Christchurch: Gardens, History and City Life
Accommodation in Christchurch
Christchurch offers several distinct starting points for planning a trip: botanical collections and river scenery, historic buildings and places of remembrance, and a covered food market in the city centre. If you’re looking for a hotel in Christchurch, this overview of the city can help you first decide which experiences you want to shape your stay. The examples differ in theme and format—from a river tour with a stated duration to guided visits.
Gardens and River Experiences
The Christchurch Botanic Gardens are in the heart of Ōtautahi Christchurch and feature significant collections of exotic and native plants. Christchurch Attractions’ electric shuttle offers a garden tour with live commentary. This gives you the option of a narrated ride through the gardens alongside the plant collections themselves as a way to explore the grounds.
One striking feature of the gardens is the Peacock Fountain on the Armstrong Lawn. The fountain was originally imported from England and installed in the gardens in the early 20th century. It adds a tangible piece of garden history to the view of the plants.
Punting on the Avon offers a different focus: the 30-minute river tour departs from and returns to the historic Antigua Boat Sheds in central Christchurch. Passengers can take in the Botanic Gardens’ scenery and the river’s wildlife while listening to the punter’s commentary. The duration and the departure and return point give the tour a clear timeframe. Unlike the garden tour by electric shuttle, this experience focuses on the river and the commentary on board.
Buildings and History
The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora site comprises 23 buildings. Of these, 22 are listed by Heritage New Zealand, and 21 are classified as Historic Place Category One. The exhibition Rauora/Revival at the Arts Centre tells the story of the site’s restoration. If you’re interested in the site’s architectural history, you can pair the exhibition with an Official Arts Centre Guided Walk, which also takes you into areas that are not normally open to the public.
Other historic sites lead to further chapters in the city’s history. The Kate Sheppard National Memorial explains Christchurch’s role in the women’s suffrage movement. Kate Sheppard and other women collected more than 31,000 signatures for the cause. In 1893, New Zealand became the first country to grant women the right to vote. The Bridge of Remembrance commemorates those who served in both world wars. The two sites therefore highlight different themes: the memorial represents the suffrage movement, while the bridge commemorates military service.
Quake City, a special exhibition by Canterbury Museum in Christchurch, focuses on the earthquakes in Canterbury. It tells the stories of people who experienced the earthquakes and those who came to help. This adds another perspective on the region’s history to the themes of restoration, suffrage and military service.
City Life and Getting Around
Riverside Market is a covered food market in central ĹŚtautahi Christchurch, with local shops and market stalls. As a distinct part of city life, it differs from the gardens and historic memorial sites; here, the focus is on food and what the shops and stalls have to offer.
Christchurch city centre is easy to explore by car, public transport, e-scooter or on foot. Restored historic trams offer hop-on hop-off sightseeing, while the drivers share their knowledge of the city. This service combines sightseeing with commentary on board. Along with the garden tours and river trip, it shows the different ways to experience Christchurch: through plants and scenery, history and remembrance, or a narrated city tour.
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