In Fendalton/Merivale In heartland Merivale, located just behind the mall on Aikmans Road, you’ll find a fistful of swanky eateries rubbing shoulders in a sunny, shared courtyard filled with grassy patches, potted trees, and grape vines. It becomes quite a party on a warm summer’s…
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Things To Do in Christchurch
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Christchurch Attractions
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 (www.worldbuskersfestival.com) held 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. The Christchurch Arts Festival (www.artsfestival.co.nz) is staged every 2 years ( July–Aug) as a showcase for local and international talent.
The New Zealand Cup & Show Week (www.nzcupandshow.co.nz), the second week of November, is a mixed bag of celebratory events, from Canterbury’s anniversary day to racing events, fashion shows, and a rollout of the best of the country's agriculture and pastoral farming industry, the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral (A&P) Show (www.theshow.co.nz), where the farming community brings its best to town. This ranges from dressage and show jumping to wood chopping and sheep shearing to a grand parade of prize-winning animals, and tent after tent of award-winning wines, oils, cakes, jam, along with the fun of fair stalls and sideshows. At the same time, the horse-racing fraternity arrives in Christchurch for the New Zealand Cup national trotting cup and race day with a gold cup for thoroughbreds (gallops). Tickets for race meetings, the A&P Show, and other promoted events are available from the website.
The New Zealand Cup & Show Week (www.nzcupandshow.co.nz), the second week of November, is a mixed bag of celebratory events, from Canterbury’s anniversary day to racing events, fashion shows, and a rollout of the best of the country's agriculture and pastoral farming industry, the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral (A&P) Show (www.theshow.co.nz), where the farming community brings its best to town. This ranges from dressage and show jumping to wood chopping and sheep shearing to a grand parade of prize-winning animals, and tent after tent of award-winning wines, oils, cakes, jam, along with the fun of fair stalls and sideshows. At the same time, the horse-racing fraternity arrives in Christchurch for the New Zealand Cup national trotting cup and race day with a gold cup for thoroughbreds (gallops). Tickets for race meetings, the A&P Show, and other promoted events are available from the website.
10 Results
- Attraction
Arts Centre of Christchurch
An important cluster of Victorian Gothic-style buildings, holding, you guessed it, the Arts Centre is still in the process of being restored to its former glory after considerable earthquake damage. But most of the restoration on its main wing has been completed, and now this… - Park/Garden
Botanic Gardens
The turquoise-and-yellow Peacock Fountain just inside the main gate on Rolleston Avenue is a handy marker that can’t be missed. This is the best point of entry to the lush 23 hectares (57 acres) of deservedly world-renowned gardens. Even if you’ve never considered yourself the… - Museum
Canterbury Museum
Perfectly placed on the edge of the Botanic Gardens within a stone’s throw of the Arts Centre, the Canterbury Museum has something for everyone, but particularly kids, with a Discovery Centre (and Discovery Club for 3–13 yrs) where predator spiders and other creepy-crawlies can be… - Museum
Christchurch Art Gallery
Curving glass facades, spectacular outdoor sculpture, and one of the largest permanent collections in New Zealand establish the gallery’s importance on the larger cultural scene. The collection of more than 5,500 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, and crafts emphasizes work… - Museum
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu
This vibrant art gallery debut in 2003; it brings art and architecture together in one setting. Loved and/or loathed by locals, its flashy glass façade has become a city landmark. The building was designed by Melbourne architectural firm the Buchan Group. The large steel sculpture… - Landmark
Christchurch Gondola
The gondola (or cable car) climbs 862 horizontal meters (2,828 ft.) from the Heathcote Valley to the terminal at the top of Mount Cavendish Walk. You're outside and walking on the edge of an extinct crater rim with views across the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps. The terminal… - Zoo/Aquarium
International Antarctic Centre
If you’ve always wanted to romp with penguins, stroke a leopard seal, climb aboard a snowmobile, explore a snow cave, and feel the icy wind chills of Antarctica, this might be as close as you’ll ever get. Everything about this attraction is of superb value—you’ll get a particular… - Zoo/Aquarium
Orana Wildlife Park
There’s something quite magical about getting up close and personal with Rothschild giraffes. You can feed them and fondle their ears and they won’t mind a bit, but don’t try that with the park’s lions, tigers, and cheetahs. Set in 80 attractively laid-out hectares (198 acres), the… - Cathedral
Transitional Cathedral
Christchurch’s iconic Anglican Cathedral was severely damaged in the 2011 earthquake, and a question mark hangs over its future. A Transitional Cathedral was opened in 2013 on Hereford St./ Latimer Square after Japanese architect Shigeru Ban gifted his time and design. Ban's… - Zoo/Aquarium
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Willowbank is a good place for children to get close to relatively tame animals of all sorts, but it doesn't have the impact of Orana's exotic animals. It does, however, have the country's largest collection of kiwis, and you won't find any glass between you and the feathers. It…
More About Christchurch Attractions
Christchurch Shopping
The Malls
The city has a number of suburban malls. Westfield Riccarton (tel. 03/348-4119; www.westfield.co.nz/riccarton) has more than 200 shops over two levels; the bus stops right outside the door. Northlands Mall, in Papanui (tel. 03/352-6535; www.northlands.co.nz), has 135 stores. The Palms, in Shirley (tel. 03/385-3067; www.thepalms.co.nz), has more than 110 stores, a big entertainment complex, and good bus services. The recently revamped Merivale Mall (tel. 03/355-9692; www.merivalemall.co.nz) is smaller with around 40 stores, but features a pricier range of designer shops and boutiques. All malls are open daily.
The Markets
The Arts Centre Market offers a good range of quirky and quality items. Stallholders sell everything from hand-knitted, 100% New Zealand wool, garments to jewelry, clothing, housewares, candles, toys, and handcrafted soaps. Because of the earthquakes this market is now staged at the Ferrymead Heritage Park.
Riccarton Rotary Market (tel. 03/339-0011; www.riccartonmarket.co.nz), which you’ll find Sundays from 8am at Riccarton Racecourse, on Racecourse Road, Upper Riccarton, is supposedly New Zealand’s biggest outdoor market and attracts over 300 vendors. Arrive early to get the best bargains. The goods are predominantly secondhand, but there are some good buys in sheepskin products and crafts. You’ll need to sift through everything as there’s a lot of junk, but it’s a good cultural study.
City Shopping Spots
Christchurch’s inner city shopping precincts have been severely impacted by the earthquakes. The suburb of Sydenham is due to be rebuilt first and some retailers are open in temporary premises in Cashel Mall. More will come onstream as the new city develops. Top-quality New Zealand arts, crafts, and jewelry can be found at Form Gallery, in the new Christchurch Art Gallery (tel. 03/377-1211; www.form.co.nz).
Made in New Zealand
Head for Untouched World, 155 Roydvale Ave. (tel. 03/357-9399; www.untouchedworld.com), where you’ll find a stunning range of top-quality, New Zealand-made wool garments. It has a delightful setting with a top-end restaurant and native garden.
J. Ballantyne & Co., at City Mall and Colombo Street (tel. 03/379-7400), is still seen as the department store in Christchurch. It has been operating with distinctive style for over 100 years and its Contemporary Lounge is a good spot for top international clothing and accessories brands that can’t be found elsewhere on the South Island.
Christchurch Nightlife
The Performing Arts
The Court Theatre, Bernard Street, Addington (tel. 0800/333-100 in NZ, or 03/963-0870), is the home of the best professional theater company in New Zealand. Shows range from Shakespeare to contemporary American and British theater to the best New Zealand plays.
Just off New Regent Street, the Isaac Theatre Royal at 145 Gloucester Street, hosts live theatre, concerts, and musical performances. The iconic building has stood in this place since 1906 (and fortunately survived the 2011 earthquakes). Civic and performance venue Christchurch Town Hall at 86 Kilmore Street wasn’t as fortunate. Following the earthquakes, the heritage-listed brutalist building had to undergo a significant restoration process. It reopened in 2019 and now hosts intimate concerts and public speaking events. A number of small theatres also exist, most notably Little Andromeda, a 100-seat theatre that’s tucked away at 134 Oxford Terrace in the River Market complex. It’s the place for improv, comedy, and indie plays.
A new sports arena with capacity for 41,000, Te Kaha, is expected to open in 2026.
The Club & Bar Scene
Those looking for a raucous night out will find it at one of the bars located in the River Market, with Fat Eddie’s being a local fave. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday until the wee hour mornings, with live music line-ups nearly every night.
For date night vibes, New Regent St. (pictured above) is the place to go. That’s where you’ll find The Last Word at 31 New Regent St. (tel. 03/928-2831), a cozy cocktail lounge. It’s charismatic and cute, and has an outstanding list of whiskies and a sprinkling of top-drawer wines.
Opened to great acclaim immediately post-quakes as a bar-in-a-bus with some tented shelter, Smash Palace at 172 High St. (tel. 03/366-5369), now has a permanent site, but the bus, et al., remain, along with house beer on tap, books to browse, burgers made from scratch, and motorbike night (Thurs).
