How to spend 48 hours in Christchurch

Here’s how to spend 48 hours in New Zealand’s vibrant city of Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Perfect for exploring on foot, Ōtautahi Christchurch is a charming combination of heritage, art, nature and happening urban vibes. While the largest city in New Zealand’s south island still bears the visible scars of the devastating 2011 earthquake, we find a vibrant, creative place back on its feet and ready to play.

Day one

Stop by The George for breakfast

8am: Haere ma – welcome to Ōtautahi Christchurch. Start your day with a hearty breakfast at The George, a convivial boutique hotel and member of the exclusive Small Luxury Hotels group. Chug that shot of revitalising juice: there’s a big day ahead.

Start your day with a hearty breakfast at The George. (Image: Stephen Goodenough Photographer)

Ride a heritage tramcar

9am: Just 100 metres down the road, hop on (and off ) one of the restored heritage tramcars of Christchurch Trams for an informative zip around town. With 18 stops taking in the key features of the city accompanied by the driver’s flow of insights, it’s the perfect way to get a quick lay of the land and explore wherever takes your fancy. Kids ride free.

Get the lay of the land onboard a heritage tram. (Image: Pam Carmichael)

Wander the thriving Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora

11am: It may feel at first as though you’ve arrived in Oxford, England, but the beautiful Gothic Revival buildings that were once the university grounds of Canterbury College now form The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora, a thriving hub encompassing an entire block.

First acquired as land in 1873, it’s now bursting with boutiques, galleries, museums, artisan eateries, a cinema and a fabulously furbished hotel. The museum upstairs explains the complexities of the post-quake restorations and lauds the craftsmanship involved.

The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora is a bustling cultural hub.

Satisfy your appetite at Riverside Market

12.30pm: Find fresh produce and international flavours to sate any appetite at the buzzing Riverside Market, an everyday enclosed farmers’ market oozing with culinary delights.

Snag a spot next to the garden.

The choices are endless, from souvlaki to organic salads, ramen and cured salami. Pick up a travellers’ cheese box with South Island specialties, sample delicious local gins or discover 24 craft beers at Canterbury Brewers Collective.

Find fresh produce and international flavours at the buzzing Riverside Market.

Up your chocolate game at She Universe Chocolaterie

2pm: Indulge with sumptuous chocolate lovingly created by award-winning She Universe Chocolaterie in the laneway outside; all organic, Fairtrade and even gluten-free. If you have room, ingest more cacao beans in the form of molten hot chocolate or grab supplies for DIY treats at home.

Treat yourself to a molten hot chocolate from She Universe Chocolaterie.

Shop great boutique finds

2.30pm: Linger in the lanes for some retail therapy: design collective Shopology boasts locally made fashion and merino knits; The Company Shed caters for gardeners; Beehive Collective has gifts and art; and Mievel’s Store houses a world of hats and accessories.

Admire local street art

4.30pm: Street art began to pop up in the spaces provided by downed or damaged buildings after the earthquake destroyed much of the city. And these massive canvases were the first signs of a city redefining itself. Join the non-profit Watch This Space for an urban art tour exploring prolific street art, murals and graffiti, learn about their creators and how Christchurch emerged as a globally recognised street art destination. Group and private tours are available by appointment.

Explore the city’s vibrant street art with a Watch This Space urban art tour. (Image: Petra Mingneau)

Wine and dine at Cellar Door wine bar

7pm: In the south quad of the Arts Centre, the atmospheric Cellar Door wine bar showcases some of New Zealand’s best drops. The amusingly named wine flights, such as the Let’s Get Fizzical, are the perfect way to navigate the tantalising selection of local and international varieties. It’s not just drinks: the memorable food ranges from nibbles to hearty meals made for sharing with a focus on local Canterbury region produce, including a choice of nearly 20 cheeses.

Taste local drops at Cellar Door wine bar. (Image: Petra Mingneau)

Day two

Relax within lush greenery in Hagley Park

8am: Take in some fresh air with a stroll through Hagley Park, a huge designated green space located just across from your digs.

Sit and admire the sights at Hagley Park.

Top it off with the mature trees and ever-changing floral displays at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, 150 years in the making, with a decided nod to English heritage. Take a peek at the Tudor-style curator’s cottage and the veggie gardens behind.

Smell ever-changing floral displays at Christchurch Botanic Gardens. (Image: Christchurch NZ)

Immerse in the cultural embrace of Riwai Grace

9am: Feel the warm manaakitanga (hospitality) and cultural embrace of Riwai Grace from Āmiki Tours during an enlightening ‘city meander’ – a fascinating introduction into Māori culture, language and places of significance around the city, providing insights you’d otherwise miss. Food tours are also available for a guided taste test of the city.

Delve into Māori culture with Āmiki Tours.

Enjoy a picnic by the Avon River

11.30am: Wind back time with some peaceful punting on the Ōtakaro/Avon River in a flat-bottomed boat and imagine you’re heading for a Victorian-era picnic, your personal punter donned in a classic blazer and boater guiding you down the river. Rides leave from the historic, gaily striped Antigua Boat Sheds established in 1882. Combine your tickets if you’re taking a tram ride as they are delivered by the same provider.

Dine on modern Asian dishes

1pm: The string of restaurants along The (completely rebuilt) Terrace provides lots of eating options. King of Snake offers modern Asian-inspired dining. You could also take a lunchtime cocktail with delicious bites at Monarch Bar on the first floor. Hit the deck for views over the mall and river.

Feast on modern Asian dishes at King of Snake. (Image: Aaron Lee Photography)

Discover the city’s significant art collections

3pm: It’s not just on the streets where you can find the city’s art. Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna O Waiwhetū, a striking glass-fronted building, houses an expansive collection from masters to contemporary works. Not far away at Ravenscar House, a contemporary museum gallery in a home, you can view one of New Zealand’s most significant art collections, donated by an art-loving couple who wanted to share their collection in a modern domestic setting.

Pay a visit to Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū.

Cool down with a cup of gelato

5pm: For a touch of San Francisco, head to the colourful and quirky pedestrian mall of New Regent Street with its string of painted Spanish Mission-style buildings. Sweeten your afternoon with one of the playful choices at Rollickin Gelato, home of gelato, sorbet and desserts made from organic milk and fresh fruit, which come in a multitude of innovative flavours and with a dollop of humour. Take a selfie with the gorilla on the bench outside if you must.

Dine al fresco on buzzy New Regent Street. (Image: Nancy Zhou)

Enjoy fine dining at 50 Bistro

7.30pm: There’s no need to venture out when your hotel offers in-house fine dining. Relaxed but elegant with a choice of three dining spaces, 50 Bistro offers perfectly prepared classics with a modern twist. Snuggle up afterwards in a cosy corner on a velvet lounge and hook into The George’s online reading resources to access thousands of magazines and papers, or a bedtime short story, or take a seat at the bar for a sneaky nightcap.

Sink into a cold one at Gin Gin bar

10pm: Party people can head out for drinking options. The whimsical Gin Gin bar decked out in lush velvets, pinks and greens boasts more than 100 varieties of this botanical tipple and playful cocktails, while up the road The Last Word ups the ante with 320 whiskies inside, along with classic cocktails, local wines, beers and snacks. That should make for a sound night’s sleep.