Home › Christchurch › How many days
How many days in Christchurch? 3 days: the rebuilt city, Lyttelton and Akaroa
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Most visitors land in Christchurch, pick up a campervan and drive off the same afternoon. Give it three days instead. The centre has been rebuilt since the 2010-2011 earthquakes into a compact, walkable grid of new laneways, gardens and street art, and within 90 minutes you reach the volcanic harbours of Banks Peninsula. Day one is the city, day two the port hills and Lyttelton, day three Akaroa and its dolphins.
Short answer
Two days covers the centre, the Botanic Gardens, the Gondola and Lyttelton. The third day adds Akaroa and a harbour cruise with Hector's dolphins, the world's smallest.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: The rebuilt centre and the Botanic Gardens
Morning. Start in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens (free, open from 7:00), 21 hectares inside a loop of the Avon River. Then glide past willows on an Avon River punt from the Antigua Boat Sheds, about 30 minutes for roughly NZ$40.
Afternoon. Walk 10 minutes to Cathedral Square to see the ruined ChristChurch Cathedral, under long restoration, then Quake City (about NZ$25) for the earthquake story. Cross to the Transitional Cathedral, known as the Cardboard Cathedral, by Shigeru Ban, and the 185 Empty Chairs memorial opposite.
Evening. Have dinner and drinks in the Riverside Market food hall. Afterwards walk the pastel arcades of New Regent Street, where the heritage tram runs through.
The heritage tram loops the centre in about 50 minutes; a day pass (about NZ$35) lets you hop on and off, and the driver gives a running commentary.
Day 2: Port Hills, Gondola and Lyttelton
Morning. If it is Saturday, drive or take bus 28 (about 25 minutes) through the road tunnel to Lyttelton Farmers Market (9:00-12:00). Otherwise, start at the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū in town (free).
Afternoon. Ride the Christchurch Gondola from Heathcote valley up Mount Cavendish (about NZ$40 return) for views over Lyttelton Harbour, the city and the Southern Alps. Walk part of the Crater Rim Walkway at the top, or hike down the Bridle Path in about 1 hour.
Evening. Eat in Lyttelton, a small port town with pubs and restaurants on London Street. Or drive 20 minutes to Sumner beach for fish and chips on the sand.
The Port Hills are windy and the weather changes fast; carry a warm layer even in summer.
Day 3: Day trip to Akaroa
Morning. Drive about 1.5 hours (84 km) over the hills to Akaroa, a French-settled village in an old volcanic crater; stop at the Hilltop Tavern lookout over the harbour. Without a car, shuttles run from the city for about NZ$50-60 return.
Afternoon. Take a Black Cat or similar harbour cruise (about 2 hours, roughly NZ$100) to see Hector's dolphins, fur seals and the sea cliffs at the harbour mouth, or swim with dolphins in summer for about NZ$200. Then walk the waterfront and the Giant's House mosaic garden (about NZ$25).
Evening. Eat fresh fish or Akaroa salmon by the harbour, then drive back before dark. The hill road has tight bends.
Cruise ships sometimes anchor in Akaroa Harbour; check the cruise calendar and avoid those days if you can.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Day 1 as written and Day 2 with the Gondola and Lyttelton. You lose Akaroa, which you can visit later if you return to the city at the end of a road trip.
Got extra days?
A 4th day can ride the TranzAlpine train over Arthur's Pass to Greymouth (about 5 hours one way, from about NZ$200), drive 2.5 hours to Kaikōura for whale watching, or 3 hours to Lake Tekapo and its dark-sky reserve.
Where to stay in Christchurch
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | City centre hostels / Riccarton | Walk to the gardens and food halls; Riccarton has cheap motels on the airport road. | NZ$90-160 |
| Mid-range | Central city (inside the four avenues) | Walk everywhere: the river, the tram and the restaurants. | NZ$170-280 |
| Mid-range | Merivale / Papanui Road | Leafy, safe and quiet, with motels and boutique cafés 10 minutes from the centre. | NZ$160-250 |
| Comfort | Riverside hotels and Hagley Park | Views over the Avon or the park, close to the Botanic Gardens. | NZ$300-550 |
Getting around
The rebuilt centre is flat and walkable: the Botanic Gardens to Cathedral Square is about 10 minutes. Metro buses cost about NZ$4 cash or less with a Metrocard, and the Orbiter loops the suburbs. Hire Lime scooters or bikes for short hops. The airport is 20 minutes away by bus 29 or about NZ$50-70 by taxi. For Akaroa, Kaikōura and the mountains you really need a car; rental and campervan depots are next to the airport. Drive on the left, and expect one-lane bridges and gravel shoulders once you leave the city; the Banks Peninsula roads are slow and winding.
What to eat in Christchurch
Christchurch eats well and casually. Try Canterbury lamb, whitebait fritters in spring, green-lipped mussels and Akaroa salmon, and finish with a pavlova or hokey pokey ice cream. The Riverside Market has dozens of stalls and the Little High Eatery food hall is good for a NZ$20-25 lunch. Lunch at a café costs NZ$20-30, a main in a restaurant NZ$30-45. Canterbury is wine country: order a pinot noir or riesling from Waipara Valley, 45 minutes north. Many kitchens close by 21:00. Coffee culture is strong: a flat white costs about NZ$5.50-6.50, and the cafés of Addington and Sydenham are where locals go for weekend brunch. On Saturday mornings, the Riccarton Bush Farmers Market sells cheese, berries and pies from Canterbury farms.
Best time to visit
November to March, the southern summer, with highs of 20-25°C, long evenings and gardens in bloom; the hot nor'west wind can push it above 30°C. March-April brings autumn colours in Hagley Park. Winter (June-August) is cold and crisp, around 10°C by day, and a good base for skiing at Mount Hutt, 1.5 hours away.
Month-by-month weather for Christchurch →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | NZ$55 | NZ$110 | NZ$220 |
| Food & drink | NZ$50 | NZ$90 | NZ$160 |
| Sights & tickets | NZ$25 | NZ$70 | NZ$140 |
| Local transport | NZ$10 | NZ$40 | NZ$80 |
| Total per person, per day | about NZ$140 | about NZ$310 | about NZ$600 |
Approximate 2026 prices in New Zealand dollars, including 15% GST; most visitors also pay the NZ$100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy with their NZeTA, which was raised in 2024.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Christchurch worth visiting after the earthquakes?
Yes. The centre has been largely rebuilt with new public spaces, the Te Pae convention centre, the Tūranga library and laneways full of bars. The ruined cathedral and the empty lots that remain are part of the story, explained well at Quake City and the earthquake memorial on the Avon.
Do I need a car in Christchurch?
Not for the city: the centre is walkable and buses reach the Gondola and Lyttelton. For Akaroa, Kaikōura, Arthur's Pass and anywhere further, a car or campervan is far easier, since buses are infrequent. Many people pick up a rental car on day two after exploring the city on foot.
Is the Canterbury Museum open?
The Canterbury Museum's historic building next to the Botanic Gardens is closed for a major strengthening and redevelopment project expected to last until around 2028. Part of the collection is shown at a temporary site in the city; check the museum's website for the current address and hours.
Can I see penguins or Antarctica in Christchurch?
The International Antarctic Centre near the airport (roughly NZ$70-80) has little blue penguins, a storm room at -8°C and Hägglund rides; Christchurch is the base for US and New Zealand Antarctic flights. Wild penguins are easier to see further south, at Oamaru or on Otago Peninsula.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan may earn a commission; the price you pay is the same. How we make money.