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Food tours in Christchurch: what to eat and which tour to book
Christchurch sits on the edge of the Canterbury Plains, New Zealand's biggest farming region, so the food is about produce: Canterbury lamb, salmon from the region's rivers and farms, crayfish from Kaikōura up the coast, whitebait in spring, and wine from Waipara Valley just to the north. Since the 2010–11 earthquakes the central city has been rebuilt, and much of the eating has moved into new indoor markets and food halls such as Riverside Market, the bars along Oxford Terrace, and the Saturday farmers' markets at Riccarton House and in Lyttelton. Everyday food is Kiwi classics: mince and cheese pies, fish and chips, a flat white and a slice of something from the cabinet.
Use this page to know what to eat and where, with rough 2026 prices in New Zealand dollars (NZD; about 1.9–2 NZD to the euro). The tours shown are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; confirm the price and meeting point on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Christchurch
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canterbury lamb lamb | Lamb from the plains and hill country around Christchurch, served as a roast, slow-cooked shoulder or rack in restaurants and as lamb shanks in pubs. | Restaurants in the central city and pubs; roast dinners at country pubs. | roughly NZD 35–50 (€18–26) for a restaurant main |
| Whitebait fritter | Tiny juvenile fish bound with egg and fried as a fritter, often served in a slice of buttered white bread with lemon. Fresh whitebait is a spring treat; outside the season it is frozen. | Cafés, markets and fish shops, mostly in spring (roughly September–November). | roughly NZD 18–30 (€9–15) a fritter; whitebait itself is expensive |
| Mince and cheese pie pie | Hand-sized pastry pie filled with minced beef in gravy and cheese; steak, mince-and-cheese and butter chicken are among the common fillings. The standard Kiwi lunch on the go. | Bakeries and petrol stations everywhere; independent bakeries are worth seeking out. | about NZD 6–9 (€3–4.50) |
| Fish and chips | Battered fish, usually blue cod, tarakihi or gurnard, with thick chips, bought wrapped in paper and eaten outdoors. | Fish and chip shops in suburbs and by the sea at Sumner, New Brighton and Lyttelton. | roughly NZD 15–25 (€8–13) for one person, more for blue cod |
| Crayfish (rock lobster) kōura / crayfish | New Zealand rock lobster, grilled or served cold with butter or mayonnaise. Kaikōura, about 2.5 hours' drive north, is named after it and has roadside crayfish stands. | Seafood restaurants in Christchurch, or at Kaikōura on a day trip. | roughly NZD 60–120+ (€30–60+) for a half or whole crayfish, depending on size and season |
| Salmon king salmon | King (chinook) salmon farmed in Canterbury and the South Island, served as sashimi, hot-smoked or pan-fried. | Restaurants, the Riverside Market and farmers' markets. | roughly NZD 30–45 (€15–23) for a restaurant main |
| Pavlova and hokey pokey pavlova / hokey pokey ice cream | Pavlova is meringue with a soft centre, topped with cream and fruit; hokey pokey is vanilla ice cream with crunchy honeycomb toffee pieces. Both are Kiwi classics. | Cafés and bakeries for pavlova; any dairy or ice cream shop for hokey pokey. | roughly NZD 5–8 (€2.50–4) for ice cream, NZD 10–15 for a slice of pavlova |
| Flat white and the café cabinet flat white | Espresso with thin steamed milk, plus the cabinet of scones, slices, muffins and savoury tarts found in every Kiwi café. | Independent cafés across the central city, Sydenham, Addington and Merivale. | about NZD 5–6.50 (€2.50–3.30) a coffee |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
Riverside Market
Indoor market on the Avon River in the rebuilt city centre, with produce, butchers, bakers, delis and food stalls plus bars upstairs. The easiest single place to eat in the centre.
Christchurch Farmers' Market, Riccarton House
Long-running Saturday morning market in the grounds of historic Riccarton House, with Canterbury growers, cheesemakers, bakers and hot breakfasts.
Lyttelton Farmers Market
Small Saturday market in the harbour town of Lyttelton, a short drive through the tunnel from the city, with local produce, coffee and food stalls.
Oxford Terrace (The Terrace)
Riverside strip of bars and restaurants rebuilt after the earthquakes, the busiest place in the centre for evening drinks and dinner.
Little High Eatery and the High Street area
Food hall with several small kitchens (Asian, pizza, burgers and more) and a bar, near the rebuilt High Street shops and lanes.
Food tours in Christchurch compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Christchurch: Sheep Farm Experience with Lunch & Winery | 6 hours | from €172 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Christchurch: Ōtautahi Meander Walking Tour with Tastings | 2 hours | from €85 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Christchurch: Kai Bites Walking Tour with Lunch | 1.5 hours | from €117 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Christchurch: Waipara Wine Trail with Lunch Included | 6 hours | from €99 per person | max 15 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| From Quake to Plate Christchurch Food Tour | 3 hours | from €150 per person | max 10 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Discover Christchurch Tour with Lunch | 6 hours | from €199 per person | max 10 | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
From Christchurch: Sheep Farm Experience with Lunch & Winery
On GetYourGuide · run by Real New Zealand Farm Tours Limited
- Length
- 6 hours
- Price
- from €172 per person
- Rating
- 4.5 ★ from 34 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Christchurch: Ōtautahi Meander Walking Tour with Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by Āmiki Tours
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €85 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 14 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- 2 hour walking tour Morning tea Food tastings from local artisan producers Hotel pickups / dropoffs
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Please meet us in front of the Bridge of Remembrance on the shopping precinct side
Christchurch: Kai Bites Walking Tour with Lunch
On GetYourGuide · run by Āmiki Tours
- Length
- 1.5 hours
- Price
- from €117 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 6 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Local storyteller guide Food tastings Lunch with seasonal local produce Hotel pickup / dropoff
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Bridge of Remembrance
Christchurch: Waipara Wine Trail with Lunch Included
On GetYourGuide · run by Leisure Tours Ltd
- Length
- 6 hours
- Price
- from €99 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 5 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 15
- Included
- Driver/Guide Local Platter Lunch from Waipara Springs Cellar Door experience and tastings at 3 boutique vineyards Additional drinks not listed Personal purchases Gratuities
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- 2 Cathedral Square, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
From Quake to Plate Christchurch Food Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by NZ Epic Tour
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €150 per person
- Rating
- 5.0 ★ from 2 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- Guided walking food tour Stories of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake Tasting of New Zealand lamb Tasting of classic fish and chips Artisanal gelato Signature cocktail Tips
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- *
Discover Christchurch Tour with Lunch
On GetYourGuide · run by Discover Christchurch Limited
- Length
- 6 hours
- Price
- from €199 per person
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- Pickup and drop off from all Hotels and Motels in Christchurch City. Pickup from Christchurch Airport and Lyttelton Port can be arranged also. Christchurch Tramways All transportation Christchurch Gondola access Punti…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan earns a small commission — the price you pay is exactly the same.
Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Christchurch has little street food in the stall sense. Its equivalent is the food stalls at Riverside Market and the food halls, the Saturday farmers' markets, food trucks at events, and pies from bakeries. Fish and chips eaten at the beach at Sumner or New Brighton is the local takeaway ritual.
Sit-down meals
Restaurants focus on local produce: lamb, salmon, seasonal vegetables and Canterbury and Waipara wine. Kitchens close earlier than in Europe, often around 20:30–21:00, especially outside the centre, so book or eat early. Cafés serve big breakfasts and brunches until mid-afternoon.
Cooking classes
Cooking classes are limited and run occasionally rather than daily, often at cookery schools or as private sessions. Wine tastings in Waipara Valley, about an hour north, are a more common food-and-drink outing; check what is running when you visit.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | NZD 50–70 (€25–35) (bakery pie, food-hall lunch, fish and chips or takeaway dinner) |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | NZD 100–150 (€50–75) (café brunch and a restaurant dinner with a glass of wine) |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | NZD 250+ (€125+) (degustation menu with local wine) |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Easy in the central city: cafés and restaurants routinely mark vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, and the food halls have plenty of choice. Country pubs are more meat-heavy but usually have at least one vegetarian main.
Halal: Halal food is available, mostly at Middle Eastern, Turkish, Indian, Malaysian and Indonesian restaurants and kebab shops; some display certification. Much New Zealand lamb and beef is slaughtered to halal standards for export, but restaurants rarely state this, so ask.
Gluten-free: Very good: New Zealand cafés and restaurants commonly mark 'GF' options, and gluten-free pies and bread are widely available. Fish and chip shops may use shared fryers, so ask.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Public holiday surcharges (often 10–15%) added to the bill, sometimes noted only in small print. These are legal if displayed. Check the menu or door for a surcharge notice on public holidays, and be aware that some places also add a Sunday surcharge.
- Card surcharges of a few percent added at the till, especially for credit cards and contactless payments. Ask before paying. Rules on in-person card surcharges have been under review in New Zealand, so practice may vary; EFTPOS debit or cash may avoid the fee.
- 'Fresh' whitebait or crayfish served out of season or at high prices without a clear price on the menu. Ask whether whitebait is fresh or frozen, and confirm the price of crayfish (often 'market price') before ordering.
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
Do I need to tip in Christchurch?
No. Tipping is not expected in New Zealand: staff are paid at least the minimum wage, and prices include GST (sales tax). Leaving 5–10% for excellent service in a restaurant is appreciated but optional. Card machines may show a tip prompt; it is fine to skip it. On food or wine tours, a small tip for a good guide is optional.
When are the farmers' markets on?
The Christchurch Farmers' Market at Riccarton House runs on Saturday mornings, roughly 9:00 to 13:00, and the Lyttelton Farmers Market is also on Saturday mornings. Riverside Market in the centre is open daily. Hours can change with the season and holidays, so check the market websites before you go.
When is whitebait season?
Whitebait is caught in spring, roughly from September to November. That is when cafés and markets sell fresh whitebait fritters; at other times of year it is usually frozen. It is expensive by weight because the catch is limited, so a fritter often costs more than you might expect.
How much should I budget for food per day?
A cheap day on bakery pies, food-hall lunches and fish and chips is about NZD 50–70 (€25–35). With a café brunch and a restaurant dinner with wine, expect roughly NZD 100–150 (€50–75). Degustation menus with wine pairings start around NZD 150–200 per person.
What time do restaurants close?
Earlier than many visitors expect. Many kitchens stop taking orders around 20:30–21:00, especially on weeknights and outside the central city. Cafés usually close mid-afternoon. Riverside Market, the food halls and bars along Oxford Terrace stay open later, so they are a safe option for a late meal.
Is the tap water safe to drink?
Yes. Christchurch's drinking water comes from aquifers beneath the city and is safe to drink; restaurants bring tap water to the table free of charge. Parts of the supply have been chlorinated in recent years while wellheads are upgraded, so the taste can vary by area.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.