Christchurch Sightseeing

These are some suggested sightseeing ideas within the Christchurch area. The day trips are very easily arranged by either using the city buses and tram (all buses depart from the main, Cathedral Square, where there is also a bus info kiosk); or organised guided tours in the case of Akaroa. Like all other NZ towns, there’s an excellent Visitors Information Centre. The days can be arranged in any order of course; but the Arts Centre day should be a Saturday or Sunday for the full range of activities to be available:

Day 1

Take a tram-ride around the centre of Christchurch to orient yourself. Eat lunch at The Globe Cafe; then take a bus from the main Cathedral Square to Lyttleton Port. Lyttleton consists of veranda-decked wooden houses perched on the steep hillsides above the working port; container ships are at the quayside rather than yachts. This day’s itinerary allows you to see a lot of Christchurch at once, without having to drive and get lost in the sprawling and not very unique suburbs.

Day 2

A day trip to Akaroa; incorporating a dolphin-watching tour and perhaps a visit to a specialty cheese factory. Akaroa is (another) small settlement, very picturesque, some nice walks, a couple of nice cafes to eat lunch, and worth a day trip. Dolphin watching tours are booked at the Christchurch Visitors Information Centre. If you wish to stay at Akaroa for the night there is The Old Shipping Office which was an old historic building which has been transformed into beautiful accommodation.

Day 3 (only on Saturday or Sunday for the Craft Fair part)

A day at the Arts Centre (originally the old University buildings), with art gallery, restaurants, film theatre et al; and an outdoor Craft Fair at the weekends. Things in the close vicinity:

• the Botanical Gardens (including Native NZ Garden)
• the Canterbury Museum
• the McDougall Art Gallery
• outdoor food stalls: Chinese/Czech/Mexican/Thai for example (weekend only)
• Craft Fair for souvenirs/gifts (weekend only)
• Dux de Lux vegetarian restaurant with al fresco eating, among others.

Day 4

A day trip to Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools. You can go by bus (the Christchurch to Westport one), and perhaps stay the weekend; or even hire a car to do this one. Its worth it; especially if it’s snowing or raining (no, that is not a typographical error!). Hamner Springs is about two hours drive north of Christchurch, in the alpine foothills. Go in the morning, stop along the way at the Cider Barn at Amberley for mid-morning food or lunch if going by car; arrive at Hamner one hour later. Take a stroll through the human-planted State Forest for an hour or so; then soak in the beautifully landscaped (with native shrubs) Hot Pools.

Surrounded by pine-covered mountains; never overcrowded; very relaxing; and the fee is $NZ10.00 per adult! The pools also have a pretty reasonable cafe/restaurant on site.

Day 5

A bus trip to Sumner and its beach, which is an outlying suburb at the foot of the Port Hills between Christchurch and Taylors Mistake cove. (Number 3 bus route). Eat lunch at Cellinis; or another of the cafes or pubs in Sumner. Just be careful of the sun intensity in the summer, and wear lots of sunblock! (even when it’s cloudy). The coastal cliffs are all volcanic lava flows; with a layer of brick-colored rock in between which is actually baked clay.

Day 6

For anyone who hasn’t got the time to visit the many locations along the West Coast of the South Island, taking a return journey on the Tranz-Alpine Express from Christchurch through to Greymouth is a must. The train starts from the main railway station at 9.00am, reaches Arthurs Pass for a brief stop before lunch time. After proceeding on to Greymouth, it ‘rests’ for an hour, and by early afternoon is on its way back to Christchurch, returning there at around 6.00pm. Considering it takes you through the flat Canterbury Plains, the grass-covered eastern hills of Porters Pass, up through Arthurs Pass National Park and then the tree-ferns and rain forests of the West Coast - all for about NZ$100 return, in very comfortable carriages with an excellent buffet car - well, it’s probably one of the most value-for-money train journeys in the world.