Follow these tips to have a truly indie travel experience in Christchurch and New Zealand.
- Use Christchurch as your base of travels for the rest of the south island.
- If you are going to have your own wheels while in New Zealand, ask a local about the Inland Scenic Route and take it as you head south out of Christchurch. It very well may be the most beautiful drive you’ll ever take.
- Want some delicious and cheap fish and chips? Head to City Fish and Chips in the middle of Christchurch for this old school meal wrapped in yesterday’s newspaper.
- Instead of hopping on one of those tourist buses, get your own wheels and explore on your own and at your own pace.
Why you should add Christchurch to your RTW travel list
- See some sheep, lots of sheep, 30 million plus sheep
- Christchurch is the gateway to South Island of New Zealand and many of its natural wonders
- Take a Helicopter over Glaciers near Mount Cook
- Bungee jump in Queenstown
- Visit the International Antarctic Centre for a close look at the Great WhiteContinent.
- Learn more about Maori culture at the Nga Hau E Wha National Marae.
- Settle in for some whale watching at Kaikoura.
- Hang out in Cathedral Square and listen to the wisdom of the Wizard of Christchurch.
Why you should not add Christchurch to your RTW travel list
- It can be pretty pricey compared to other destinations you may add to your RTW trip.
- While Christchurch is beautiful and the people are great, it can be underwhelming to the rest of the country.
Overview
Christchurch is the largest city on New Zealand’s South Island and is certainly
a pleasant city, but it’s best used as a stopping point at the beginning
or end of a tour of all the magical things to see and do on the South Island.
All the other travelers in town feel like they are just coming from or going to
somewhere else so a visit of about one day is normal. If you are thinking of coming
to New Zealand to see its cities and enjoy its culture you might want to think
twice about that. The pleasures of Kiwi Land are away from the towns.
What To Do
Christchurch, appropriately enough, has an impressive cathedral that is worth
a visit. There is an interesting Air Force Museum with full-size replicas of various
warplanes from the 20th Century. There are a few other museums and galleries around
town to check out if you want to unwind and hang around for a day or two at the
end of an adventure trip, and the nightlife scene is well developed and very centralized
if you feel like throwing back a few pints or watching some football on the telly.
But most people tend to hang around the many internet cafes, which can be rare
in rural New Zealand, and be content to trade stories with other travelers at
the hostel.
Getting There
You can arrive in Christchurch by bus as part of a regional tour, but chances
are you’ll be flying
in or out of Christchurch International Airport (code: CHC). Most of the
flights go to Auckland, Queenstown and Wellington, but you can also reach Christchurch
from parts of Australia as well as Japan and Singapore. There is a regular bus
service that takes 30-40 minutes from the airport to the city center as well
as a few reasonably priced shuttle services.
Where To Stay
The city center is rather compact and there are loads of hostels
in Christchurch that cater specifically to the many backpackers cruising
through town. They can book up early during peak times so plan ahead. There
are also plenty of hotels
in Christchurch with many of the more affordable ones being a little away
from the city center. If you are coming in a campervan and don’t care much about
the nightlife this might be a good option since there isn’t much parking
in the center.