekend market, and the Centre is the site of many festivals and special events.

Museums & Galleries:

• Canterbury Museum
• Air Force Museum
• Yaldhurst Museum of Transport and Science
• Ashford Art & craft Village
• Christchurch Art Gallery

Shopping:

The city has several malls to choose from, including: Westfield Roccarton, with over 90 shops, Merival Mall with its range of designer stores and boutiques, The Palms in Shirley with over 85 stores and entertainment complex. Other renowned shopping aeras in the city are the famous New Regent Street on the Central City Tram route. It features a mix of boutiques, restaurants, cafes and is generally very lively.

Cathedral Junction is located between Gloucester and Worcester streets, and is an example of inner city revival, with shops, restaurants, apartments, and the Hotel Off The Square as part of its complex.
 
Ballantynes is the major upmarket department store. Adjacent to it is Cashel Mall with a mixture of boutiques cafes and bars. Closer to Cathedral Square you will mostly find duty-free and tourist shopping.

High Street is probably the most interesting in the central city, with an exciting mixture of historical buildings and spaces inhabited by young cutting edge local designers - clothes, art galleries, cafes & cake shops, furniture and architects.

Manchester Street (which is the nearest Christchurch gets to a red-light district) has an interesting collection of antique shops including the three floors of Smith's Bookshop.

Food & Drink:

New Zealand’s cuisine has been described as Pacific Rim, drawing inspiration from Europe, Asia, Polynesia and its indigenous people, the Maori. For dishes that have a distinctly New Zealand style, there’s lamb, pork and cervena (venison), salmon, crayfish (lobster), Bluff oysters, paua (abalone), mussels, scallops, pipis and tuatua (both are types of New Zealand shellfish); kumara (sweet potato), kiwifruit, tamarillo , feijoa, Hokey Pokey Ice Cream and pavlova, the national dessert.

Perhaps even better known than New Zealand lamb, mussels and other foods are the country’s wines. There are 10 major wine-producing areas in New Zealand, with Marlborough famed for its sauvignon blanc, Gisborne for its chardonnay, and Central Otago and Martinborough building a reputation for pinot noir and pinot gris. Hawke’s Bay is known for its bold cabernets and Auckland’s Waiheke Island is home to one of the top 20 cabernet blends in the world. Marlborough and Hawke's Bay are New Zealand’s two premium wine-growing regions.

The New Zealand summer sees many eat outdoors, often in a barbecue setting. Kiwi barbecues - featuring New Zealand beef, lamb and seafood - are a big part of the culture, and typify the laid-back nature of the New Zealand people.

A Maori specialty is the hangi (pronounced hung-ee), a pit in which meats or fish are cooked with vegetables. A deep hole is dug in the ground, lined with red-hot stones and covered with vegetation. The food is then placed on top. The whole oven is sprinkled with water and sealed
with more vegetation. The hole is then filled with earth and left to steam for several hours. Traditionally, men dig and prepare the hole, and women prepare the food to go in it. All members of an extended family (whanau) help out for such a feast. The occasion is relaxed, friendly and fun, with people often eating the meal under a marquee.

Some suggested restaurants:

Canterbury Tales
Crowne Plaza Christchurch,
Kilmore and Durham sts.
Tel: 03 365 7799
Featuring very modern decor and exquisite table settings, the focus is on fresh and creative cuisine served professionally. This restaurant is no stranger to national and international accolades. Open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday.

Dux de Lux Restaurant & Bar
Cnr Hereford and Montreal Streets
Tel: 03 353 2490
The restaurant was set-up in 1978 to provide fresh healthy cuisine and has expanded over the years to provide the widest spectrum of hospitality possible in one unique setting. Situated at the Arts Centre in the heart of Christchurch’s cultural area, the Dux de Lux has been feeding the bodies and minds of locals and tourists for over 25 years. Their specialties include fresh New Zealand produce from the land and the sea, legendary fresh salads, spectacular seafood, world-renowned vegetarian fare and mouth-watering coffee and cake.  Live music to entertain you 4 nights a week.

50 on Park
The George Hotel 50 Park Tce
Christchurch
Tel: 03 371 0250
50 on Park is The George Hotels  much awarded all hours restaurant serving adventurous modern food in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Embracing the hottest new directions in food and using only Canterburys finest beef, lamb and seafood 50 on Park is a relaxing place to sit back and enjoy the adventure of "new" food prepared by some of the best culinary talent in New Zealand.

Hays
63 Victoria Street
Tel: 03 379 7501
Over the years Hays has won a collection of awards including three Corbans Wine and Food Challenge Categories and the New Zealand Beef and Lamb Hallmark of Excellence. The Chef is Liliane Huckle and she is regularly assisted by students from the New Zealand School of Food and Wine.

India Cottage Restaurant
71 Kilmore Street &
1st Floor Triangle Centre
Colombo,Cashel and High Street
Tel: 03 377 5337
Genuine and authentic food served with distinctive flavour and aroma. Cooked in pure vegetable oil with fresh herbs and spices. Prepared without animal fat or artificial preservatives or MSG. They provide excellent customer service with a variety of dishes to suit your particular taste, all of wich are excellent in quality and value.

Indochine
209 Cambridge Terrace
Tel: 03 365 7372
Tucked into a dark avenue that runs between Colombo and Manchester streets, Indochine is a sophisticated little spot (pretentious, some say) that blends Asian culinary influences with the best of New Zealand produce. The moody interior with mezzanine dining is the perfect spot to linger over delicious dim sum and everything from squid to roast pork belly.

Joji's Sushi & Sake Bar
186 Manchester St
Tel: 03 365 0500
George Iwama is always cheery, and you can sit at the counter and watch him preparing the sushi and sashimi. The sushi lunch is a great value: five nigiri, four sushi rolls, miso soup, and salad. At dinner, there are all kinds of combinations and prices; the sashimi special is always recommended. George serves sake and Japanese and New Zealand beers, and
the all-Japanese staff is friendly and efficient. Takeaway specials are available.

Le Bon Bolli
Montreal St. and Worcester Blvd
Near Hagley Park
Tel: 03 374 9444
Award-winning chef Phillip Kraal has brought the ambience of the Left Bank to Christchurch. Le Bon Bolli has won numerous awards and its right in the heart of Worcester Boulevard activity. You get the choice of casual brasserie downstairs, or formal French (at considerably higher prices) upstairs. The brasserie is one of the best places in town for delicious salads.

Pedro's
143 Worcester Street
Tel: 03 379 7668
For nearly 24 years, Pedro Carazo has been bringing the best of Basque to Christchurch. Market-fresh seafood forms the core of the menu, with lots of garlic. Regulars keep coming back to enjoy the noisy, relaxed atmosphere and the always charming Pedro, who likes to mingle with his guests. Food is divine, from the paella to the gambas al ajillo (garlic prawns). And it's all served up on the traditional Spanish crockery that Pedro buys on his regular trips home.

Pescatore
The George Hotel
Park Terrace, Near Hagley Park
Tel: 03 371 0257
Pescatore has an established reputation for innovative cuisine. It even boasts a mention in the New York Times. The menu offers Canterbury lamb, Akaroa salmon, Golden Bay crab and scallops, and the famously decadent Fang au Chocolate. Pescatore is a pricey option, but it's popular with local foodies. The decor is understated and unassuming and the service very attentive.

Pinnacle Restaurant
Christchurch Gondola
Tel: 03 384 0707
Experience the best of Canterbury ingredients while taking in the extensive ever-changing panoramic views over Christchurch, Lyttelton and Banks Peninsula.

Rotherhams
42 Rotherma St
Riccarton, Near Hagley Park
Tel: 03 341 5142 
This is a tucked-away culinary jewel in the midst of Riccarton retail heartland. You'll get some of the best meals in the most romantic ambience of almost any restaurant in the city. Service is attentive, presentation first class, flavours divine, and the wine list impressive. If you have something special to celebrate, let Swiss owner/chef Martin Weiss spoil you to bits.

Sign of the Takahe
Dyers Pass and Summit Roads
Tel: 03 332 4052
Formal dining in a big Gothic stone castle set on a hilltop. Hosted President Clinton's Christchurch visit for the APEC summit in 1999 and some scenes from Peter Jackson's film 'The Frighteners' were shot here. Reservation essential.

The Bodhi Tree
Colombo St
Tel: 03 377 6808
Only Burmese restaurant in the city. This establishment creates excellent food, which is politely served and great value for money.

The Mythai 
84 Hereford St
Tel: 03 365 1295
A Friday night at the Mythai should be on everyone's itinerary, but make sure you reserve since I'm not the only one who feels this way. East meets west here, with a Kiwi proprietor and two Bangkok chefs producing authentic Thai food. The atmosphere is always lively, and group dinners can sometimes get boisterous. If you order Gaeng Keow Wan Gai, chicken with sweet green curry and coconut cream, you won't regret it. Everything is available for takeout.

Santorini
corner Gloucester Street & Cambridge Terrace
Tel: 03 379 6975
A Greek restaurant with live music and dancing.

Winnie Bagoes Pizza Bar
194 Gloucester St
Tel: 03 366 6315
Winnie Bagoes gourmet pizzas are among the most scrumptious in town, and the lively atmosphere and old-fashioned booths encourage you to stay and eat in. The Florentine pizza, for one example, presents apricot chicken, cashew nuts, and cream cheese. There's also a range of pastas, calzones, and salads, and if you've got a sweet tooth, a dessert pizza. Unbeatable for atmosphere and consistency.

Nightlife:

Christchurch Casino:

Christchurch Casino is located on trendy Victoria Street right next to the Crowne Plaza and Copthorne Durham Street hotels, Christchurch Convention Centre and Town Hall. This privately owned boutique casino has 500 gaming machines, 35 tables, three bars, two restaurants and a private gaming lounge. Play Blackjack, American Roulette, Poker, Baccarat and other popular table games. Plus, enjoy playing the latest Gaming Machines, as well as Live Keno and RaceTrax.

You can dine in The Grand Cafe, which is recognized for its outstanding selection and service. Free Christchurch Casino shuttles operate to and from local hotels and motels each evening. A free city shuttle operates after 6pm each day.

The Court Theatre:

This is the home of Canterbury's professional theatre company and the best professional theatre in New Zealand. Shows range from Shakespearean classics to contemporary American and British theatre to the best New Zealand plays. The quality here is generally very high. There are two theatres, which offer two separate shows at any time. Performances are Monday through Wednesday and Friday and Saturday at 8pm, and Thursday at 6pm.

Christchurch Symphony Orchestra:

The CSO has been described as "a modern miracle, boxing way above its weight". Reviewers and visiting artists consistently marvel over the innovation of its programmes and the quality of its playing.

The Christchurch Symphony is amongst the most versatile orchestras in New Zealand. It covers symphonic repertoire from baroque to modern 21st century commissions, pops, jazz, music from current popular shows and family entertainment. It also runs educational programmes such as Cool Sounds for primary school children, and Kids to Concerts for secondary school pupils.

Christchurch Symphony presents its own programme of three series of concerts a year. In 2006 it is presenting eight Lamb & Hayward Masterworks concerts (classical music), six AMI Insurance Proms concerts (lighter classical and family entertainment), and four Provincial Finance City Series concerts (eclectic mix of musical styles, from Latin to Viennese waltzes to cabaret).

All Christchurch Symphony concerts are performed in the main auditorium of the Christchurch Town Hall. Christchurch Symphony also provides the orchestral accompaniment for Canterbury Opera, the Christchurch City Choir, the Royal New Zealand Ballet and other local groups such as the Civic Music Council, and South Island organisations such as Nelson Summer Festival.

Additionally, the Christchurch Symphony performs twice each year in Hagley Park as part of the Christchurch City Councils "Summertimes Festival" providing the accompaniment to Showbiz Canterbury for its mid February Starry Nights, and Classical Sparks, the Summertimes finale, to an audience generally in excess of 80,000 people.

Cinemas:

Christchurch has approximately 35 cinema screens, with more planned in the next few years. While historically most cinemas were grouped around Cathedral Square, only the Regent complex remains there. The largest multiplexes are the Hoyts 8 in the old railway station (Moorhouse Ave) and Reading Cinemas (eight) in the Palms shopping centre in the suburb of Shirley. Hoyts in Riccarton, just recently opened, has the largest screen in New Zealand, called Cinemaxx.

Tourist Tips:

Canterbury, stretching from the Southern Alps to the Pacific Ocean, has legendary physical attractions, from ski fields and fishing rivers to the Port Hills tramping tracks and East Coast beaches. Day-trip options from Christchurch include Kaikoura, Akaroa, Hanmer, Arthur's Pass, and Methven, each presenting its own version of provincial hospitality, rural escapism, and heart-stopping outdoor adventure.

Hagley Park and the 30-hectare (75-acre) Christchurch Botanic Gardens, founded in 1863, are located in the central city, with Hagley Park being a site for sports such as golf, cricket, netball, and rugby, and for open air concerts by local bands and the Christchurch Symphony
Orchestra.

With much of the city being flat and only a few metres above sea level, spectacular views can be obtained from almost any high building. At these low elevations the city appears more like a forest with only a few buildings visible, rather than a major city. At the centre of the city is Cathedral Square, surrounding the Anglican cathedral, Christ Church.

Christchurch Botanic Gardens:

The gardens began with the plantation of an English oak on 9 July 1863, to commemorate the solemnization of marriage between Prince Albert to Princess Alexandra of Denmark.

The Gardens sprawl over an area of 30 hectares, and lies mostly within the loop of the Avon River. The Christchurch Botanic Gardens have a variety of collection of exotic and local plants of New Zealand. Some of the attractions of the Gardens include:

The Herb Garden (started in 1986) has several plants of culinary and medicinal values (see Herbalism). The Rose Garden has more than 250 varieties of roses. The Rock Garden has plants, some of which always remain to flower through out the year. The Heather Garden has several Ericas and Callunas, providing flowers and foliage all round the year.  A portion of the Gardens have several species of Rhododendron and hybrids with several associated plants of Hostas, Helleborus and Liliums.  The Water Garden has several trees and shrubs. The Gardens have a separate native section for New Zealand plants.

Christ Church cathedral:

The Anglican cathedral of Christ Church was built in the second half of the 19th century. It is located in the centre of the city, surrounded by the plaza of Cathedral Square. It is the cathedral seat of the Bishop of Christchurch.

The cornerstone was laid on 16 December 1864, but financial problems in the fledgling city saw its completion delayed between 1865 and 1873. The nave and tower were consecrated by 1881, though the entire building was not finished until 1904.

The cathedral was originally designed by British architect Sir George Gilbert Scott with the New Zealand architect Benjamin Mountfort as supervisory architect on the site. Initial plans called for wooden construction, but plans were changed with the discovery of a source of good quality masonry stone locally. Banks Peninsula totara and matai timber was
used for the roof supports.

The cathedral spire reaches to 63 metres above Cathedral Square. Public access to the spire provides for a good viewpoint over the centre of the city. The spire has three times been damaged by earthquakes. After the third of these, in 1901, the stone construction was replaced with a more resilient surface of weathered copper sheeting.

Southern Alps:

The Southern Alps is a mountain range which runs along the western side of the South Island of New Zealand. It forms a natural dividing range along the entire length of the South Island. The term "Southern Alps" generally refers to the entire range, although separate names are given to many of the smaller ranges that form part of it.

Aoraki/Mount Cook is the highest point, 3754 metres (12,283 feet). There are 16 other points in the range that exceed 3,000 metres in height.  A large proportion of the range is protected as part of various national parks, notably the Westland National Park, Mount Aspiring National Park, and Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.

The Southern Alps were named by Captain Cook in 1770, who described their 'prodigious height'. They had previously been noted by Abel Tasman in 1642, who described the South Island's west coast as 'a land uplifted high'.

Other attractions & suggestions for Sightseeing:

• International Antarctic Centre
• Chrsitchurch Art Gallery
• Christchurch Gondola
• New Brighton Pier
• Christchurch Tram Tour
• Southern Encounter (Aquarium & Kiwi House)
• Hagley Park
• Orana Wildlife Park
• Ferrymead Heritage Park
• Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Christchurch
• White water rafting
• Alpine Jet
• Punting on the Avon
• Sightseeing on the Summit Road
• Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa
• Golf
• Canterbury House Vineyards
• Pegasus Bay Winery
• Whale watching at Kaikura
   

History:

Archeological evidence found in a cave at Redcliffs in 1876 has indicated that the Christchurch area was first settled by moa-hunting tribes about 1250. Maori oral history relates that humans occupied the area around the year 1000. These first inhabitants were thought to have been followed by the Waitaha tribe, who are said to have migrated from the East coast of the North Island in the 16th century. Following tribal warfare, the Waitaha (made of three peoples) were dispossesed by the Ngati Mamoe tribe. They were in turn subjugated by the Ngai Tahu tribe, who remained in control until European settlement.

Although there were European settlers from 1840, notably the Deans brothers at Riccarton, what are regarded as the First Four Ships were chartered by the Canterbury Association and arrived on 16 December 1850, bringing the first 792 of the Canterbury Pilgrims to Lyttelton Harbour. These sailing vessels were the Randolph, Charlotte-Jane, Sir George Seymour, and Cressy. The city's name was decided prior to the ships' arrival, at the Association's first meeting, on 27 March 1848.

Captain Thomas, the Canterbury Association's Chief Surveyor, surveyed the surrounding area. By December 1849 he had commissioned the construction of a road from Port Cooper, later Lyttelton, to Christchurch via Sumner. However this proved more difficult than expected and road construction was stopped while a steep foot and pack horse track was constructed over the hill between the port and the Heathcote valley, where access to the site of the proposed settlement could be gained. This track became known as the Bridle Path, because the path was so steep that pack horses needed to be led by the bridle.

Goods that were too heavy or bulky to be transported by pack horse over the Bridle Path were shipped by small sailing vessels some eight miles by water around the coast and up the estuary to Ferrymead. New Zealand's first public railway line was opened from Ferrymead to Christchurch in 1863. Due to the difficulties in travelling over the Port Hills and the dangers associated with shipping navigating the Sumner bar, a railway tunnel was bored through the Port Hills to Lyttelton, opening in 1867.

Christchurch became a city by Royal Charter on 31 July 1856, making it the oldest city in New Zealand. Many of the city's fine Gothic buildings by the architect Benjamin Mountfort date from this period.

In 1974 Christchurch was host to the Commonwealth Games.

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