Getting There
By Air
The Christchurch International Airport (+64 3 358 5029 / http://www.christchurch-airport.co.nz/) is the major gateway to New Zealand's South Island. The airport provides direct service and connections to domestic and international destinations from the following airlines:
Air New Zealand (http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz) Air Pacific (http://www.airpacific.com) Emirates (http://www.emirates.com) Freedom Air (800 600 500 (from NZ only) / http://www.freedomair.co.nz) Korean Air (http://www.koreanair.com) Origin Pacific (http://www.originpacific.co.nz) Pacific Blue (http://www.pacificblue.co.nz) Qantas Airlines (http://www.qantas.co.nz) Singapore Airlines (http://www.singaporeair.com)
A public bus service operates to and from the airport and the centre of Christchurch's. The bus runs every half hour M-F and at peak times on the weekends. Cost is reasonable at NZ$5 per person and the trip is around 30-40 minutes.
A shuttle bus is also available providing door-to-door service to all areas of Christchurch. Cost is NZ$12-18 per person and total trip time to the city centre is 20-30 minutes.
Taxis are readily on hand and service all parts of the city for a travel time of around 15-20 minutes and a fare of around NZ$25 to the city center.
Taxi Companies
Corporate Cabs Maxi Taxi
Rental car offices are located in the terminal building including:
Avis (http://www.avis.co.nz) Budget (http://www.budget.co.nz) Hertz New Zealand (http://www.hertz.com) Maui Rentals (http://www.maui.co.nz) Thrifty (http://www.thrifty.co.nz)
By Train
Tranz Scenic (+64 4 495 0775 / http://www.tranzscenic.co.nz) is New Zealand's only passenger rail service. The TranzCoastal route offers service from Picton to Christchurch. The train station is 2 km southwest of the city centre.
By Bus
InterCity Coachlines (+64 9 913 6100 / http://www.intercitycoach.co.nz) offers frequent daily coach service throughout all of New Zealand. The bus stops are located at Ritchies Travel on 123 Worcester St, outside the International Departure Terminal of the Christchurch Airport, at Christchurch Public Hospital, and at the Canterbury Information Centre on Worcester St.
By Car
State Highways 1 and 74 are major motorways into Christchurch.
Getting Around
There are several ways of getting around Christchurch including bus, shuttle, and tram.
All local buses (+64 03 366 8855 / http://www.metroinfo.org.nz) run out of the Bus Exchange on Columbo and Lichfield Streets and provide service throughout all of the city and surrounding areas. The Red Bus Explore Christchurch Day Pass (+64 03 379 4260 / http://www.redbus.co.nz) is a great way to explore Christchurch at a reasonable price. Passes can be purchased at Metro Information in the Bus Exchange or from the bus driver. There is also a Midnight Express Service that operates from midnight-4a.
Hop on the bright yellow electric shuttle that offers free service throughout the city centre. Pickup points are easily visible and are located at the Casino, Town Hall, Victoria Square, Cathedral Square and more.
The city also has a tramway (+64 03 366 7830 / http://www.tram.co.nz) that operates from Cathedral Square down Worcester to Rolleston and New Regent Street and ends up back at the Square. Buy tickets when boarding.
Planning a Trip
Visitor Information
The Christchurch & Canterbury i-SITE Visitor Centre is in the Old Chief Post Office Building, Cathedral Square West (tel. 03/379-9629; fax 03/377-2424; www.christchurchnz.net). It's open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm; Saturday, Sunday, and holidays from 8:30am to 4pm (longer hours in summer). Useful websites are www.bethere.org.nz or www.whatsonchristchurch.co.nz.
Special Events
Christchurch is the festival capital of New Zealand -- no matter when you visit, it's bound to coincide with a festival of some sort. The World Buskers Festival (tel. 03/377-2365), from mid- to late January, is the largest street performance festival in the Southern Hemisphere. You'll be treated to jazz and comedy shows, as well as acts of juggling, contortionism, and more. In February, the city bursts into bloom with the Garden City Flowers & Romance (tel. 03/365-5403). The annual Wine and Food Festival (tel. 03/358-1648) also takes place in February. The Christchurch Arts Festival (tel. 03/365-2223) is staged every 2 years in July and showcases international talent. The next one will be held in 2009. Showtime Canterbury, featuring the Canterbury A & P Show (tel. 03/941-6840), is an absolute tradition in this part of the world. Staged the second week of November, it features thoroughbred and standard-bred racing.
Getting There
By Plane -- Christchurch has frequent air service from all major centers via Air New Zealand (tel. 0800/737-000; www.airnewzealand.co.nz) and Air New Zealand Link. Christchurch International Airport is 10km (6 miles) from Cathedral Square and it receives direct flights from several countries. The international terminal features everything travelers will need, including boutique shopping and a visitor information center (tel. 03/353-7783; www.christchurchairport.co.nz). A massive upgrade is now underway and the first stage -- a new covered carpark -- is already completed. Further plans include the integration of international and domestic terminals with improved services and retail outlets. The airport will function as usual throughout the upgrade, scheduled for completion in 2009. The visitor information center in the domestic terminal (tel. 03/353-7774; www.mynzholiday.com) will book accommodations and transportation at no charge. Also here are car-rental firms, a bank, a florist, a bookstore, a confectionery store, a hair salon, Internet kiosks, a restaurant, a souvenir shop, and a duty-free store. For further international airport details, check www.christchurchairport.co.nz.
Several shuttle companies operate between the airport and Central City. Super Shuttle (tel. 0800/748-885 in NZ; www.supershuttle.co.nz) runs daily 24 hours and charges NZ$18 to NZ$20 (US$13-US$14/£6.50-£7.20). The Red Bus City Flyer (tel. 0800/733-287 in NZ) departs from the airport and from Worcester Street, near the Square, opposite Regent Theatre and calls at the Bus Exchange before returning to the airport. It leaves on the half-hour Monday through Friday, on the hour Saturday and Sunday, and costs NZ$12 (US$8.50/£4.30) one way. For a 20-minute taxi ride, call First Direct (tel. 03/377-5555). The fare to Central City should be NZ$25 to NZ$30 (US$18-US$22/£9-£11).
By Train & Coach (Bus) -- Train service to and from Christchurch has been greatly reduced as railway companies rationalize their operations. The TranzAlpine (Greymouth), and the TranzCoastal (Picton) are the only two still running. For information, call Tranz Scenic at tel. 0800/872-467 in NZ, or 03/341-2588. The Christchurch Railway Station is on Clarence Street, in Addington. Regular shuttles run from the station to the city.
InterCity (tel. 0800/468-372 in NZ, or 03/379-9020) covers most of the South Island, offering service between Christchurch, Dunedin, Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, Greymouth and the West Coast, Wanaka, Queenstown and Mount Cook, Invercargill, Timaru, Picton, and Kaikoura. If you prefer something cheaper, go with Kiwi Experience (tel. 03/377-9810).
By Car -- If you're coming from the north, you'll drive in on State Highway 1 and enter the city through the northwest suburbs of Papanui and Merivale. It's 4 to 5 hours from Picton and 2 1/2 hours from Kaikoura. From Dunedin, via Timaru and Ashburton, you'll also be on State Highway 1. It takes 5 hours from Dunedin, 2 from Timaru. From the southwest, via Lake Tekapo and Geraldine, travel on Highway 79 to Highway 77 and then Highway 73; this takes you to Mount Hutt and over the Rakaia River. If you're coming from the West Coast, you'll go over Arthur's Pass and enter Christchurch at Upper Riccarton. This trip takes 4 hours. Christchurch is 366km (227 miles) north of Dunedin, 350km (217 miles) south of Picton, and 254km (157 miles) southeast of Greymouth.
Planning a Trip
Visitor Information
The Christchurch & Canterbury i-SITE Visitor Centre is in the Old Chief Post Office Building, Cathedral Square West (tel. 03/379-9629; fax 03/377-2424; www.christchurchnz.net). It's open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5pm; Saturday, Sunday, and holidays from 8:30am to 4pm (longer hours in summer). Useful websites are www.bethere.org.nz or www.whatsonchristchurch.co.nz.
Special Events
Christchurch is the festival capital of New Zealand -- no matter when you visit, it's bound to coincide with a festival of some sort. The World Buskers Festival (tel. 03/377-2365), from mid- to late January, is the largest street performance festival in the Southern Hemisphere. You'll be treated to jazz and comedy shows, as well as acts of juggling, contortionism, and more. In February, the city bursts into bloom with the Garden City Flowers & Romance (tel. 03/365-5403). The annual Wine and Food Festival (tel. 03/358-1648) also takes place in February. The Christchurch Arts Festival (tel. 03/365-2223) is staged every 2 years in July and showcases international talent. The next one will be held in 2009. Showtime Canterbury, featuring the Canterbury A & P Show (tel. 03/941-6840), is an absolute tradition in this part of the world. Staged the second week of November, it features thoroughbred and standard-bred racing.
Getting There
By Plane -- Christchurch has frequent air service from all major centers via Air New Zealand (tel. 0800/737-000; www.airnewzealand.co.nz) and Air New Zealand Link. Christchurch International Airport is 10km (6 miles) from Cathedral Square and it receives direct flights from several countries. The international terminal features everything travelers will need, including boutique shopping and a visitor information center (tel. 03/353-7783; www.christchurchairport.co.nz). A massive upgrade is now underway and the first stage -- a new covered carpark -- is already completed. Further plans include the integration of international and domestic terminals with improved services and retail outlets. The airport will function as usual throughout the upgrade, scheduled for completion in 2009. The visitor information center in the domestic terminal (tel. 03/353-7774; www.mynzholiday.com) will book accommodations and transportation at no charge. Also here are car-rental firms, a bank, a florist, a bookstore, a confectionery store, a hair salon, Internet kiosks, a restaurant, a souvenir shop, and a duty-free store. For further international airport details, check www.christchurchairport.co.nz.
Several shuttle companies operate between the airport and Central City. Super Shuttle (tel. 0800/748-885 in NZ; www.supershuttle.co.nz) runs daily 24 hours and charges NZ$18 to NZ$20 (US$13-US$14/£6.50-£7.20). The Red Bus City Flyer (tel. 0800/733-287 in NZ) departs from the airport and from Worcester Street, near the Square, opposite Regent Theatre and calls at the Bus Exchange before returning to the airport. It leaves on the half-hour Monday through Friday, on the hour Saturday and Sunday, and costs NZ$12 (US$8.50/£4.30) one way. For a 20-minute taxi ride, call First Direct (tel. 03/377-5555). The fare to Central City should be NZ$25 to NZ$30 (US$18-US$22/£9-£11).
By Train & Coach (Bus) -- Train service to and from Christchurch has been greatly reduced as railway companies rationalize their operations. The TranzAlpine (Greymouth), and the TranzCoastal (Picton) are the only two still running. For information, call Tranz Scenic at tel. 0800/872-467 in NZ, or 03/341-2588. The Christchurch Railway Station is on Clarence Street, in Addington. Regular shuttles run from the station to the city.
InterCity (tel. 0800/468-372 in NZ, or 03/379-9020) covers most of the South Island, offering service between Christchurch, Dunedin, Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, Greymouth and the West Coast, Wanaka, Queenstown and Mount Cook, Invercargill, Timaru, Picton, and Kaikoura. If you prefer something cheaper, go with Kiwi Experience (tel. 03/377-9810).
By Car -- If you're coming from the north, you'll drive in on State Highway 1 and enter the city through the northwest suburbs of Papanui and Merivale. It's 4 to 5 hours from Picton and 2 1/2 hours from Kaikoura. From Dunedin, via Timaru and Ashburton, you'll also be on State Highway 1. It takes 5 hours from Dunedin, 2 from Timaru. From the southwest, via Lake Tekapo and Geraldine, travel on Highway 79 to Highway 77 and then Highway 73; this takes you to Mount Hutt and over the Rakaia River. If you're coming from the West Coast, you'll go over Arthur's Pass and enter Christchurch at Upper Riccarton. This trip takes 4 hours. Christchurch is 366km (227 miles) north of Dunedin, 350km (217 miles) south of Picton, and 254km (157 miles) southeast of Greymouth.
