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U.S.FTC GUIDELINES PLEASE NOTE: we act as an affiliate for several companies that feature on our website. In some cases we may earn a commission from referrals to those companies. For further information please refer to our Privacy and Disclaimer policies which can be found in the "US" tab.
Here's our top Christchurch attractions
If you are looking for the best Christchurch attractions, we can help.
Christchurch, known as the "Garden City", sits on the central eastern coast of New Zealand's beautiful South Island.
Home to over 700 parks, Christchurch is a thriving center, and is the largest city on the South Island.
Flanked on one side by the Tasman Sea and on the other by the Southern Alps, Christchurch (and the surrounding Canterbury region), is a wonderful place to spend a few days.
But what are the best things to see and do?
If you have never been to Christchurch, trying to choose a few activities from the thousands available can be a daunting task.
But fear not.
Based on our own experiences and on visitor feedback, we've selected a few very special Christchurch attractions for you.
These are the activities that are consistently rated as the best.
Our best Christchurch attractions
1) Tramway Restaurant Dinner Tour of Christchurch
Sit back and relax as you are transported through the city center on a beautifully restored heritage tram.
Your two and a half hour tour includes a delicious four course dinner, and your unique mobile restaurant provides close up city views while you sit back and enjoy your meal.
As you board, a welcome drink is a nice touch, and the perfect way to start, before your gourmet dinner.
Tea and coffee complete your evening.
Your tour takes you by several Christchurch highlights like the Botanic Gardens, the Avon River, Hagley Park, the inspiring Re:START Mall, New Regent Street, and the Canterbury Museum.
There are few better Christchurch attractions than this one. Enjoy.
Here are a few customer reviews
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Reviewed by: Susan H, January 2017 "Really enjoyed our tour on the the tramway restaurant. The food and the service were both excellent. It is a great way to get a overview of Christchurch, if you are limited on time." |
Reviewed by: Michael C, October 2016 "What a wonderful way to see Christchurch at night whilst we ate an amazing meal and sipped beautiful local wines and beer." |
2) Christchurch Gondola
This is really neat. You board your cable car and take a ten minute ride high above Christchurch on the Port Hills, to the summit of Mt Cavendish summit.
The views of the region are stunning, and as you reach the top it's hard to believe that you are on what is the crater rim of an extinct volcano.
Below you, Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains, and the busy Lyttelton Harbour unfold, and off in the distance, the majestic Southern Alps draw your gaze.
At the top, take a ride on the Time Tunnel to see a video about Christchurch, its people, history, and landscape.
You can have a snack or meal at the cafe (not included in the cost), or take your time to wander around the retail shop and perhaps pick up a souvenir.
Or perhaps just relax in the outdoor areas and take a few more great pictures to remember your visit.
Here are a couple of reviews
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Reviewed by: Woz, June 2016 Worth doing - was great. Booked this directly through the Viator App and simply presented the voucher and away I went. Great scenery and the views are amazing. You also get the 'history' mine tour' which is free and worth doing also. |
Reviewed by: Sandra O, March 2016 "Loved this ride and the views from the top were amazing." Reviewed by: my360travel, January 2016 "Very good trip!" |
3) Lord of the Rings Journey to Edoras
If you are a LOTR fan you will love this. Your nine hour tour takes you from Christchurch to Edoras (Mount Sunday).
After collection from your motel, your four wheel drive tour vehicle takes you west of the city to Mount Sunday.
The views are stunning from the top of Edoras. Your expert guide takes you through the history of the site and reveals some behind the scenes pictures of the set under construction.
Learn how this beautiful site was transformed into the capital of the Rohan people.
See the Misty Mountains and the valley of Helm's Deep.
Take the time to pose for your own pictures with a series of movie replicas like Aragorn’s sword, the flag of Rohan, and Gimli’s axe, before enjoying great picnic lunch and Champagne.
This is a must do for all LOTR fans.
See what other visitors think
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Reviewed by: Jason H, March 2017 This was a great experience! Our tour guide Hammond was fantastic and I don't want to spoil the surprise but he has a certain connection to the Lord of the Rings movies pretty awesome if you ask me. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who is a Lord of the Rings fan! |
Reviewed by: Granster, January 2017 We had a wonderful day out. Our driver was very knowledgeable about the making of the films and we watched some clips of filming on the mini-bus on our way to Mount Sunday. Can highly recommend this to Lord of the Rings fans, but even for non-fans, the scenery, local history and fun atmosphere are well worth going for. |
4) Sightseeing tour of Christchurch by Double Decker bus
No you are not seeing things. They are the classic London double deck bus.
But it's Christchurch not London.
Yes, Christchurch, the "Garden City" does have a very "English" feel to it, and these fun double deckers are a wonderful way to see the sights in Christchurch.
Your three hour tour is split into two parts. The first hour takes you on an open roof bus through the central city where you will see Hagley Park, the Bridge of Remembrance, and hear about the recovery from the 2011 earthquake.
Part two transfers you to the closed roof bus for a two hour tour visiting the seaside suburb of Sumner, where you can get your toes wet, a trip to the beautiful Mona Vale Gardens, and time in the stunning Port Hills, where the views of the region (including the Southern Alps) will blow you away.
It's a fun, relaxing way to see Christchurch.
Here's what others thought of the tour
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Reviewed by: Pat W, February 2017 "Excellent tour around Christchurch. We only had 2 full days to visit the area and this for the bill perfectly. The guide knew his stuff thoroughly. Would recommend this to one anyone who wants to learn about how Christchurch is recovering from the earthquake." |
Reviewed by: Sandra O, March 2016 "If you are in Christchurch you have to do this tour. We ha not really appreciated how much of the city was destroyed 5 years ago. They are doing a great job rebuilding. If you go before next January make sure you visit the restart mall, you will see just how resilient people can be." |
To learn more about this fab tour just click on the button below:
5) See dolphins, seals and lots more on the Akaroa Harbour Nature Cruise.
This is one of the most popular of all Christchurch attractions, and draws visitors from around the world.
Heading out onto Akaroa Harbor, you are filled with anticipation about the day. Will we see any dolphins? How close will we get?
This awesome nature cruise is a real treat, and your 60 foot long catamaran is a great spot from which to view the action.
The captain is really informative, with stories about the region's beautiful wildlife, geology and scenery.
Over the two hour cruise, it's possible to see various species of marine birds, New Zealand Fur Seals, and at times, penguins.
But the highlight of the trip are the playful, gregarious Hector Dolphins, who seem to take great delight in following the boat and performing for the guests. It's almost like they know why we are there!
And if you are lucky enough to be there between October and March you might even see some of the young calves.
The tour also takes you to a local salmon farm where you can learn about this local delicacy.
Ample viewing decks allow you to see all the action, and the tour is a wonderful way to experience some of the region's marine wonders.
This is a very popular tour so early bookings are recommended.
You can learn more by clicking on the button below:
Our customers loved this tour
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Reviewed by: Benjamin S, March 2016 Unforgettable tour! We saw lots of dolphins, penguins and seals. Cruise ships offer exactly the same tour for roughly double the price. Bring extra clothing it's super-cold on the boat and sunscreen. Stand on the bow for the best view. |
Reviewed by: Diane B, March 2014 Definitely worth the price and offered a beautiful view of the Harbor. Captain was knowledgable and we were able to see dolphins as depicted in the photo. Suggest private walking tour of Akaroa using tourist info headphones and map as we'll. inexpensive |
We've just touched the surface here - there are hundreds of other great Christchurch attractions
We hope you loved reading about our selection of the best Christchurch attractions.
But of course there are lots of other amazing things to see and do in Christchurch and the Canterbury region.
You can search the full range of Christchurch attractions by clicking HERE.
Enjoy your search, and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask us.
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