Guidebook for Christchurch

Lindsay
Guidebook for Christchurch

Sightseeing

Amazing new park! Go have a look and let your inner "kid" come out!
150 locals recommend
Margaret Mahy Playground
Armagh Street
150 locals recommend
Amazing new park! Go have a look and let your inner "kid" come out!
Go have a look at what remains of the graceful Christchurch Cathedral. It stands half undone but makes a striking statement about the earthquakes. Next time you visit I don't know if it will be here!
37 locals recommend
Christchurch Cathedral
37 locals recommend
Go have a look at what remains of the graceful Christchurch Cathedral. It stands half undone but makes a striking statement about the earthquakes. Next time you visit I don't know if it will be here!
Our biggest park - awesome for walks & runs!
252 locals recommend
North Hagley Park
14 Riccarton Ave
252 locals recommend
Our biggest park - awesome for walks & runs!
Beautiful botanic gardens - entry is free!
297 locals recommend
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Rolleston Avenue
297 locals recommend
Beautiful botanic gardens - entry is free!
Sumner is a very cool neighbourhood in Christchurch which is built around the beach. Worth checking out and having a coffee and a stroll.
121 locals recommend
Sumner Pharmacy
17 Wakefield Ave
121 locals recommend
Sumner is a very cool neighbourhood in Christchurch which is built around the beach. Worth checking out and having a coffee and a stroll.
Christchurch's "temporary" cathedral - a beautiful modern church. Well worth a look inside, you're normally allowed to enter if there isn't a service on.
76 locals recommend
Christchurch Transitional Cathedral
234 Hereford St
76 locals recommend
Christchurch's "temporary" cathedral - a beautiful modern church. Well worth a look inside, you're normally allowed to enter if there isn't a service on.
A scenic thoroughfare when on foot or on bike between New Regent Street and the centre city. The Swiss Bistro restaurant in here is locally infamous for it's horrendous service.
8 locals recommend
Cathedral Junction
109 Worcester St
8 locals recommend
A scenic thoroughfare when on foot or on bike between New Regent Street and the centre city. The Swiss Bistro restaurant in here is locally infamous for it's horrendous service.
I recommend if you have some spare time to take one of the scenic trams around the city - you can hop on and off in a number of locations.
8 locals recommend
Christchurch Tramway
8 locals recommend
I recommend if you have some spare time to take one of the scenic trams around the city - you can hop on and off in a number of locations.
The YMCA has a free Street Art Exhibition called "Spectrum" running until 17th April - well worth a look, some really inspiring artwork!
Christchurch YMCA
12 Hereford St
The YMCA has a free Street Art Exhibition called "Spectrum" running until 17th April - well worth a look, some really inspiring artwork!

Shopping

Our coolest "mall" is a collection of containers that people opened shops in post quakes. Now known for local Kiwi made things and food trucks - there are often buskers around playing good music!
77 locals recommend
Container Mall
76-100 Cashel Street
77 locals recommend
Our coolest "mall" is a collection of containers that people opened shops in post quakes. Now known for local Kiwi made things and food trucks - there are often buskers around playing good music!

Everything Else

I have a real weakness for Thai food and Aroy thai is a yummy close by "BYO"!
6 locals recommend
Aroy Thai Restaurant
61 Victoria St
6 locals recommend
I have a real weakness for Thai food and Aroy thai is a yummy close by "BYO"!
Very cool free museum! Well worth going to.
390 locals recommend
Canterbury Museum
66 Rolleston Ave
390 locals recommend
Very cool free museum! Well worth going to.
A really nice walk if you want to get a leg stretch over to Lyttelton.
14 locals recommend
Bridle Path
14 locals recommend
A really nice walk if you want to get a leg stretch over to Lyttelton.
Just in case! This is the location of our biggest hospital.
35 locals recommend
Christchurch Hospital
2 Riccarton Ave
35 locals recommend
Just in case! This is the location of our biggest hospital.
Accident & Emergency for medical emergencies 24 -hour.
34 locals recommend
24 Hour Surgery
401 Madras St
34 locals recommend
Accident & Emergency for medical emergencies 24 -hour.
Chemist / Pharmacist with a doctors office.
The Dispensary Pharmacy
148 Hereford St
Chemist / Pharmacist with a doctors office.
Nice hairdressers!
Corkin and Friends
20-26 Welles St
Nice hairdressers!

Food Scene

Another yummy thai with a very cool bar adjacent called "Vesuvio"
15 locals recommend
Keo Thai Restaurant
123 Papanui Rd
15 locals recommend
Another yummy thai with a very cool bar adjacent called "Vesuvio"
Yummy Mexican fusion food - good sharing plates.
86 locals recommend
Mexicano's
131 Victoria St
86 locals recommend
Yummy Mexican fusion food - good sharing plates.
Really good asian fusion restaurant, slightly more expensive. A meal with drinks will probably run you $50-60 dollars.
101 locals recommend
King of Snake
79 Victoria St
101 locals recommend
Really good asian fusion restaurant, slightly more expensive. A meal with drinks will probably run you $50-60 dollars.
Another good mexican spot!
10 locals recommend
Mexico Restaurant
203 Manchester St
10 locals recommend
Another good mexican spot!
Good coffees on Bealey if you're passing by!
9 locals recommend
Whole Cafe
100 Bealey Ave
9 locals recommend
Good coffees on Bealey if you're passing by!
Lovely restaurant with a view of the park for a special meal.
36 locals recommend
Strawberry Fare
15 Bealey Ave
36 locals recommend
Lovely restaurant with a view of the park for a special meal.
Good indian Takeaways!
11 locals recommend
Himalayas Indian Restaurant
830A Colombo St
11 locals recommend
Good indian Takeaways!
Cute cafe on the corner of New Regent Street, really good coffee.
19 locals recommend
The Caffeine Laboratory
19 locals recommend
Cute cafe on the corner of New Regent Street, really good coffee.
Another yummy Thai fusion restaurant. The lamb shank curry is amazing. The menu is designed to share.
42 locals recommend
Spice Paragon
76 Victoria St
42 locals recommend
Another yummy Thai fusion restaurant. The lamb shank curry is amazing. The menu is designed to share.
My all time favourite Christchurch cafe for it's amazing vaulted ceilings and intriguing interior (think: old dentist rinse stations for water re-filling, sliding bookcases for hidden doorways!).
107 locals recommend
C1 Espresso
185 High St
107 locals recommend
My all time favourite Christchurch cafe for it's amazing vaulted ceilings and intriguing interior (think: old dentist rinse stations for water re-filling, sliding bookcases for hidden doorways!).
Nice wee Italian restaurant owned and run by a local family.
12 locals recommend
Venuti
791 Colombo St
12 locals recommend
Nice wee Italian restaurant owned and run by a local family.
Sometimes you just want Subway. I'm not judging.
34 locals recommend
Subway
34 locals recommend
Sometimes you just want Subway. I'm not judging.
Words can't describe the deliciousness of Dimitris wraps. Definitely try the lamb. Or Falafel. Or get a combo.
Dimitris Souvlaki & Yeeros
16 Plymouth Ln
Words can't describe the deliciousness of Dimitris wraps. Definitely try the lamb. Or Falafel. Or get a combo.
A sweet wee cafe with Florist attached.
7 locals recommend
Affogato Cafe
919 Colombo St
7 locals recommend
A sweet wee cafe with Florist attached.
Good bagels.
36 locals recommend
Vic's Cafe
132 Victoria St
36 locals recommend
Good bagels.
Another delicious thai fusion restaurant (are you seeing a trend). This one is a bit pricey but very delicious with good cocktails too. The menu is quite meat focused and is designed to share.
9 locals recommend
Chinwag
104 Victoria Street
9 locals recommend
Another delicious thai fusion restaurant (are you seeing a trend). This one is a bit pricey but very delicious with good cocktails too. The menu is quite meat focused and is designed to share.
Oh man. This is good, good kiwi food. Huge focus on local and seasonal food. The steak is droolworthy. I'm drooling while I type this. Will hit your wallet a wee bit though, mains sit around 35 - 40 dollars per each.
45 locals recommend
Twenty Seven Steps
45 locals recommend
Oh man. This is good, good kiwi food. Huge focus on local and seasonal food. The steak is droolworthy. I'm drooling while I type this. Will hit your wallet a wee bit though, mains sit around 35 - 40 dollars per each.
Very yum Japanese food, lovely waitstaff. Eat while you watch the trams trundle by in the glass Cathedral Junction.
11 locals recommend
Sakimoto Japanese Bistro
119 Worcester St
11 locals recommend
Very yum Japanese food, lovely waitstaff. Eat while you watch the trams trundle by in the glass Cathedral Junction.

Drinks & Nightlife

Very cool wee bar!
22 locals recommend
Vesuvio Jazz & Tapas Bar
4 Papanui Rd
22 locals recommend
Very cool wee bar!
Awesome whisky bar in the beautiful New Regend Street - the staff know everything there is to know about whiskies! If it's cold, have a Hot Toddy.
32 locals recommend
The Last Word
32 locals recommend
Awesome whisky bar in the beautiful New Regend Street - the staff know everything there is to know about whiskies! If it's cold, have a Hot Toddy.
One of Christchurch's most popular bars - there are a number of them in a row on St Asaph worth checking out.
28 locals recommend
Baretta
174 St Asaph St
28 locals recommend
One of Christchurch's most popular bars - there are a number of them in a row on St Asaph worth checking out.
Another popular bar!
15 locals recommend
Engineers Bar
178 St Asaph St
15 locals recommend
Another popular bar!
Our local bar - very close to where we work, and we often grab a drink here on Fridays. It's in a lane called "Stranges Lane" which really goes off at night.
Vespa Bar
225 High St
Our local bar - very close to where we work, and we often grab a drink here on Fridays. It's in a lane called "Stranges Lane" which really goes off at night.
A bar with very good marguerites!
30 locals recommend
The Dirty Land
131 Victoria St
30 locals recommend
A bar with very good marguerites!
Popular bars!
17 locals recommend
Strange's Lane
219 High St
17 locals recommend
Popular bars!
Lovely bar which has re-opened in this location recently post quakes.
66 locals recommend
Dux Central
144 Lichfield St
66 locals recommend
Lovely bar which has re-opened in this location recently post quakes.
Very cool English style pub - beware the beers can be expensive but they have an amazing selection and often have great live music.
74 locals recommend
Pomeroy's Old Brewery Inn
292 Kilmore St
74 locals recommend
Very cool English style pub - beware the beers can be expensive but they have an amazing selection and often have great live music.
A newish handy bar nice for a cocktail and/ or snack.
13 locals recommend
Mama Hooch
817 Colombo St
13 locals recommend
A newish handy bar nice for a cocktail and/ or snack.
Popular Irish Bar
27 locals recommend
The Bog
50 Victoria St
27 locals recommend
Popular Irish Bar

Essentials

Big cheap grocery store for larger shops.
55 locals recommend
PAK'nSAVE Moorhouse
297 Moorhouse Ave
55 locals recommend
Big cheap grocery store for larger shops.
Walking distance grocery store, not huge so not ideal for big shops.
18 locals recommend
SuperValue Edgeware Village
61 Edgeware Rd
18 locals recommend
Walking distance grocery store, not huge so not ideal for big shops.

Arts & Culture

Recently re-opened and worth a look!
304 locals recommend
Christchurch Art Gallery (Te Puna o Waiwhetu)
312 Montreal St
304 locals recommend
Recently re-opened and worth a look!
As with its neighbour, Chch Art Gallery - CoCA has finally reopened and is providing beautiful modern art exhibits again - an it's free!
Centre of Contemporary Art
As with its neighbour, Chch Art Gallery - CoCA has finally reopened and is providing beautiful modern art exhibits again - an it's free!