Christchurch sightseeing can combine the central city’s gardens, heritage buildings and cultural attractions with trips towards the Port Hills and Lyttelton Harbour. Operators offer different routes rather than a universal half-day itinerary. The heritage Christchurch Tram is one current city-centre option, offering hop-on, hop-off travel on restored trams.
Christchurch sightseeing can combine the central city’s gardens, heritage buildings and cultural attractions with trips towards the Port Hills and Lyttelton Harbour. Operators offer different routes rather than a universal half-day itinerary. The heritage Christchurch Tram is one current city-centre option, offering hop-on, hop-off travel on restored trams.
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christchurchA very famous sightseeing tour, the Big Five takes you round the city in one day and covers major areas that are to be visited at least once. The tour starts with an engaging visit to the Antarctic Center, an exciting view of native kiwis and their habitat in the Willow Wildlife Park, an adventurous ride of the tram to see the city center and its busy life, a panoramic view of the gardens of the city on a Gondola and finally a two hour harbor cruise to see surrounding lands. The tour departs at 9am in the morning and lasts for about 7 hours and costs $ 166 per person.
christchurchTram ride offers a very exciting tour of Christchurch, especially the city center. The open tram lets tourists observe natural environment and get a feeling of the Garden City. If you are with family and want to explore the city at your own pace, the hop on hop off tour is the best you can get. The tram pass lasts up to 48 hours on a stretch so you can hop off and take your time around an attraction, eat and freshen up before continuing the tour that would take you around the Cathedral Square, Arts Center, Botanical Gardens, Avon River and Cathedral Junction. The tram ride starts from 9am and the tour as a whole is for about 25minutes and costs $13 for a two day tram pass.
christchurchBeing the garden city of New Zealand, Christchurch has one eighth of its land dedicated to parks and landscapes. To explore these landscapes hop on a half day tour of two public and two private parks of the city for 3 hours and enjoy a day with nature. The tour includes descriptions of the flowers and shrubs in the park and their historic significance. Tour starts at 9am and costs $80.
christchurchA gradual progression from the city center highlights like the Cathedral Square, Victoria Street, Arts Center and Botanical Gardens to the northern parks and plains of Christchurch is the highlight of this exploration trip of the city. The tour takes you around the Hagley Park and Mona Vale homestead to a superb view of the beaches and the city from the Port hills. This well rounded tour will bring you back to the city from the eastern side so no corner of the city is unturned for tourists.
christchurchThis tour covers both, the best entertainment of the city and the educational aspect as well. A half day trip to the Kiwi resorts of the Willowbank wild life reserve and the Antarctic Center gives tourists a chance to enjoy the notorious snowmobile ride and get an up close of the Kiwi world as well. Tour starts at 3pm for a cost of $145 and lasts 5 and a half hour.
Spend one of your mornings on an air conditioned coach en route to the historical Christchurch attractions. This three hour tour gives you an exciting tour early morning with loads of opportunities to take pictures of the monuments and make your trip memorable. The main stops include those in the city center.
christchurchCanterbury Shuttles 2010 Limited Phone: 0800 021 682 Address: 61 Truman Road, PO Box 5563, Papanui.
Hot-air ballooning over the Canterbury Plains offers views towards the Southern Alps and surrounding rural landscapes. Tourism New Zealand’s operator directory lists Ballooning Canterbury near Hororata as a current provider, with Christchurch transfers available. Flights depend on weather; departure arrangements and the fare belong to the chosen operator and date.
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christchurchGet a feeling of the native New Zealand forestry in the Riccarton Bush, probably the last of the remains of the Canterbury forests. Take a walk along the lush green shrubs and tall trees and enjoy the quite serene beauty of the place one fine day along the circular track that will take you around the mini forest. Located adjacent to the forest is the Dean’s Cottage that is the oldest built house in Christchurch (1843) and is for historic purposes only.
christchurchAlfred Thornhill Cooper and Marion Cooper are to be credited for this amazing collection of vintage cars in the Yaldhurst Museum. Opened on 26th December 1968, the museum has a collection 400 cars ranging from passenger to school buses to the rare models that had not more than 5 units manufactured! If you are an automobile fanatic, the Yaldhurst Museum will be your favorite attraction in all of Christchurch. Currently it is run by Grant Cooper, great grandson of the founder and is established in an 1876 colonial homestead.
christchurchOpened in 2003, the Arts Gallery is a dominant NZ$ 47 building that has set standards for all others in the South Island. Eluding an aesthetic charm, the exterior complements the various high quality art displays inside that range from early European work to the contemporary video work done by New Zealanders. The gallery holds some of the best and larger than life paintings of New Zealand’s renowned artists and has a lot to hold the viewers attention with colors, textures and bold strokes.
christchurchA gothic stone building, Arts gallery is a show ground for a number of subjects operational in Christchurch such as the crafts market, the produce market and daily exhibitions from over 40 artists in various outlets. The center is famous for quality handicrafts, leather and wood goods and a visit to Ernest Rutherford's den is rated high on the interesting things to do in the Arts Center. Admission is free for all.
christchurchWith the planting of an English oak tree in 1863, this Botanic Garden was given shape in New Zealand. Today it holds one of the most exotic and rare collection of plant species from within the country as well as abroad. Just the thought of 30 hectare of greenery circled by the Avon River is pleasing and one wants spend a good amount of time exploring this place full of the country’s botanic history. The highlights of the garden are the 120 years old trees that represent one of the sacred horticultural sites of the world. Together with the Hagley Park, New Zealand holds the key to the world second largest inner city park that is one of the most visited as well.
christchurchA thorough exploration of the Canterbury Museum is a must. With elaborate sections dedicated to the displays of Maori, Antarctic, Colonial and Natural history sections, the museum is an attraction to kids as well as adults and offers very interesting material to look at from vintage cars to historic personalities to the entire iced world of the Antarctic. Timing: Winter times: 9am to 5pm & Summer times: 9am to 5 30pm. Location: Rolleston Avenue Phone: 03/366-5000
christchurchFormerly known as the Aquarium of Discovery, the Southern Encounter Aquarium is a walk through of tanks of aquarium with rare fishes and sea creatures. Documentaries and films are aired for viewers to educate them about sea and bird life. The attraction offers various things to do including watching feeding time at the aquarium, see fly-tying demonstrations, getting your hands wet in touch tank and observation of nocturnal brown kiwis.
christchurchExperience the Antarctic way of life in Christchurch at the International Antarctic center. Fulfill your dream of getting on a snow mobile and racing across snow land here at the center which is fully acclimatized to the polar weather conditions. Inside you will find penguins, leopard seals, snow caves and a depiction of how life is at the Antarctic. The 4D cinema will take you on a thrilling icy adventure of one of its kind. The Antarctic Hagglund Ride is a new addition which gives a 15minutes tour of the place and is very famous with children.
christchurchThe most extensive collection of kiwi birds is found at the Willowbank reserve in Christchurch. On a much smaller scale than the Onara, the Williowbank breeds most of the local animal population of the country especially kiwis. Extended tours for kiwi life and breeding are arranged for tourists who are allowed to play, feed and pet the birds as well. Multiple school programs and skits are also arranged to depict the cultural practices of the Maori tribe.
christchurchThis most prominent landmark of Christchurch was completed in 1904 into a dominating grey stone building with a magnificent clock tower. The cathedral holds great historic significance for the city which is visible in its intricate architecture and the creative art work done inside its wall. Tourists find the cathedral a site of major attraction and most of them attend the daily services arranged here. Because of this importance the area around the building is called the Cathedral Square and serves as a starting point for many tours. Location: Cathedral Square Phone: +64 3 366 0046
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christchurchCuisine: Turkish Address: 129 Riccarton Road, Riccarton, Christchurch
Cuisine: Turkish Address: 185 Colombo Street, Christchurch
Cuisine: Lebanese Address: 555 Colombo Street, Christchurch
Cuisine: Pakistani Address: 91 Riccarton Road, Christchurch Phone: +64 3 348 8334
Address: 145 Colombo Street, Sydenham, Christchurch Phone: +64 3 332 3207
Cuisine: Bangladeshi Address: 284 Main North Road, Redwood, Christchurch Phone: +64 3 354 5485 Fax: 02 1045 7886
Address: 292A Lincoln Road, Addington, Christchurch Phone: 03 339 6344
Cuisine: Singaporean Address: 357 Colombo Street Tel: (03) 379 0435
christchurchCanterbury Tales is known to serve its diners with the best of everything. From pleasant atmospheres to great food and award winning edible pieces of art, the restaurant is a model of perfection from every angle. With a meal for over NZ$ 50, diners get an opportunity to try various blends of spices on the ever changing menu and to taste the best of New Zealand from the best providers.
christchurchTastefully decorated on traditional Spanish crockery are New Zealand’s most divine Spanish dishes prepared under the watchful eye of Pedro Carazo. For 30 years, Pedro has maintained his restaurant as a comfortable retreat for diners who enjoy the chatter in the air and the delicious food together with the owner’s hospitality. Sea food is the specialty here topped with lots of seasonings and garlic.