Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the second most-populous urban area in the country. As well as having the most attractions of any place in the South Island, it's the major international entry point for visiting the rest of the island. Wikivoyage
Population 383,200 (Wikidata)
Before you go
Emergency numbers in New Zealand
Getting there
Remembered in this browser only, with the last few you used.
Best-documented sights
All of them in the guide-
The Arts Centre Attraction · 670 m -
Antigua Boat Sheds Attraction · 710 m -
Ravenscar House Gallery · 570 m -
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū Gallery · 840 m -
Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial Memorial · 980 m -
World Peace Bell Memorial · 160 m -
Bandsmen’s Memorial Rotunda Monument · 300 m -
William Sefton Moorhouse Statue Monument · 540 m
Within a kilometre of the centre, ordered by how well documented each is — not by a "best" anyone decided. Each opens on the map in the guide. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited there.
Through the year
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The World Buskers Festival
January
Runs for two weeks in January and usually features about 30 comedy, street, and circus acts from around the globe. Dead link
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Open Christchurch
May
Architecture festival in early May giving an opportunity to see inside about 50 buildings, some require pre-booking
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Kidsfest
June – July
During the midwinter school holiday. Programme is announced in early June
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Christchurch Arts Festival
August – September
The largest arts festival in the South Island, it takes place every second year around Aug-Sep
Annual events from Wikidata and Wikivoyage (Christchurch); descriptions from Wikipedia where it has one, photos from Wikimedia Commons. Dates move year to year — check before you plan around one.
Markets
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Riverside Market
Covered hall- Monday: 09:00–18:00
- Tuesday: 09:00–18:00
- Wednesday: 09:00–18:00
- Thursday: 09:00–21:00
- Friday: 09:00–21:00
- Saturday: 09:00–21:00
- Sunday: 10:00–18:00
Times vary by day
- Monday
- 09:00–18:00
- Tuesday
- 09:00–18:00
- Wednesday
- 09:00–18:00
- Thursday
- 09:00–21:00
- Friday
- 09:00–21:00
- Saturday
- 09:00–21:00
- Sunday
- 10:00–18:00
Markets mapped on OpenStreetMap, with their hours where someone has added them. Check locally before you go.
Somewhere to run
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors, as of 9 October 2026. Description from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA). Events from Wikidata and Wikivoyage, population from Wikidata.