Christchurch Travel Forum

Hello all seasoned travellers,

I'm off to Christchurch this Sunday (August 24th) for 1 week. I'll be based in Christchurch for the entire week and would love to hear from all in regards to ideas for:

1) Day trip(s) out of Christchurch
2) Best tour company(ies) for boutique wine tours
3) Walking tours - with or without guide around Christchurch
4) Great restaurants (I'm open to all cuisines)
5) Bars & Clubs (to burn all those calories from point 4) and,
6) Places to avoid ie tourist traps and things/places that lone travellers should be wary of.

Many thanks for all your input.

Kind regards,

JustinT.

PS: If there are other lone travellers out there who'd like to join me in Christchurch during this period, feel free to drop me a line or several.

I am short of time now - but if you look at my Chch page all your questions can be answered - including wine tours to Waipara, walks in the Port Hills, day trips to Akaroa/Banks Peninsula (Akaroa page), Arthurs Pass (Canterbury page), Hanmer Springs (Canterbury page), and Kaikoura (Kaikoura page). I just have not listed special nightlife and bar tips, apart from the Strip and the Casino. Check out SoL (South of Lichfield = South of Lichfield Street, near the Bus Exchange) and Manchester Street, plenty of bars.

Take care with driving, especially Arthurs Pass and Banks Peninsula. A.P. still has a lot of snow from last week, and tonight there will be quite a lot of snow on A.P. road and on Banks Pen., down to sea level. Check road conditions before you go anywhere out of Christchurch. If you rent a car make sure you have chains.

I visited in early Spring so I don't know how many things are open in winter, but:

1. Willowbank nature reserve has a marvelous section on local fauna and flora if that sort of thing interests you - http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/attractions/nature/natural-wildlife/christchurch/willowbank-wildlife-reserve/index.html

2. Canterbury Leisure tours has a couple of good day trips: Hanmar Springs and Arthur's Pass - http://www.leisuretours.co.nz/

3. Do visit the Antarctic Centre - fascinating! http://www.iceberg.co.nz/

4.If it runs in the winter, the Gondola up to the top of the Port Hills. Great walk there around the crater rim and views of Lyttleton Harbour. http://www.gondola.co.nz/

You definitely should head up the Gondola for walks in the Port Hills. The Gondola is easy to reach on bus number 28 from the city - the bus goes right to the base station of the Gondola. You can either go on a 1hr guided walk that is very interesting or you can freedom walk along the Crater Rim walkway. There are maps at the shop at the Gondola that you can purchase. You feel like you are miles away and if you go mid week you don't get so many locals walking along the tracks. It is gorgeous up there but only 15 minutes from city centre. Definitely worth a visit.

Great restaurant to go to is Winnie Bagoes - gourmet pizza restaurant on Gloucester Street. It gets really busy, but definitely worth calling in. South of Lichfield is a relatively new precinct full of different themed bars and clubs - lots of drinking, dancing and people watching to be done here!!

Have fun.

Hi All,
Many thanks for your tips ans suggestions.
I had a great time in Christchurch and did a couple of tours out of Christchurch namely Lord of the Rings and Wine tasting tours.
I planning to come back sooner than later.
The best piece of information I got from a tour guide is that there are no snakes in NZ!...I think I'm going to retire somewhere in NZ when I reach retirement age.
Not sure if I'm fit enough (now or later) to work on a vineyard but that would be awesome!
Cheers to all.
Have a great time wherever you are right now.
JustinT.

Haha, you are funny! If you needed a paid tour guide to tell you that we do not have snakes in NZ you were not very well prepared ;-) But I am happy that you had a great time in Chch :-)

hey,

i am planing a trip to the southern island and since you been to chrischurch last august i think you might be able to gove some hostels names located there. i found a dew places on http://www.trekcafe.com/Travel-Destinations/?action=NZ and some suggestions on what to do and would love to hear from your expirence what are the musts there?

I have listed some hostels at great locations on my Chch accommodation page. The YHA is at the best and most quiet location right beside the Arts Centre and opposite the Botanic Garden. But it is very popular, so you should book well in advance.

Another great hostel is just 100 metres from there at the corner of Worcester Boulevard and Rolleston Ave, facing Canterbury Museum.

Base Backpackers is right on Cathedral Square.

Must-dos on my Chch intro page. If you have time you can do the Lord of the Rings tour to Edoras (Mt. Sunday) on your own but you would need a rental car. Description on my Canterbury page.