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Christchurch served as our welcome to the South Island of New Zealand. We flew in from Rotorua, marking the starting point for our South Island adventures. Known as the “Garden City,” Christchurch is the second-largest city in New Zealand and the largest on the South Island.
The city is noticeably clean, tidy, and well-kept. I felt extremely safe walking around, and the public parks were full of people enjoying the outdoors. What’s immediately apparent is that the town is undergoing a major transformation.
In 2010 and 2011, two devastating earthquakes struck Christchurch, with the February 2011 quake claiming 185 lives and destroying much of the city’s historic center, including the iconic Christchurch Cathedral. The destruction was catastrophic—entire blocks were reduced to rubble, and thousands of buildings had to be demolished. More than a decade later, the city is still rebuilding, but rather than simply restoring what was lost, Christchurch has embraced the opportunity to reimagine itself. New modern architecture stands alongside carefully restored heritage buildings, creative “gap filler” projects have transformed empty lots into vibrant public spaces, and there’s a palpable sense of resilience and optimism throughout the city. The rebuilding process has been slow and deliberate, but it’s creating a city that honors its past while building boldly toward the future.
During our 24 hours in the city, we took a walking tour of the city center and visited the art museum, public library, and the stunning Botanic Gardens, which thankfully survived the earthquakes largely intact and continue to showcase why Christchurch earned its “Garden City” reputation.
Below are all the stops we visited during my 24 hour stay in Christchurch- all located in City Center.
Christchurch, The Garden City
Christchurch earned its “Garden City” nickname from its abundance of parks and green spaces, a legacy of the English settlers who founded the city in the 1850s. They deliberately planned the city with extensive gardens, tree-lined avenues, and sprawling parks to recreate the aesthetic of their homeland.
The jewel of the town is the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, established in 1863, which spans ~52 acres in the heart of the city alongside the massive Hagley Park. The settlers planted thousands of English oaks, elms, and willows throughout the city, creating the lush, verdant character that defines Christchurch to this day. Even after the devastating earthquakes, the city has maintained its commitment to green spaces, ensuring that the Garden City reputation continues to flourish.
We walked through a portion of the Botanic Garden, and inside the main visitor center is an amazing little spot for lunch! Filled with locals, we experienced a slice of local life! During the warmer months, you can pay for a ride to tour the gardens in one of these cute little green vehicles! (Extra Charge)
The Avon River
The city has a beautiful grassy area and walking path that follows the Avon River through the city center. Our tour guide, who was from Christchurch, surprised us with food so we could feed the eels that swim in the Avon! These eels are native to New Zealand and can grow quite large—some reaching over a meter in length! This was SO Unexpected!
Christchurch Art Gallery
If you’re looking for something free to do, the Christchurch Art Gallery is a great stop with many interesting art pieces, and if you have an interest in engineering, you can go downstairs to the basement of the parking garage and see the newly built springs on the columns that are providing earthquake protection!
The art gallery has a great collection of Māori art pieces as well as contemporary New Zealand works and rotating international exhibitions.
The building itself is a modern architectural gem with floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the galleries with natural light.
It’s a perfect rainy-day activity or a cultural break between exploring the city’s gardens and parks.
Swifty Recommends:
During our short stay in Christchurch, here are a few places I recommend:
International Antarctic Center– unfortunately, we did not have time for this attraction and it looks so incredibly interesting. I would love to hear how you enjoyed it!
FUN FACT: New Zealand was the first developed country to allow women to vote! Kate Sheppard led the suffrage movement in New Zealand. Stop by and take your photo with her statue!
New Regent Street: New Regent Street is one of Christchurch’s most charming and photogenic spots — a narrow pedestrian lane lined with pastel-colored buildings built in the Spanish Mission architectural style. Dating back to the 1930s, the beautifully restored street is home to boutique shops and cafes, and the vintage tram that runs through the city makes a stop here.
Margaret Mahy Family Playground– if you are there with your kids, or if you are a kid at heart, you will be impressed at the variety of playground activities here for kids of all ages!
Where We Stayed:
We stayed at the Wyndham Garden on Kilmore Street- near the Christchurch Art Gallery. The rooms were spacious and clean and we even had a washer and dryer in the room! The hotel serves breakfast but it is not free of charge, and in my opinion, the food was average. I would stay there again, and go to the nearby coffee shop for breakfast!
