Discover Christchurch

After the devastating 2011 earthquake badly damaged the historic cathedral, Japanese architect Shigeru Ban designed an unusual transitional cathedral made of large cardboard tubes, which has since become a popular architectural landmark of the city in its own right.

Nestled within sprawling Hagley Park right on the Avon River, the Botanic Garden, founded in 1863, is home to over 10,000 plant species from around the world, including a magnificent rose garden, and is best explored on a punt boat ride along the river.

Considered one of the world's most beautiful rail routes, it runs from Christchurch across the Southern Alps to the west coast, offering spectacular views from open-air viewing carriages of river valleys, viaducts and snow-capped peaks.

The visitor center right at the airport is dedicated to Antarctic research with a simulated storm at minus 8 degrees, little penguins undergoing rehabilitation, and a ride on an original Hägglunds snow vehicle through an artificial boulder field.

Christchurch International Airport lies about 12 kilometers northwest of downtown and is reachable by bus in about 25 minutes. Domestic flights from Auckland also run several times daily in about 1.5 hours.

After the devastating 2011 earthquake badly damaged the historic cathedral, Japanese architect Shigeru Ban designed an unusual transitional cathedral made of large cardboard tubes, which has since become a popular architectural landmark of the city in its own right.

Nestled within sprawling Hagley Park right on the Avon River, the Botanic Garden, founded in 1863, is home to over 10,000 plant species from around the world, including a magnificent rose garden, and is best explored on a punt boat ride along the river.

Considered one of the world's most beautiful rail routes, it runs from Christchurch across the Southern Alps to the west coast, offering spectacular views from open-air viewing carriages of river valleys, viaducts and snow-capped peaks.