Christchurch is an engrossing little city, with an undeniable vibrancy and energy, despite tragic natural disasters that have previousy decimated the city. Fortunately, Christchurch has bounced back, with urban regeneration and creativity playing a central role in the city’s rejuvenation.
With world-class street art, innovative city-wide creative initiatives, a thriving hospitality scene and state-of-the-art architecture, Christchurch has bounced back with renewed vigour, while also carefully preserving its old world English heritage. Take time to explore the city and you’ll discover an eclectic mix of bars and eateries, as well as plenty of boutiques and shops that will have you returning to Christchurch in no time at all.
Explore the City on Foot
Christchurch is a compact city with flat terrain, which makes it ideal for exploring on foot or by bike. To find out what’s happening in the city, pay a visit to the tourist information centre. As a means of restoring a semblance of normality, Christchurch is hosting plenty of events, festivals and exhibitions, which are all well worth a look.
Eat and Drink
One of the great things about Christchurch is its wide array of great places to eat and drink. For locally and seasonally inspired fare, head for Twenty Seven Steps on New Regent Street. For a morning caffeine fix, head for C1 Espresso – a cafe first established in 1996, then destroyed in 2011, before reopening in 2012. It’s part of the fabric of Christchurch, and a visit here offers fantastic food, delicious coffee, and great service. For dinner, grab a wood-fired pizza from Base in the Re:Start Mall. Constructed to replace collapsed shopping facilities, the project is a maze of colourful shipping containers housing pop-up boutiques, excellent coffee shops and quirky eateries.
Street Art
As Christchurch rebuilds, new walls emerge, and so too does incredible street art. Take a walk around the streets and you’ll find pieces sneakily tucked away down side streets and alleys, depicting all manner of things from animals, to portraits, and everything in between. Check out Watch This Space Space and take a self-guided tour of the streets using the incredible interactive map. The city's embracing of street art is a symbol of how post-earthquake Christchurch is reinventing itself with art.
Parks and Recreation
Christchurch has some splendid parks, and none more so than Hagley Park, which is home to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, as well as a golf course and other recreational facilities. Fortunately, Hagley’s glorious gardens survived the earthquake. The park is the perfect place for an easygoing stroll or a lazy afternoon picnic.
Quake City
A must-visit for all visitors to Christchurch is Quake City, a compact museum that gives visitors an insight into the violent impact of the Canterbury earthquakes. The museum tells stories through photography, video footage and various artefacts, including the remnants of Christchurch Cathedral's celebrated rose window, as well as other significant and sentimental debris.
