transportation

Introduction

articles

Places to Stay

Places to Eat

Entertainment

Transportation

Things to Do

Shopping Centres

Christchurch is the South Island’s largest city and the international gateway to its scenic wonders of mountains, lakes, rivers, glaciers, fiords and forests.

Christchurch International Airport has regular Air New Zealand flights to Australia with onward connections to worldwide air services. Other international airlines servicing Christchurch are Qantas, Korean, Singapore, Pacific Blue and Freedom Air. Domestic flights to major towns throughout New Zealand are operated by Air New Zealand, Qantas and Origin Pacific. The airport is only 10 km from the city centre and is well serviced by taxis, public buses and door-to-door shuttles. Many hotels provide a free pick-up service from the airport.

Visitors planning a self-drive South Island trip can hire rental cars or campervans at the airport. In addition there are around 50 city depots for the main rental companies and small operators.

City buses offer a regular well-organised and cheap service to the suburbs, which includes the beaches at Sumner and New Brighton and the port village of Lyttleton. Buses leave from a modern transport centre on the corner of Colombo and Lichfield Streets. An historic 1905 electric tram follows a 2.5 km circuit past the major city sights all day. The City Circuit bus leaves from the Visitor Centre in Cathedral Square. One route encompasses city attractions and another visits Lyttleton, Mt Cavendish Gondola and other points of interest. Taxis are plentiful and are reasonably priced. Walking is very pleasant on the perfectly flat Christchurch streets and punting on the gentle, picture-perfect Avon River is even better. Escorted city walking tours are available.

Long distance Intercity buses depart from 123 Worcester Street for all points north and south. A number of daily shuttles leave the Square for tourist centres like Picton, Hanmer Springs, Queenstown and the West Coast. Bookings can be made at the Visitor Centre.

Trains arrive at Addington Station some 2 km from the Square and are met by shuttle buses and taxis. Trains run daily to Picton and the special Tranz Alpine Express runs a daily return trip via scenic Arthur’s Pass in the heart of the Southern Alps to Greymouth.

Driving is straightforward in central Christchurch. Cycling is a popular way of getting around this flat and visitor-friendly city.