Christchurch

Things to do in Christchurch

Search attractions or local attractions & tours
Search

Explore top experiences

Top 10 attractions in Christchurch

View all Attractions
International Antarctic Centre
No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Christchurch

International Antarctic Centre

7.7
4.6/5
257 reviews
The International Antarctic Centre is an important gateway to understanding Antarctica, located near Christchurch International Airport. Here, you can learn about various aspects of the Antarctic Circle, including its history and geology, through sound, light, and electrical displays. 1. The architecture of the International Antarctic Centre draws inspiration from unique Antarctic landscapes such as icebergs and glaciers, with interiors designed to reflect the climate and icy conditions of Antarctica. Upon entering, visitors first encounter displays of outdoor conditions at Antarctic bases and real-time photos and data transmitted from Scott Base. 2. The Antarctic storm chamber features real snow and low-temperature fans, allowing you to experience the sub-zero cold of Antarctica firsthand, complete with simulated blizzard winds. Visitors must change into warm clothing and shoes before entering. 3. Penguin feeding show in the penguin introduction area further along is the penguin introduction area, where you can also watch feeding shows. Here, you'll see the world's smallest little blue penguins, which are incredibly adorable. If you're particularly interested in these blue penguins, you can join the penguin encounter tour to explore backstage facilities, learn about penguin quarantine zones, their daily routines, and dietary habits, and even get up close with them.Christchurch · 8.7km from downtown
Christchurch Tram
No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Christchurch

Christchurch Tram

7.4
4.7/5
75 reviews
The Christchurch Tram is a retro-style sightseeing tram route that loops around the city center. Christchurch had trams running through its streets as early as the late 19th century. After tram services ceased in the 1950s, a fleet of meticulously restored vintage carriages returned to the tracks in the 1990s. With their wooden interiors, brass handrails, and the crisp "ding-ding" of bells, riding one feels like stepping onto a time machine. The full loop around the city center takes less than an hour, with over ten stops along the way, allowing you to hop on and off at your leisure and spend as much time as you like at each attraction. The tram connects key highlights of the city center: Cathedral Square, the colorful Spanish-style shops of New Regent Street, the food-filled Riverside Market, the lush Botanic Gardens, and the Arts Centre composed of Gothic-style heritage buildings. A stop is also located near the Avon River punting jetty, while the Cardboard Cathedral, built from paper tubes, is within walking distance. Families with children can let the little ones run wild at the Margaret Mahy Playground. Outside the windows, century-old buildings alternate with post-earthquake landmarks, while the driver provides a guide to the history of these streets—from the reconstruction story of the cathedral to the memorial significance of the Bridge of Remembrance—making the ride both engaging and informative. A few details are worth noting during your experience: the outer sightseeing seats are not fully rainproof, so choose inner seats on rainy days; eating, drinking, and phone calls are not allowed onboard; for photography enthusiasts, waiting for the tram to pass the colorful facades of New Regent Street or cross the stone bridge over the Avon River yields particularly striking shots.Christchurch · 275m from downtown
Lake Tekapo
No. 1 of Spring Outings in New Zealand

Lake Tekapo

6.6
4.6/5
343 reviews
Lake Tekapo is located in the Mackenzie Basin in the central part of the South Island of New Zealand. It is a lake formed by glacial meltwater, with a surface altitude of approx. 700 m and an area of approx. 80 sq km. The lake water displays a distinct turquoise color, making it stand out in the alpine scenery of the South Island. This unique color comes from fine rock flour ground by glaciers: as glaciers move slowly, they grind rock layers into extremely fine particles, which flow into the lake with the meltwater and remain suspended for a long time. Under sunlight, the water color shifts between milky blue and emerald green, changing with the weather and light. The lake is surrounded by the peaks of the Southern Alps and open meadows. Standing on the lakeshore are the stone-built The Church of the Good Shepherd and a bronze statue of a sheepdog, which together with the lake and mountain scenery behind them form a common photo opportunity. Ascending Mount John on one side of the lake area also offers a panoramic view of the intertwined lake and basin. Lake Tekapo is also part of the Waitaki hydroelectric power system—the lake water is diverted for power generation, and the lake level is artificially regulated, rising and falling regularly within a certain range throughout the year. The lake area is far from city lights and has excellent night sky conditions; on clear nights, you can see the clear Milky Way and Southern Hemisphere constellations, and stargazing is a long-standing local experience. From late spring to early summer each year, the lakeshore is covered in patches of lupins, with pink and purple flower belts spreading along the shore; in other seasons, it takes on a simple color palette composed of snow-capped mountains, clear water, and short grass, with the scenery changing with the seasons. Walking, cycling, or boating along the lake are common ways to experience this alpine lake.New Zealand · Tekapo
The Church of the Good Shepherd
No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Mackenzie Basin

The Church of the Good Shepherd

6.6
4.7/5
461 reviews
The Church of the Good Shepherd stands on the shore of Lake Tekapo. Built to commemorate the early pioneers of the Mackenzie region, it remains the only church in the town, and local residents still come here regularly for worship. The church is small, with walls built from natural stones gathered within a few km of the area, preserving even the lichen on the stones. The dark slate roof, the small cross on the ridge, and the small bell tower on one side allow it to blend seamlessly with the open lakeshore. A famous view of the church is from within: when it was built, a large window was intentionally left at one end of the altar, framing the azure lake and the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps on the opposite shore like a natural painting. On clear days, you can even make out the silhouette ofAoraki / Mount Cookin the distance. The church interior is only open to visitors during certain hours of the day, and photography is prohibited inside. Even if you don't go inside, taking a walk along the lakeshore path around the church for photos is equally worthwhile. Don't forget the bronze statue of a sheepdog not far away, which commemorates the collies that herded in the Mackenzie highlands. If you walk from the town across the small bridge, the church and the statue form a perfect loop. After dark, the scene changes: Tekapo is located in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, with extremely low light pollution. The Milky Way stretching across the night sky is visible to the naked eye, and celestial bodies rarely seen in the Northern Hemisphere, such as the Southern Cross and the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, are also clearly visible. In early summer, lupins bloom along the lake, and the church, the sea of flowers, the lake, and the snow-capped mountains form a popular photo opportunity.New Zealand · Lake Tekapo

Traveller favourites curated for you

Experiences you can't miss in Christchurch

Featured Culture & history in Christchurch

View all Culture & history
Christchurch: Mt Cook & Tekapo Small-Group Tour (incl Lunch)
󱌍
4.6/5
· 5 reviews
Duration: 13 hrs
English
Free cancellation
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromMYR 583.46MYR 614.17
Christchurch round-trip English tour: Lake Tekapo + Church of the Good Shepherd visit + Mount Cook Park hike
󱌍
FromMYR 828.97
From Christchurch: Full-Day Lord of the Rings Tour to Edoras
󱌍
4.9/5
· 107 reviews
Duration: 10 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
96 consecutive positive reviews
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromMYR 726.85MYR 765.11
Christchurch Highlights Audio Tour: City Icons
󱌍
Duration: 1.5 hrs
English
Free cancellation
Book now for today
20% off
Limited-time sale
FromMYR 28.97MYR 36.22

Featured Food & drink in Christchurch

View all Food & drink
From Christchurch: Sheep Farm Experience with Lunch & Winery
󱌍
4.5/5
· 2 reviews
Duration: 6 hrs
Free cancellation
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromMYR 747.99MYR 787.36
Christchurch: Kai Bites Walking Tour with Lunch
󱌍
Duration: 1.5 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromMYR 509.53MYR 536.35
Christchurch Guided Walking Tour with Optional Wine Tasting
󱌍
4.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 2 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromMYR 75.87MYR 79.87
Christchurch: Ōtautahi Meander Walking Tour with Tastings
󱌍
Duration: 2 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for today
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromMYR 368.60MYR 388

Featured Outdoor & sports in Christchurch

View all Outdoor & sports
Christchurch: Tram, Punt and Gondola Ride Combo Ticket
󱌍
4.7/5
· 157 reviews
Duration: 1 day
Free cancellation
Book now for today
58 consecutive positive reviews
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromMYR 264.68MYR 278.62
Christchurch Hop-On Hop-Off Tram
󱌍
4.5/5
· 848 reviews· 49 booked
Duration: 24 hrs
English
Free cancellation
Book now for today
FromMYR 98.07
Christchurch Gondola and Tram City Tour Combo
󱌍
5.0/5
· 7 reviews
Duration: 1 day
Free cancellation
Book now for today
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromMYR 177.80MYR 187.16
Arthur's Pass: TranzAlpine Train and Castle Hill Day Tour
󱌍
4.8/5
· 67 reviews
Duration: 10 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for today
33 consecutive positive reviews
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromMYR 1,008.93MYR 1,062.04
Christchurch: Arthur's Pass + TranzAlpine Scenic Train
󱌍
4.7/5
· 199 reviews
Duration: 10 hrs
Free cancellation
24 consecutive positive reviews
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromMYR 965.53MYR 1,016.35
Christchurch: Gondola Ticket and Punt Ride on the Avon River
󱌍
5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 1 day
Free cancellation
Book now for today
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromMYR 184.30MYR 194
From Christchurch: Mount Cook & Lake Tekapo Day Tour & Lunch
󱌍
4.7/5
· 7 reviews
Duration: 13 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromMYR 596.25MYR 627.64

More things to do

Christchurch Cruises

See all cruises

Private Tours in Christchurch

View More Private Tours in Christchurch
Christchurch Today's weatherClear 13-21℃
Christchurch weather for the next 2 days11/1: 12-22℃, 11/2: 12-17℃

Free things to do in Christchurch

What travellers say about Christchurch

user-avatar
M23***5215 October 2026
5.0
It's suitable for a half-day trip; if you have enough time, it's quite nice to experience the various activities. Our flight was in the afternoon, so we spent the morning sightseeing, had lunch at the cafe, and then checked in at the airport.

International Antarctic Centre

user-avatar
耳東氵罒幸一止24 August 2026
5.0
很好玩的一个体验,而且坐着电车绕城市看风景很轻松。我们都很高兴。在Trip平台买票也很方便,到地点就能轻松领取实体票然后上车,车上的领导也很细心的为每一个景点做介绍……👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Christchurch Tram

user-avatar
Thinh03047 October 2026
5.0
My friends and I recently had the pleasure of experiencing Punting On The Avon at the Antigua Boat Sheds, and it was an absolutely excellent outing from start to finish. We were looking for a relaxing group activity, and this completely exceeded our expectations. The scenery and natural environment along the river are stunningly beautiful, making it a perfectly tranquil escape that contributed to a fantastic atmosphere.  Our overall enjoyment was top-tier; gliding along the water while taking in the picturesque sights was both peaceful and incredibly fun to share with friends. Everything was incredibly well-organized, and we all felt that the exceptional service provided outstanding value for money. If you are traveling with a group of friends and looking for a highly rated, memorable experience on the water, we cannot recommend this enough!

Punting On The Avon (Antigua Boat Sheds)

user-avatar
赶景5 August 2026
4.0
The Lin'an Art Museum is located inside the Wu-Yue Cultural Park, which also houses the Lin'an Museum and the Wu-Yue Cultural Museum. The art museum is not large, but it is quite exquisitely decorated, and the surrounding environment is fantastic. You can visit it while you are at the museum.

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

user-avatar
Flora_Gu12 August 2025
5.0
Christchurch, the largest city on New Zealand's South Island, nestled between mountains and the sea, offers panoramic views of the city and coastline from the cable car. We followed the directions a friend had sent us and arrived near the summit. A short climb up brought us to the cable car station. There's an observation deck and a cafe on the second floor. This way, we only had to buy a one-way ticket down the mountain, which was significantly cheaper. A Chinese staff member at the ticket office told us about a "Time Tunnel" car showcasing the history of Canterbury, New Zealand. If you take the No. 8 bus to the base of the mountain, you can take the cable car up and then back down—perhaps a classic way to enjoy the experience.

Christchurch Gondola

user-avatar
铨上风满楼3 July 2025
4.0
The scenery is amazing, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery from different angles by taking a helicopter... The cost performance has great room for improvement, and part of the price of the helicopter 🚁 is the kb of the tour guide...

Tasman Glacier

user-avatar
M49***8823 September 2026
5.0
This is a very unique zoo, quite different from those in China! Chickens, ducks, geese, and other birds roam freely, with the enclosures primarily restricting visitors rather than the animals. The park also features farm animals such as cows, sheep, piglets, and ponies. The highlight is the kiwi bird exhibit. After adjusting to the light in a darkened enclosure, you can observe them. Photography is prohibited. The kiwis will approach the glass and move right at your feet; seeing them up close is truly magical and well worth a visit.

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

user-avatar
E04***8015 December 2025
5.0
To see the cardboard church, it's important to understand its origins and story. When I visited, I happened to encounter a Maori students' choir, and the headmaster gave me a brochure about the church's reconstruction after an earthquake.

Cardboard Cathedral

user-avatar
YoYo_1I8Q7O5O7 July 2025
5.0
站在特卡波湖畔,我被那抹深邃的蓝所震撼,仿佛大地裂开一道缝隙,将天空的澄澈注入湖水。雪山环抱中的湖面平静如镜,倒映着云朵与光影的变幻。参加Earth&Sky观星团时,银河倾泻而下,繁星触手可及,向导的讲解让宇宙奥秘近在眼前。湖畔漫步,牧羊人教堂的白色身影与自然融为一体,宁静中透着神圣。这里不仅是视觉的盛宴,更是心灵的归宿,每一刻都让人沉醉于自然的纯粹与宁静

Lake Tekapo

user-avatar
KC travelholic6 April 2026
5.0
Located near lake tekapo, a very nice church with vibe of art. It is worth going. Very scenic and a signature place in NEW zealand. Different feelings when u come in winter and summer. A place that u cant miss out in NZ. Please come and take photos.

The Church of the Good Shepherd

Trip Moments in Christchurch

Everyone says New Zealand is so expensive you have to save for ages to go   I went on a 7-day, 6-night trip around the South Island and after doing the math I found that it is indeed expensive, but

Everyone says New Zealand is so expensive you have to save for ages to go I went on a 7-day, 6-night trip around the South Island and after doing the math I found that it is indeed expensive, but

“everyone says New Zealand is so expensive you have to save for ages to go 🇳🇿 I went on a 7-day, 6-night trip around the South Island After tallying the costs, it is indeed expensive, but not as absurd as I imagined 💸 First, be upfront: where the money goes Excluding shopping, about 18,000 per person covers the trip (including flights, visa, car rental, accommodation, and activities) In the low season 15,000 can also work Book round-trip flights early; you can get them for just over 5,000 Car rental split among 4 people is just over 1,000 per person Stay in a homestay or motel depending on your budget What really costs is paid activities and flights and hotels Mountains, rivers, lakes, and the sea are all free 🏔️ How to do 7 days without overspending Day 1 Christchurch arrival Pick up the car, walk around the botanic gardens to beat jet lag, don’t pack the day too full Day 2 Christchurch → Lake Tekapo About a 3-hour drive, arrive at the Church of the Good Shepherd in the afternoon At night look up to see the Milky Way with the naked eye; the dark sky reserve isn’t called that for nothing Day 3 Lake Tekapo → Mount Cook About a 1-hour drive, the Hooker Valley Track is a 3-hour return walk with no difficulty When you reach the glacial lake the snow-capped mountain looks so close you could almost touch it Day 4 Mount Cook → Lake Pukaki → Wanaka Lake Pukaki is an even more milky Tiffany blue than Tekapo, perfect for photos right from the parking lot In Wanaka stare at that lone tree for a while and you’ll understand Day 5 Wanaka → Queenstown About an hour to Queenstown, take the Skyline Gondola up the hill At sunset the whole of Lake Wakatipu turns into an orange sea, and riding e-scooters is great stress relief Day 6 Queenstown → Glenorchy Lord of the Rings filming locations, Paradise Road, the Seven Trees Ride a horse into movie scenery, then come back in the afternoon for skydiving or a fjord cruise Day 7 return the car in Queenstown and fly home Food, in short The venison burger at Fergburger in Queenstown is bigger than your face and so juicy it drips from your hands The salmon at the Pukaki salmon farm has a natural creaminess and no fishy taste Patagonia’s chocolate ice cream is so milky you’ll want to lick the spoon Supermarket ingredients are great, motels usually have kitchens, and cooking for yourself can save more than half 🍔 A few sincere reminders Get your visa at least 1 month in advance, don’t procrastinate Don’t take chances with customs declarations; never bring fruit or meat, fines start at NZ$400 Right-hand drive, drive on the left.”@JetsetterJourney! · 27 days ago

Popular cities near Christchurch

Frequently asked questions

You can give Christchurch Farm Experience 1-Day Tour in New Zealand's South Island [Includes Wine Tasting + Lunch | Round-Trip from Christchurch] and From Christchurch: Sheep Farm Experience with Lunch & Winery a try. Before you go, please check their opening hours and menus online. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak hours.

Get help anytime, anywhere within 30 secondsContact customer support

Change and cancellation policies vary by attractions and tours. Please check the product details page for more information.

Ticket prices may vary between weekdays and weekends, as well as during peak and off-peak seasons. When booking with Trip.com, you can also use Trip Coins to get extra savings. For more tips on booking discounted tickets, please visit Trip.com for the latest information.