Why go
- City in Canterbury, New Zealand.
- Served by Christchurch Airport (CHC).
History
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island and the second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of 407,800, and a metropolitan population of 556,500. It is located in the Canterbury Region, near the centre of the east coast of the South Island, east of the Canterbury Plains. It is located near the southern end of Pegasus Bay, and is bounded to the east by the Pacific Ocean and to the south by the ancient volcanic complex of the Banks Peninsula. The Avon River / Ōtākaro winds through the centre of the city, with a large urban park along its banks. With the exception of the Port Hills, it is a relatively flat city, on an average about 20 m (66 ft) above sea level. Christchurch has a reputation for being an English city, with its architectural identity and nickname the 'Garden City' due to similarities with garden cities in England, but also has a historic Māori heritage. Christchurch has a temperate oceanic climate with moderate rainfall.
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 9 airlines, 20 direct destinations
- Air New Zealand NZ (Dash 8-300, A320, ATR 72, 737-300, BEH) · 19 routes: Auckland, Brisbane, Coolangatta, Dunedin*, Hamilton*, Hokitika*, Invercargill*, Melbourne, NAPIER*, Nelson*, New Plymouth*, Palmerston North*, Paraparaumu*, Queenstown International, Rotorua*, Sydney, Tauranga*, Wellington, Woodbourne*
- Jetstar Airways JQ (A320) · 5 routes: Auckland, Coolangatta, Melbourne, Sydney, Wellington
- Virgin Australia VA (A320, 737-800) · 4 routes: Brisbane, Coolangatta, Melbourne, Sydney
- American Airlines AA (737) · 1 route: Sydney*
- China Eastern Airlines MU (737-800) · 1 route: Sydney*
- Emirates EK (777-300ER) · 1 route: Sydney
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (777-200) · 1 route: Singapore
- Qantas QF (737-800, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Sydney*
- Singapore Airlines Cargo SQ (777-200) · 1 route: Singapore
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.
Milder and quieter, with better value.
The southern winter — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Christchurch Airport (CHC); 5 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: CHC has direct flights to 20 destinations on 9 airlines (incl. Sydney, Coolangatta, Melbourne, Auckland, Brisbane…). By water: 2 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Lyttelton Jetty, 12 km); routes include Quail Island Ferry, Diamond Harbour Ferry, Ripapa Island Ferry.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Christchurch, New Zealand. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Local transit
Trains & rail
Coaches & shuttles
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.