NZ · Canterbury · 43.53°S 172.64°E

christchurch

River punts, botanic gardens and Port Hills walks on the South Island.

Best time
October–April is best: spring flowers, then long summer days for punting and the Port Hills. June–August is cold and frosty, with short days.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop, usually via Singapore, about 13–15 hours in total; connections via Auckland or Sydney work too. The airport is about 20 minutes from the city. New Zealand is 4 hours ahead of KL, 5 during daylight saving (late September to early April).
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NZ · Canterburychristchurch43.53°S 172.64°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,River punts, botanic gardens and Port Hills walks on the South Island.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingChristchurchNZ, Canterbury
KLchristchurch
≈ 8,734 km from KL, as the crow flies
Christchurch’s first mall... New Regent Street is made up of pastel-hued shops in Spanish Mission style terraced architecture. When it was established during the Depression, New Regent Street was an a

Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand · CC0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Christchurch is the South Island's biggest city, rebuilt after the 2011 earthquakes with new buildings and street art among the old stone ones. Its gardens and river make it worth a couple of days before you head for the mountains.

Makan

  1. Canterbury lambThe plains are sheep country, so lamb is on every menu. Ask whether it's halal.Map ↗
  2. Fish and chipsBest on the beach at New Brighton or Sumner.Map ↗
  3. Summer fruitCherries and berries from roadside stalls around the city.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Botanic GardensOld trees, rose gardens and glasshouses inside a loop of the Avon River.Map ↗
  2. Punting on the AvonFlat-bottomed boats poled along the river by guides in Edwardian dress.Map ↗
  3. New Regent StreetA short pedestrian street of pastel Spanish Mission shopfronts, with the heritage tram running through.Map ↗
  4. Christchurch GondolaUp the Port Hills for views over the city, the Canterbury Plains and Lyttelton Harbour.Map ↗
  5. AkaroaA harbour town settled by the French, about 90 minutes away, with Hector's dolphins in the bay.Map ↗

Good to know

  • There's a good spread of halal Indian, Turkish and Malaysian food around the city centre and Riccarton.
  • The stone cathedral in Cathedral Square is still fenced off for repairs, and its reopening is years away.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.