Christchurch Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Christchurch tours and things to do in New Zealand’s "Garden City" and gateway to the South Island: punt along the willow-lined Avon River, ride the heritage tram past the Botanic Gardens, journey over the Southern Alps aboard the TranzAlpine train to Arthur’s Pass, watch whales at Kaikoura, cruise the volcanic harbour of Akaroa, and soak in the Hanmer Springs hot pools. Compare top-rated experiences and plan the perfect trip.
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Explore Christchurch by interest
Whatever brings you to Christchurch — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Top attractions in Christchurch
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Punting the Avon
Willow-lined river.
TranzAlpine
Alpine train.
Kaikoura Whales
Sperm whales.
Akaroa
Harbour & dolphins.
Heritage Tram
City loop.
Hanmer Springs
Thermal pools.
Arthur’s Pass
Alpine scenery.
Botanic Gardens
Hagley Park.
Christchurch & South Island
- 1TranzAlpine
- 2Arthur’s Pass
- 3Castle Hill
- 4Hanmer Springs
Day awayTranzAlpine
Alpine railway.
2.5 hr awayKaikoura
Whale watching.
1.5 hr awayAkaroa
Harbour & dolphins.
1.5 hr awayHanmer Springs
Thermal pools.
Day awayArthur’s Pass
Alpine park.
City awayAvon River
Punting.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Christchurch visitor asks before booking.
Spring (Sep–Nov)
Blooming gardens and fresh weather — lovely for the Garden City.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
Warm and dry, the peak season for touring.
Autumn (Mar–May)
Golden colours and settled weather — beautiful.
Winter (Jun–Aug)
Cold and crisp, with snow on the alps.
For whales
Kaikoura whale watching runs year-round.
Best overall
Summer and autumn are ideal.
One day
The tram, punting and gardens.
Two days
Add the TranzAlpine or Akaroa.
Three days
Add Kaikoura whale watching.
For scenery
The TranzAlpine and Arthur’s Pass.
For wildlife
Kaikoura and Akaroa.
With kids
The tram, dolphins and hot pools.
On foot
The flat central city is easy to explore on foot.
Heritage tram
The tram loops past the main city sights.
Tours & trains
Tours and the TranzAlpine reach the alps and coast.
Car hire
A car suits exploring Canterbury at your own pace.
Where to stay
Stay near the centre or Hagley Park.
NZ dollar
New Zealand uses the dollar; cards are widely accepted.
Book the train
The TranzAlpine sells out — reserve well ahead.
Kaikoura weather
Whale trips depend on the sea; allow a flexible day.
Pack layers
Canterbury weather changes fast — bring warm layers.
Garden City
Don’t miss the Botanic Gardens and a punt on the Avon.
Akaroa dolphins
Book a harbour cruise to spot Hector’s dolphins.
Summer & autumn
Visit December to May for the best weather.
TranzAlpine
The scenic train sells out — book well ahead.
Kaikoura whales
Whale trips fill up — reserve early.
Akaroa cruises
Harbour cruises book out — reserve ahead.
Hanmer Springs
Day trips fill up in season — book early.
City tours
Tram and city tours sell out in summer — reserve ahead.
Peak season
Summer is busiest — book everything ahead.
TranzAlpine
Around €120–200 for a TranzAlpine day trip.
Kaikoura whales
About €130–200 for a whale-watching day trip.
Akaroa cruise
Roughly €90–150 for an Akaroa harbour day trip.
Hanmer Springs
Around €80–130 for a Hanmer Springs day trip.
City & tram
About €30–60 for a tram or city tour.
How to save
Join group day trips and combine city sights.
Christchurch through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Blooming gardens.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Fresh.
- Best for
- Touring.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak.
- Best for
- Golden colours.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Lovely.
- Best for
- Snowy alps.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold.