World City Guide

Mini Guide of Christchurch

City Overview

The second largest city in New Zealand, Christchurch lies at the southern end of Pegasus Bay, in the middle of the east coast of the South Island, between Banks Peninsula and the Canterbury Plains.

The main city in the Canterbury region, Christchurch boasts over 740 parks and an extensive system of rivers, streams and wetlands, hence its name – it is known as the ‘Garden City’.

Christchurch has a distinctive quaint English character. Its iconic city Square and Cathedral, its historic tram, its wide tree-lined avenues, beautifully maintained gardens, ambling inner-city rivers and restored heritage buildings do make Christchurch a picture-perfect city& and a very pleasant one to visit or live in.

The Christchurch area was first settled by moa-hunting tribes. Maori oral history tells that humans began living in the area around 1000 AD. These first inhabitants were followed by the Waitaha who are thought to have migrated from the east coast of the North Island in the 16th century. This migration was joined by the Ngati Mamoe and Ngai Tahu and continued until about 1830.
Although there were European settlers from the 1830s, the first English settlers to Lyttelton Harbour arrived in December 1850. Christchurch became a city by Royal Charter on July 31, 1856, making it the oldest city in New Zealand. The country’s first public railway line was opened from Ferrymead to Christchurch a few years later in 1863.

Today Christchurch is a vibrant city, with a lively café scene and plenty of museums and culture venues to keep locals and tourist entertained. Canterbury has warm summers and cool to cold winters.

Getting There By Air

Christchurch International Airport
Tel: (03) 358 5029 or 353 7777 (24 hours)
Website: www.christchurch-airport.co.nz

Christchurch International Airport is the major international airport in the South Island of New Zealand. It also acts as a gateway to Antarctica. The airport is located 12km (7.5 miles) west of the city centre.

Main airlines: Air New Zealand (tel: 0800 737 000; website: www.airnz.co.nz) is the national carrier. Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Pacific Blue, Freedom Air, Korean Air, Emirates and Origin Pacific also use the airport.

Airport facilities: These include a bank, exchange facilities, ATMs, a post shop, mobile phone hire, Internet kiosks, public showers, long term baggage storage, duty-free shops, a restaurant and bar, a travel & information centre (tel: (03) 353 7774/7783), as well as car hire from Avis, Budget, Hertz, Maui Rentals and Thrifty.

Transport to the city: A public bus service operates to and from the City Centre every day (travel time 30-40 minutes). A door to door service to all parts within Christchurch is also available, and so are taxis (journey time: 15-20 minutes). The taxi fare is around NZ$25.

Getting There By Water

Getting There By Road

New Zealand is an ideal country to explore in a car. Traffic is not heavy and the scenery is spectacular. Nearly all roads are State Highways, designated by ‘SH’ and a number. Small numbers refer to the major routes between destinations (such as SH1 from Auckland to Wellington) while larger numbers indicate smaller roads linking smaller destinations (such as SH94 from Te Anau to Milford Sound). All other roads, of which there are a few, are known, although not officially, as ‘B’ roads. These are often little more than ribbons of tarmac or, on some occasions, ‘metalled’ roads, where the surface is made of loose chippings.

A valid national driving licence is all that is required for driving in New Zealand, for up to 12 months. The legal driving age is 18 years. Insurance is not mandatory but is recommended. Traffic drives on the left and most roads are quiet. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.08% (0.03% for drivers under 20 years). Speed limits are 100kph (62mph) on open roads, 50kph (31mph) in urban areas and 20kph (12mph) in the vicinity of schools and stopped school buses. There are ‘Limited Speed Zones’ where the speed limit is often reduced from 100kph (62mph) to 50kph (31mph) in adverse conditions.

The New Zealand Automobile Association (website: www.aa.co.nz) provides information on road conditions (tel: (0900) 33222) and general information (tel: (0800) 500 222) and have a reciprocal agreement with the British AA, whereby visiting drivers can get maps for free.

Emergency breakdown service:
NZ AA (0800) 500 222 (or just 222 if calling from a mobile)

Routes to the city: The main road to Christchurch is Highway one. It bypasses the city, though, so from the north (Picton and Kaikoura), follow the Highway 74 for the city centre. From the south (Dunedin and Queenstown), follow the Highway 73 for the city centre (it merges with the ring road for a while) and Lyttelton Harbour.

Coach services: Intercity Coachline Service (tel: (03) 365 1113 or 0800 468 372; website: www.intercitycoach.co.nz) runs throughout New Zealand. Discounts are available for Youth Hostel members and VIP cardholders. Backpackers also use the Kiwi Experience (website: www.kiwiexperience.com) and the Magic Bus (website: www.magicbus.co.nz) which sell a variety of passes including accommodation in hostels.

Average driving times to Christchurch: from Dunedin – 5 hours; from Queenstown – 7 hours 15 min; from Invercarill – 8 hours; from Picton – 4 hours 30 min.

Getting There By Rail

Train services to and from Christchurch include the TranzAlpine (to/from Greymouth via Arthur’s Pass) and the TranzCoastal (to/from Picton via Blenheim and Kaikoura), operated by Tranz Scenic (tel: (0800) 872 467; website: www.tranzscenic.co.nz). The Christchurch Railway Station is on Clarence Street, in Addington. Regular shuttles run from the station to the city.

Getting Around

Public transport
All local buses in Christchurch operate out of the Bus Exchange, Colombo and Lichfield streets. The main operator is Red Bus Limited (tel: (03) 379 4260 or 0800 733 287; website: www.redbus.co.nz).

For information and details on fares, passes, time-tables, etc. contact Bus Info Centre, located on the second floor of the Bus Exchange (tel. (03) 366 8855; website: www.metroinfo.org.nz).

After hours, the Midnight Express Service leaves on four major suburban routes on the hour between midnight and 0400. Just look out for the distinctive purple buses, or call Bus Info for route details.

There is also a free central-city electric shuttle (bright yellow): its pickup points are designated by bright-yellow street towers. The shuttle travels between the Casino, Town Hall, Victoria Square, Cathedral Square, City Mall, South City, Smiths City, and Hoyts 8 on Moorehouse Avenue at 10-minute intervals during the day, 15-minute intervals at night.

The City Circuit Bus (tel. (03) 332 6012) offers transportation to the area's most popular attractions, including Willowbank, the Antarctic Centre, Orana Park, the Gondola and Lyttelton Port. There are two different circuites, but both start at the visitor center in the Square.

Christchurch's tram (website: www.tram.co.nz) runs from Cathedral Square down Worcester Boulevard, crossing the Avon River to the Arts Centre. From here, it turns right to Rolleston Avenue and travels on to Armagh and New Regent streets and back to the Square. Tickets can be purchased on board.

Taxis
Blue Star Taxis (tel: (03) 379 9799) has Christchurch’s largest taxi fleet. First Direct (tel. (03) 377 5555) is another reputable company.

Car Hire
Car rental companies in Christchurch include: Avis (tel: (03) 379-6133; website: www.avis.co.nz); Budget (tel: (03) 366 0072; www.budget.co.nz), Hertz (tel: (03) 366 0549; website: www.hertz.co.nz); and Thrifty (tel: (03) 353 1940 or (0800) 73 70 70; website: www.thrifty.co.nz). All have offices in town and at the airport.

Local operators such as Britz (tel: (03) 358 4159 or (0800) 831 900; website: www.britz.com), Kea Campers (tel: (03) 359 2820; website: www.keacampers.com) and Maui (tel: (03) 358 4159 or (0800) 651 080; website: www.maui-rentals.com) hire motorhomes and campervans. This is a popular way to travel around New Zealand.

Bicycle Hire
Because Christchurch is so flat it really lends itself to cycling. This is the preferred mode of transportation for many of the city’s students, and there are quite a few cycling lanes. Bikes can be hired from Natural High Adrenalin Dealers, Unit 3, 14 Kennaway Road (tel: (03) 982 2966; e-mail: cycletouring@cyclenewzealand.com) or delivered to your door by City Cycle Hire (tel: (03) 3394020 or (0800) 343 848; website: www.cyclehire-tours.co.nz).

Business

Business Etiquette
Conducting business in Christchurch is no different from the procedure in any other major Western city. There are no cultural pitfalls to watch out for, unless dealing directly with Maori (who will outline any protocols before any meetings), and the only noticeable difference lies with the nature of the country’s people. They are notably friendlier, more informal and more relaxed. Although ties and jackets are worn, jackets may soon be discarded and shirtsleeves rolled up. A more informal dress code also exists in most restaurants and bars, although the smartest restaurants may still prefer a jacket and tie to be worn. Business hours are generally Monday to Friday 0900-1700 and punctuality is appreciated, although no one will be offended if the visitor is a little late, especially at times when the traffic is busy.

As dinner is seen as a time for socialising and not business, meetings mainly take place over lunch. Invitations to dine out or to visit someone’s home are far more readily issued than in many other countries and are genuine, not merely as a gesture. The native host will expect to pay for a meal or a round of drinks but guests can step in and pay their turn without creating arguments or offence. Friendliness not formality is the watchword in Christchurch.

Sightseeing

Sightseeing Overview
With tree-lined avenues, beautifully maintained gardens (Christchurch is know as the ‘garden city’), old fashioned trams, restored heritage buildings and a little river meandering along manicured greens, Christchurch makes a picture-perfect city. Indeed, you would be forgiven for believing that you have stumbled upon a very quaint English town: they even sing Christmas carols in Victoria Square in December here. There is plenty to keep visitors of all ages entertained, and plenty to do indoors and out, as Christchurch boasts plenty of exciting attractions, including the Christchurch Gondola, the famous Botanical Gardens (which boast the finest collection of exotic and indigenous plants in New Zealand), the Antarctic Centre (the only one of its kind in the world) and the new Christchurch Gallery, to mention but a few.

Tourist Information
Christchurch and Canterbury Visitor Centre
Old Chief Post Office Building
Cathedral Square
Tel: (03) 379 9629.
Fax: (03) 377 2424 or (03) 365 0787.
E-mail: info@christchurchnz.net
Website: www.christchurchnz.net
Opening hours: daily 0830-1900 (except Christmas day).

Award-winning visitor centre offering a wealth of information on Christchurch and the region, and a free booking service.

Passes
There are currently no tourist passes in Christchurch.

Key Attractions

Botanic Gardens
The grounds of the Botanic Gardens encompass an area of 30 hectares (74 acres), the majority of this being within the loop of the Avon River. Contained within this area is undoubtedly the finest collection of exotic and indigenous plants to be found anywhere in New Zealand.

Rolleston Ave
Tel: (03) 372 2840.
Website: www.ccc.govt.nz/parks

Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu
Opened in May 2003, this stunning modern building houses the largest art institution in the South Island. Two floors of exhibition space showcase contemporary and historic displays in a collection totaling more than 5,500 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, and crafts.

Worcester Boulevard and Montreal Street corner
Tel: (03) 941 7300.
Website: www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz

Christchurch Cathedral and Cathedral Square
The spire of Christchurch Cathedral, the heart of the city, once dominated its skyline, and the Cathedral, which opened to the public in 1881, is still the best-known and most visited church building in New Zealand (it receives a whopping 500,000 visitors per year). The arrival of the first settlers who landed in Lyttelton Harbour in 1850 is recorded in mosaics on the tiled floor of the cathedral. There is a market on the iconic square everyday, and the main tourist centre is located right by the cathedral.

Cathedral Square
Tel: (03)366 0046.
Website: www.christchurchcathedral.co.nz

Canterbury Museum
Housed in an exquisite historic building, this museum features stunning displays covering themes as varied as Maori culture, Antarctic exploration, Asian decorative arts, NZ birds and transport. There is also an interactive natural history Discovery Centre, and The Christchurch Street, a recreation of the city during the Victorian era, a local favourite.

Rolleston Avenue
Tel: (03) 366 5000.
Website: www.canterburymuseum.com

International Antarctic Centre
Located right by the airport, the International Antarctic Centre (twice voted ‘Best Attraction in New Zealand’) features an indoor Snow & Ice Experience, an exciting Hagglund all-terrain vehicle ride and an award-winning indoor exhibit of Antarctic themes. audio-guides for multi-lingual commentary are available.

38 Orchard Road
Tel: (03) 353 7798 or 0508 PENGUIN (736 4846).
Website: www.iceberg.co.nz

Willowbank
Wildlife reserve featuring exotic animals such as wallabies, otters, emus, chimps; native animals, and a variety of domestic animals (check out the weird looking Kune Kune pig). There is an extensive selection of native wildlife, including the rare tuatara (threatened with extinction), and a large nocturnal kiwi house. Good onsite restaurant. A bus runs from the city centre to the reserve.

60 Hussey Road
Tel: (03) 359 6226.
Website: www.willowbank.co.nz

Further Distractions

Christchurch Gondola
The gondola will lift you 500m (1,500 feet) above sea level to the summit of the complex, nestled on the crater rim of a sunken volcano. Panoramic views of Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains and Lyttelton Harbour. Restaurant, café and shop.

10 Bridle Path Road
Tel: (03) 384 0700.
Website: www.gondola.co.nz

Arts Centre of Christchurch
Situated in the historic buildings of the original Canterbury University College, the Arts Centre is home to over 40 retail outlets selling New Zealand-made arts and crafts. Open seven days a week.

Worcester Boulevard
Tel: (03) 366 0989.
Website: www.artscentre.org.nz

Tours of the City

Christchurch Sightseeing Tours (tel: (03) 366 9660 or 0508 669 660; website: www.christchurchtours.co.nz) propose a variety of tours in Christchurch, including traditional city tour or tours focusing on heritage homes and gardens for example.

If a boat tour is what you are after, the visitor centre arranges punting trips on the river Avon, weather permitting (tel: (03) 379 9629; website: www.christchurchnz.net/punting).

Christchurch Wildlife Cruises (tel: (03) 328 9078; website: www.blackcat.co.nz) operate two-hour wildlife and sightseeing cruise departing from Lyttelton Harbour. A great chance to see some marine wildlife, notably the rare Hector’s Dolphins found only in New Zealand. Free shuttle buses depart regularly from the Cathedral Square.

Or for something a bit different, take a balloon flight over the Canterbury plains with Up Up and Away (tel: (03) 381 4600; website: www.ballooning.co.nz).

Excursions

Akaroa: Known as the ‘Riviera of Canterbury’, Akaroa, on the hilly Banks Peninsula, was originally settled by French whalers in the mid-19th century. Today Akaroa still retains its quaint character (street names are still in French, and the various shops on the main street have signs in French too), but it also blends in British and Maori elements. Sit down at a café terrace and take in the colonial architecture, or explore the local art galleries and beaches. The area’s spectacular scenery is a delight and the local wildlife an added bonus for nature enthusiasts.

Wine tours: There are now over 40 wineries in the Canterbury region, which is the fourth-largest winemaking area in New Zealand. Pick up a free brochure on the Waipara Valley Wineries Wine Trail from the visitor centre (see above) for more information on each one of them.

Sport

Shopping

New Zealand’s wines make easy gifts to take home. While a relatively new wine region (the first vineyard was planted in 1977), Canterbury is becoming well known and appreciated for its Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir wines. Try the City Winery & Cheese Factory, 28 Mollett Street (website: www.citywinery.co.nz), which has a good selection of regional products.

Sheepskins, woollen and leather goods are also good options for souvenirs and gifts: try The Sheepskin & Footwear Factory Shop, 95 Worcester Street (www.miwoollies.com). Ballantyne, on City Mall is New Zealand’s longest established department store. It has been operating with distinctive style for over 100 years.

A good bookshop to check out is Smith’s Bookshop, 133 Manchester Street, which has a room dedicated to books on New Zealand, including Maori culture and art, and poetry and fiction by New Zealand authors.

Maori traditional crafts and items made from pounamu (greenstone) are another popular choice. You will find many shops in town that sell them. Or head for the Arts Centre of Christchurch on Worcester Boulevard (a short stroll from Cathedral Square) (tel: (03) 366 0989; website: www.artscentre.org.nz) is home to dozens speciality shops and craft studios selling all sorts of little treasures, from bone and jade jewellery to local crafts and toys and woolens, to mention but a few.

Every Saturday and Sunday, from 1000 to 1600, the Arts Centre hosts an arts, crafts and produce market and food fair. There’s something for every taste with over 80 stallholders offering top quality local art & craft, fresh produce an array of global cuisine.

Shops in Christchurch are usually open on weekdays from 0900-1730, Saturday from 0900-1630 and Sunday from 1000-1400.

Sales tax is 12.5%. Provided receipts are kept, visitors can claim a tax refund at the airport or through the local New Zealand embassy upon return.

Culture

Christchurch is very much the arts capital of the south island. www.bethere.org.nz and www.localeye.info are good online event guides for what’s happening in the city.

Tickets for most events can be purchased in advance from Ticketek (tel: (03) 377 8899; website: www.ticketek.co.nz).

Music: The city’s premier performing arts centre is the Town Hall at 86 Kilmore Street (tel (03) 366 8899) which puts on a variety of events throughout the year. This is the place to go for chamber or symphony orchestra. Situated beside the River Avon in the very heart of Christchurch, the complex provides a magnificent setting for the performing arts, and attracts big names: Neil Diamond, Mark Knopfler, R E M and Norah Jones all played there in 2005. The Canterbury Opera also performs there (tel: (03) 366 9932; website: www.canterburyopera.com). The Westpac Centre, New Zealand's largest permanent multipurpose arena, seating between 5,000 and 8,000, is another venue for big concerts.

Theatre: The James Hay Theatre in the Town Hall (see above), the Isaac Theatre Royal, 145 Gloucester Street and the Court Theatre (tel: (03) 963 0870; website: www.courttheatre.org.nz) in the Arts Centre, 20 Worcester Boulevard, are the main theatres. The Court has its own in house theatre troupe.

Film: The largest multiplexes in Christchurch are the Hoyts 8 (tel: (03) 377 9945; website: http://hoytsnz.ninemsn.com.au) in the old central railway station at 392 Moorhouse Avenue and Reading Cinemas (tel: (03) 375 7080; website: www.readingcinemas.co.nz) in the Palms shopping centre in the suburb of Shirley, corner of New Brighton and Marshlands roads. Otherwise try The Regent, 94 Worcester Street (tel: (03) 366 0140).

Nightlife

Christchurch has a good selection of bars, and nightlife in the city is very active at the weekend. A night on the town starts in Cathedral Square, Oxford Terrace or the Cashel Mall, where there are plenty of fashionable cafes, bars and clubs to choose from.

Bars: The Bog Irish Bar, Cashel Mall (website: www.thebog.co.nz/christchurch) and 88 Bar, a bit more upmarket (both on the Mall) are both popular places to go for a drink. So is the Bard on Avon, on the corner of Gloucester Street and Oxford Terrace, and Dux de Lux, in the Arts Centre. There are plenty of trendy bars on Oxford Terrace, including Azure, Coyote, Sticky Fingers, Boulevard and XO Club.

Casino: The Christchurch Casino, 30 Victoria Street (tel: (03) 365 9999; website: www.christchurchcasino.co.nz) is open 24 hours. Visitors must be aged 20 or over.

Clubs: 2 popular clubs are Ferment (tel: (03) 377 9898) and Azure (tel: (03) 365 6088) which are both located on the strip (Oxford Terrace).

Live Music: Sammy’s Jazz Review, 14 Bedford Row (off Manchester Street) and Southern Blues Bar, 198 Madras Street, both have live music seven nights a week. The Bog Irish Bar, Cashel Mall (website: www.thebog.co.nz/christchurch) and Dux de Lux in the Arts Centre (website: www.thedux.co.nz) also have bands most nights.

City Statistics

Location: Canterbury Region, South Island, New Zealand.
Country dialling code: 64 (Christchurch dialing code is 03).
Time zone: GMT + 12.
Electricity: 240-250 volts AC, 50Hz; flat three-pin plugs are used.
Average January temp: 22.5ºC (72.5ºF).
Average July temp: 11.3ºC (52.3ºF).
Annual rainfall: 630 mm (25 inches).

Special Events

Press Kite Day, Jan, Brighton Beach, many spectacular kites and tricks performed by some of the world’s leading kite flyers
World Buskers Festival, Jan, 10 days of performances featuring over 250 of the world’s best street acts (website: www.worldbuskersfestival.com)
New Zealand PGA Championship, Feb, golfing event (website: www.pgachampionship.co.nz)
Christchurch Food & Wine Festival, Feb, North Hagley Park (website: www.cantwinefoodfest.co.nz)
Winter Carnival, Feb-Mar
Montana Christchurch International Jazz Festival, Apr, one of the largest festivals in Australasia (website: www.jazzfestchristchurch.com)
Festival of Flowers and Romance, Feb (website: www.festivalofflowers.co.nz)
Christchurch Arts Festival, Jul-Aug (website: www.artsfestival.co.nz)
Gardenz, Labour Weekend (late Oct), the South Island’s foremost gardening show, featuring fabulous display gardens, a huge selection of plants and garden accessories for sale, etc. (website: www.gardenz.co.nz)
Showtime Canterbury, Nov, a week of event including horse racing, fashion, etc. (website: www.showtimecanterbury.co.nz)
Christmas in the Park, Dec, free midsummer Christmas carol concert, Hagley Park, (website: www.summertimes.org.nz)

Cost of Living

1 New Zealand Dollar (NZ$1) = £0.39; US$0.69; C$0.80; A$0.91; ¬0.58
Currency conversion rates as of October 2005