For most international travelers, Christchurch is more of a transit hub than a destination unto itself. It’s the largest city on the super-scenic South Island, so many visitors will begin and/or end their trip here. The city is still famously recovering from the devastating earthquakes in 2011, so visitors are likely to see some damage and a lot of rebuilding for years to come.
| Population | 366,000 |
| Area | 379,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+12 |
| Currency | New Zealand dollar |
| Airports | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) |
Hotel and hostel prices in Christchurch are pretty reasonable by standards for this part of the world, so it’s not a bad place to linger for a couple days on your way in or out of the country. The city center is quite compact and most of the better deals are a bit away from the middle.
Peak season starts in late June and runs through till Easter in early April. Not only is this the time of year when most people visit, but when hotels increase their nightly rates.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 15.20 - 19.30 |
| 65.50 - 82.46 |
| 73.10 - 115.79 |
| 100.58 - 147.37 |
| 78.36 - 123.98 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 14.62 - 18.71 |
| Location | Description | Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force Museum | This museum showcases full size replicas of fighting planes and more. | adult children | 0.00 0.00 |
| Ferrymead Heritage Park | This park is fill of special events, horse and carriage rides as well as tram rides. Great for those traveling with kids. | students adult | 5.85 7.60 |
| Orana Wildlife Park | Welcome to New Zealand's largest wildlife sanctuary where you'll get the chance to see both local and international wildlife. | 5 to 14 adult | 5.26 21.05 |
Food and drinks can feel expensive so self-catering is suggested for those trying to keep costs down.
| Food Type | Description | Price(USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget breakfast | Coffee, pastries and more await you at many of the local cafes. | 4.09 - 7.02 |
| Budget lunch | For lunch you can choose from sit down restaurants or places to get a quick bite to eat. | 5.85 - 10.53 |
| Budget dinner | Dinner is more of a formal event with higher prices but there are still places around that serve great food at very reasonable prices. | 7.60 - 14.62 |
| Beer | Both domestic and imported beer tends to be on the more expensive side whether sold at a restaurant or bar. | 4.68 - 6.43 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Shuttle bus from airport to Christchurch city center | 14.04 - 25.73 |
| Public bus from airport to city | 1.17 - 4.68 |
| Taxi from airport to Christchurch | 26.32 |
| Public bus in Christchurch | 1.17 - 2.34 |
| Christchurch Tramway (2 days) | 14.62 |
| Month | High F | Low F | Precip (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 72 | 54 | 2.0 |
| February | 70 | 54 | 2.0 |
| March | 66 | 50 | 2.0 |
| April | 63 | 46 | 2.0 |
| May | 57 | 39 | 2.0 |
| June | 52 | 36 | 2.0 |
| July | 50 | 34 | 3.0 |
| August | 54 | 36 | 2.0 |
| September | 57 | 41 | 2.0 |
| October | 63 | 45 | 2.0 |
| November | 66 | 48 | 2.0 |
| December | 68 | 52 | 2.0 |
Christchurch is a great time to visit throughout the year, but some parts of the year may be better suited for certain individuals. Although temperatures are never too extreme one way or the other, you’ll still be able to see a difference from month to month.
The hottest parts of the year are January and February while the coldest months are June and July. Rain occurs throughout the year with the highest chance of showers in May.
| 21 Mar | 7:32am | 7:41pm |
| 21 Jun | 8:03am | 4:59pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:22am | 6:25pm |
| 21 Dec | 5:44am | 9:10pm |