Ultimate Christchurch Walking Tour

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

• 1
  Turanga

  We meet at the Gloucester Street entrance to Tūranga (Central Library), the striking, gold-panelled $92 million building at the heart of the rebuilt Square. Here, your guide will introduce the tour and set the scene for exploring how Christchurch has transformed its city centre since the earthquakes.

  7 minutes • Admission ticket free
• The Court Theatre (Pass by)

  Christchurch’s professional theatre company found a new home in the heart of the city - a stunning, state-of-the-art $61 million building. Designed as a purpose-built space for theatre, it brings together world-class facilities, striking architecture, and a vibrant new cultural hub for Christchurch.

  Admission ticket free
• 2
  Victoria Square

  Victoria Square is one of Christchurch’s oldest public spaces, sitting alongside the Avon River and within the city’s original grid. Before European settlement, the area was used by Ngāi Tahu as a gathering place. Since then, the square has evolved from a market and transport hub into the space we see today.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  The Christchurch Town Hall has been a landmark on the banks of the Avon River since it opened in 1972. Designed by Sir Miles Warren and Maurice Mahoney of Warren and Mahoney, it is one of Christchurch’s finest examples of modernist architecture and remains an important home for concerts, performances and civic events.

  Admission ticket free
• Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre (Pass by)

  Te Pae is a striking $450 million convention centre, with a facade inspired by the braided rivers of the Canterbury Plains. The site sits within an area with a much longer history, connected to Waitaha settlement in the centuries before Christchurch was established.

  Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  Benjamin Mountfort's 1858 Gothic Revival complex is the only purpose-built provincial government building left in New Zealand. Badly damaged in 2011 and slowly being brought back - you will hear Mountfort's name several more times before the walk is done.

  Admission ticket free
• 3
  Christchurch Cathedral

  Christchurch Cathedral has stood at the heart of the city since the 19th century, giving Christchurch both its name and its most recognisable landmark. Damaged in the 2011 earthquakes, it has since become an important part of the city’s rebuilding story. We pause here to look at the Cathedral’s history, its architecture, and the ongoing work to restore it. Note: This tour does not include entry to the Cathedral, we will be viewing it from the outside only.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket not included
• Chalice Sculpture (Pass by)

  The Chalice is one of Christchurch’s most distinctive modern landmarks, rising 18 metres above Cathedral Square. Created by artist Neil Dawson, the sculpture is made from 200 stainless-steel leaves, each representing a different aspect of Christchurch and Canterbury. Unveiled in 2001, it has become a familiar part of the city centre.

  Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  The Old Government Building is one of Christchurch’s finest heritage buildings, designed by architect Joseph Maddison and opened in 1913. Built in an Italian Renaissance style, it was home to government departments for more than 70 years before eventually being restored and given a new life as the Heritage Hotel.

  Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  The Isaac Theatre Royal has been part of Christchurch’s performing arts scene since 1908, and its grand Edwardian interior remains one of the city’s most beautiful heritage spaces. Following the 2011 earthquakes, the theatre underwent an extensive restoration and reopened in 2014, bringing this much-loved landmark back to life.

  Admission ticket free
• 4
  New Regent Street

  New Regent Street was New Zealand’s first fully planned shopping street, built in 1932 during the depths of the Great Depression. Its distinctive pastel Spanish Mission-style facades ensure that the street remains one of the city’s most distinctive spaces, with its heritage trams and rows of lamps adding to its character. On New Regent Street we will visit Rollickin' Gelato - a local favourite where you'll try a classic New Zealand ice cream flavour; Hokey Pokey or Lolly Cake!

  7 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 5

  Cathedral Junction is one of the best places to see Christchurch’s heritage trams passing through the heart of the city. Trams have been part of Christchurch’s streetscape since 1880, and today these beautifully restored historic vehicles carry visitors around the central city and past many of its best-known landmarks.

  1 minute • Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  The Church Pub is housed in one of Christchurch’s historic buildings, bringing together the character of an old city pub with a lively modern atmosphere. Its heritage setting makes it a memorable stop in the central city, and a reminder of how Christchurch’s older buildings have found new uses over time.

  Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  Shand's Emporium is one of the oldest wooden commercial buildings in the city - small, crooked, and moved across town on the back of a truck to be saved. It now houses Paddy McNaughton's Irish pub.

  Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  The Christchurch Club has been part of the city’s social life since 1856, making it one of New Zealand’s oldest gentlemen’s clubs. Housed in a grand heritage building on Latimer Square, the club has a long connection with Christchurch’s business and civic history and remains a distinctive part of the city’s heritage.

  Admission ticket free
• Latimer Square (Pass by)

  Latimer Square is one of Christchurch’s oldest public spaces, surrounded by a mix of heritage buildings and newer architecture. Named after English bishop Hugh Latimer, the square has long been part of the city’s civic and social life.

  Admission ticket free
• 6
  Cardboard Cathedral

  The Cardboard Cathedral was designed by architect Shigeru Ban as the city's transitional cathedral. Constructed from 86 cardboard tubes weighing half a tonne each, eight shipping containers, a triangular roof and a $5.9 million budget, this building was designed to stand out, alongside offering services since 2013. Note: The Cathedral accepts donations.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket included
• (Pass by)

  Te Kaha means “the strength” - a fitting name for Christchurch’s new 37,000-seat covered stadium. Opened in March 2026, it completed the city’s major post-earthquake anchor projects, 15 years after the 2011 earthquake destroyed the former stadium.

  Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  Rauora Park, known as The Frame, is designed around the idea of creating a green frame through the heart of the central city. The park brings together gardens, open spaces, paths and gathering areas, creating a softer, greener edge to the rebuilt city.

  Admission ticket free
• 7

  Our mid-tour break, with your choice of a hot or cold non-alcoholic drink included. The café is housed in a 1932 Art Deco post office, with plenty of quirky nods to its past. The original pneumatic tubes now deliver fries and burgers, water comes from a Singer sewing machine, and the bathrooms are hidden behind secret bookshelf doors. Note: This tour includes a free hot or cold non-alcoholic beverage.

  10 minutes • Admission ticket included
• City Mall (Pass by)

  Cashel Street Mall is one of the central city’s best-known pedestrian spaces, running through the heart of Christchurch. Once a busy shopping street, it was transformed after the earthquakes into a more pedestrian-friendly part of the rebuilt city, with shops, cafés, public art and plenty of places to stop and take in the surroundings.

  Admission ticket free
• 8
  Riverside Market

  Riverside Market brings together food, produce, shops and local makers in a lively indoor market beside the Avon River. Opened in 2019, it has become one of the central city’s favourite places to eat and browse, helping bring energy back to this part of Christchurch.

  5 minutes • Admission ticket free
• Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial (Pass by)

  Ōi Manawa Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial is a place to remember the 185 people who lost their lives in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Set alongside the Avon River, the memorial’s 185 white chairs create a quiet and powerful space for reflection, with each chair representing one of the people who died.

  Admission ticket free
• 9
  Antigua Boatsheds Canoe Hire

  The Antigua Boat Sheds have been part of Christchurch’s Avon River since the late 19th century. The colourful wooden buildings are best known for their punting boats, which have been carrying visitors along the river for generations. Today, they remain one of the city’s most recognisable riverside landmarks. Note: We will not be entering the boatsheds, we will be viewing them from outside only.

  4 minutes • Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  The Curator’s House is one of Christchurch’s oldest surviving homes, built in 1852 beside the Botanic Gardens. Originally home to the gardens’ first curator, it has since become a much-loved restaurant, while the building itself remains a reminder of Christchurch’s early days.

  Admission ticket free
• 10
  Christchurch Botanic Gardens

  Christchurch’s Botanic Gardens have been at the heart of the city since 1863. Today, the gardens cover more than 20 hectares beside the Avon River, with everything from historic trees and rose gardens to native plants and glasshouses.

  1 minute • Admission ticket included
• 11

  The Peacock Fountain is one of the Botanic Gardens’ best-known landmarks, with its colourful jets and intricate Victorian design. It was gifted to Christchurch in 1911 by local businessman John Thomas Peacock, and after being restored to working order, it has been delighting visitors ever since.

  2 minutes • Admission ticket free
• 12
  The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora

  The Arts Centre is one of Christchurch’s most distinctive heritage precincts, occupying the former University of Canterbury buildings in the heart of the city. Built between the 1870s and early 1900s, the Gothic Revival buildings now house galleries, shops, studios and places to eat. Within the complex is Rutherford’s Den, linked to the early scientific work of Ernest Rutherford during his time in Christchurch.

  12 minutes • Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  The Observatory is one of the Arts Centre’s most distinctive buildings, dating back to the late 19th century and originally built for astronomical observation. Today, the carefully restored building has a very different role as a boutique hotel, combining its historic character with a modern use.

  Admission ticket free
• Christchurch Art Gallery (Te Puna o Waiwhetu) (Pass by)

  Christchurch Art Gallery is the city’s home for art, with a striking glass-and-steel building at the heart of the central city. It houses an extensive collection of New Zealand and international art and has become one of Christchurch’s most recognisable modern buildings.

  Admission ticket free
• (Pass by)

  Oxford Terrace, better known as The Strip, is one of Christchurch’s liveliest riverside spots. Stretching alongside the Avon River, it’s lined with bars, restaurants and cafés, with outdoor seating spilling onto the street.

  Admission ticket free
• 13
  Bridge of Remembrance

  The Bridge of Remembrance is one of Christchurch’s best-known memorials, built in 1924 to honour those from Canterbury who served in the First World War. Spanning the Avon River, it has become an enduring landmark in the heart of the city. It’s also where our tour comes to an end - a fitting place to pause and reflect on Christchurch’s story.

  2 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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