Christchurch Budget Travel Guide is written to help people who are planning their vacation in and around Christchurch, New Zealand. In this guide, I want to share with you travel information on getting to the city, and what you can expect to see there. I have also listed out the places of interest in Christchurch which you might be interested to visit when you are there.
About Christchurch
Christchurch is the biggest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the second biggest in the country. It is on the east coast of the island, sitting on the north coast of Banks Peninsula.
Christchurch was founded in 1848, and the name was inspired by Christ Church at Oxford, England. The Maori name for the city is Otautahi. Christchurch covers an area of 1,426 sq km (550.6 sq miles), with the urban area covering 452 sq km (174.5 sq miles). It has a population of around 375,000.
Christchurch experiences a temperate climate. The warmest months are January and February, when the average high reaches 22.2°C (72°F). The coldest months are June and July, with an average low of 2.1 °C (36°F). Highest precipitations are in the winter months, with July receiving the most precipitation at 79 mm (3.11 inches).
Arriving at the airport, you can take a public bus to Christchurch. There are three bus routes to the city: Bus Nos. 3, 10 and 29. The bus station is at the end of the Arrivals Hall.
You can also ride the Shuttles to various hotels in Christchurch. It takes 20-30 minutes, and costs between NZ$15-NZ$20 per person.
Taxis take just 20 minutes to reach downtown Christchurch. The cost varies from NZ$30-NZ$50.
Budget Travel within Christchurch
Christchurch is a great place to cycle. There are purpose-built bicycle lanes in the city. The public bus fare is NZ$2.80 one a single-journey ticket. However, if you get a Metrocard, which is free, it only costs NZ$2.10 per adult. You can use the card for the whole day and it only costs NZ$4.20 regardless the number of journeys you make. Go to Metrocard website for more details.
You can also rent a car to drive around and explore the surrounding country. Within downtown, the parking rate is NZ$2.60 per hour - display the ticket on your dashboard facing the curb.
Christchurch Gondola Ride from Heathcote Valley to the rim of an extinct volcano.
City Mall Pedestrian zone between High and Cashel Streets with shopping arcades and department stores and boutiques.
Hagley Park Green space in the heart of Christchurch.
International Antarctic Centre Base for the scientific programmes conducted in the Antarctic, the centre has exhibits on the exploration and geology of Antarctica.
Mona Vale Historic home within a picturesque setting near the Avon River.
Provincial Council Buildings Finest example of secular Gothic Revival architecture in New Zealand.
Southern Encounter Aquarium and Kiwi House Small aquarium displaying a select number of fish from the wild.
Victoria Square Green space north of Cathedral Square.
Before booking a hotel room, make sure you are getting the lowest price for it. Different hotel booking websites offers the same room at different prices. If you stick with one site all the time, you could be paying more for the same room. Now why pay more?
The form below is a Research Engine. It doesn't take bookings. Instead it lets you find the hotel booking website that offers the room you want at the lowest price. You can see and compare what different sites are offering, and then click to choose the one with the best price. Do this, and you're guaranteed to save a whole lot of money on your room reservations!
Our Flight Checker helps travelers compare flights and get the lowest fare for their trips. If you're flying somewhere, use our Flight Checker to compare the rates from different airlines. To use it, enter where you will be flying from, where you will be flying to, your departure date and return date. Select the number of passengers, and then click search.
Our engine will return you a list of possible flights that you can take. You can compare the fare of different airlines for your trip. Click on your selected airline, and we transfer you to the airline website.
