One Day in Christchurch, New Zealand

Accommodation ideas for Central Christchurch

OGB Suites – spacious apartments in the beautiful historic Old Government Building on Cathedral Square
Christchurch Heritage Hotel – lovely hotel on the ground floor of the same Old Government Building
The Distinction – clean, funky hotel on Cathedral Square
The Salisbury Business Class Hotel – Lovely small business hotel with pretty gardens and interior courtyard.

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To think we questioned our wisdom catching an early morning flight to Christchurch. How to fill the day given my dear friend and fellow travel blogger, Jane, and I were without transport and staying overnight at a central hotel to be as near as possible to our early morning pick up point for the Alps to Ocean cycle the following morning. If you have picked up a car (I use rentalcars.com to search for the best priced options) consider driving to Akaroa for a delightful exploration of the only French flavoured outpost in New Zealand

Turns out central Christchurch is fascinating, and beautiful, and there is so much to see and do. 

We hopped on the tram for a short, guided orientation ride around the city and followed up with a poignant visit to Quake City Museum to learn more about the disastrous 2010/2011 earthquakes.

We barely glimpsed the massive and stunning grounds of Hagley Park before our morning hours were chewed up. On my next visit, I plan to hire a bike to cover more ground as there is so much more to investigate. 

Jane had already researched Christchurch restaurants and had booked King of Snake for lunch. We devoured the substantial and delicious selections from the ‘ Trust the Chef’ menu. The food was well priced and scrumptious, but be warned, the wine offering was exorbitant and dented our wallets somewhat as we’re prone to enjoying more than one mouthful. 

We walked off our lunch by roaming through the Riverside Market, then sought the site of the CTV Building Memorial where so many lives were lost in the earthquake, before visiting the ‘Cardboard Cathedral’, a so-called transitional structure substituting for the iconic Anglican Christ Church Cathedral that was damaged in the earthquakes. We were also informed that the prolonged and heavily disputed decisions on the rebuild of the old Catholic Cathedral, closed since damaged in 2010 and 2011 has necessitated a referral to the Vatican for final resolution. A papal decree required perhaps since bickering locals appear incapable of settling their factional disputes. It’s seemed a sad and sorry saga to be still awaiting a workable solution some twelve years after its tragic partial destruction. 

Following a minimal spruce up in our hotel, a basic well priced central option called The Distinction, we walked a few blocks downtown to dine again, this time at Inati (meaning ‘exceptional’, or ‘to share’ in te rao Māori) It was fantastic, and we shared a lot, which also signalled the theme for the remainder of the week – feasting, and the need for stretchy leisurewear despite our planned exertion over the next six days on the 320km Alps to Ocean cycle tour.

We barely glimpsed the vast array of excellent venues and interesting offerings available in Christchurch and despite my reservations concerning it’s fraught and arduous rebuild, the progress made here so far is fabulous. This small city is a now destination worthy of your time and attention and I’ll certainly return to investigate further.