Christchurch travel guide
Christchurch Tourism | Christchurch Guide
You're Going to Love Christchurch
With a population of 363,926, Christchurch is the largest city in Canterbury, New Zealand by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Christchurch has to offer.
Activities & attractions in Christchurch
Tours
When to visit Christchurch
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Christchurch in January, when the average temperature is 62.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 73.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is June, when it can get as cold as 33.8 °F, with an average temperature of 42.8 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in May, when precipitation is around 2.4″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Christchurch, with an average rainfall of 1.6″.
How to Get to Christchurch
Plane
When flying to Christchurch, you’ll arrive at Christchurch (CHC), which is located 6 miles from the city center. The shortest flight to Christchurch from the United States departs from Honolulu and takes around 14h 20m.
Car
Another option to get to Christchurch is to pick up a car rental from Wellington, which is about 190 miles from Christchurch. You’ll find branches of Mode Car & Camper Rentals and Europcar, among others, in Wellington.
Airlines serving Christchurch
Where to stay in Christchurch
From 5-star hotels such as the Fino Hotel & Suites to great affordable options like the Ibis Christchurch, Christchurch offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $85 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $165 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Christchurch, with prices from $19 to $279 per night. Christchurch Central City is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Christchurch are about 25% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Christchurch Central City - Hotel Montreal, Crowne Plaza Christchurch and BreakFree on Cashel have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Christchurch Central City will cost you about $30 per night.
Where to stay in popular areas of Christchurch
Most booked hotels in Christchurch
Renting a car in Christchurch
Renting a car in Christchurch costs $37 per day, on average, or $112 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Apex, Ace Rental Cars and Europcar are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Christchurch is the New Zealand Discount Car Rentals branch at 153 Orchard Road, Harewood, which is 6 miles from the city center.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 2% more expensive than at Christchurch.
Expect to pay $6.81 per gallon in Christchurch (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $81.76 and $109.02. The most frequently booked car type in Christchurch is Compact (Toyota RAV4 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Luxury rental cars (Tesla Model Y or similar) are, on average, 73% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.