Getting To And Around Christchurch
If you are sourcing for a location for your next urban adventure, look no further.
In a place full of sights to see, places to explore and trails to be walked, your next adventure can happen nowhere else but at Christchurch, New Zealand.
Check out these great hotels in Christchurch if you haven’t booked your accommodation!
What is Christchurch?
As mentioned, the quaint town of Christchurch has its roots in the South Island of New Zealand and reigns as the most populous city in those parts.
In fact, it does not fall far behind the other cities, coming out as the third most densely filled city in the country.
You might have heard about it but Christchurch has also survived two major earthquakes, one in 2010 and one in 2011.
But that hasn’t brought the city or its people down.
In fact, they emerged from it stronger.
Why Christchurch?
Now then, we know what exactly Christchurch is and its geographical information, but what is Christchurch’s story, and what does it have that worth taking a trip there?
Well, here is an appetiser that might tickle your fancy.
Christchurch has in place many amenities and facilities that resonate well with English tourists.
Even if this might not appeal to you, there are many other sights and attractions that will capture your attention.
We guarantee that you would not want to miss out on these attractions and if you do not believe us, search it up and see for yourself.
How to get to Christchurch?
So, we hope we have intrigued you enough to find out more about Christchurch and honestly, the place doesn’t need to promote itself, so we are going to dive right into talking about how to get to Christchurch.
So, there are three ways one can normally take, and they are:
1. By Plane
This is the most straightforward method especially for those who are miles away from New Zealand.
There is no other method other than taking a plane in that case. If you are travelling from within Australia, Guangzhou, Fiji, Singapore or Dubai, the good news is that there are frequent flights in and out of Christchurch.
So, for those of you looking to travel here during non-seasonal periods, you might need to consider a transfer flight.
For those of you looking to travel domestically, we got you covered as well.
There are direct flights every day from Auckland, Invercargill, Dunedin, Nelson, and many other places.
The Christchurch International Airport is a small distance away from the centre of the city where you can reach by taking two public buses, number 29 or the Purple Line bus.
2. By Car
So, this is mostly for those who are looking at domestic travels.
The distance between the different states in New Zealand from Christchurch is generally manageable with none lasting more than a day of riding.
If you ever get lost, just make sure you are on either State Highway 1 or State Highway 73 as Christchurch fits snugly between the two.
Here are some of the travel times that we have from the neighbouring states to get you mentally prepared for what is ahead if you decide to drive.
Do note that the timings stated are non-stop travel times.
From Picton, it takes about 6 to 7 hours depending on the route. From Blenheim, it also varies between 5 to 7 hours.
For Nelson, it is approximately 6 hours. For Greymouth, it is just a little over 3 hours.
For Timaru, it is the shortest among the rest with it being slightly over 2 hours.
Then, Dunedin takes about 5 hours of travel.
Then, Queenstown takes 6 hours and finally, for Invercargill, it takes 7 hours.
So if you are ready, buckle up for a long ride.
3. By Bus
For those of you who are looking to have a more relaxing trip, you can opt to take the bus instead.
There are two major national operators InterCity and Newmans Coach Lines that will bring you into Christchurch.
There are daily coach services that will bring you from different states in New Zealand to Christchurch.
Wherever you come from, they will stop at a Bus Interchange on Lichfield Street.
There are also other smaller shuttle services that offer state-specific travels like Atomic Shuttles from Greymouth and East-West Coaches from Westport and Greymouth.
Do take note that some of these services stop outside of Canterbury Museum along Rolleston Avenue.
4. By Train
If you have the time, we highly recommend trying the trains out.
There are two rail companies that offer services into the area and they are TranzAlpine and Coastal Pacific.
In fact, the TranzAlpine railway is one of the highlights that are not to be missed in your journey to New Zealand.
It will take you to and fro Christchurch and Greymouth. With that being said, it does not mean Coastal Pacific cannot put up a good fight, it offers a different set of experience with its travels to and fro Picton and Christchurch.
So, if you have the time, this is highly recommended.
How do I get around Christchurch
So, we are finally in Christchurch but there are just so many things to do and see.
So, the next question is, how do we get around and maximise our time spent here?
1. By Bike or Scooter
Burn off some calories while exploring the finer details of the city.
They even have special lanes set aside for these vehicles.
2. By Car
You could drive your own car but do beware that parking charges are at $2.60/hour.
If you are looking to rent cars, remember to do so at the airport.
3. By Tram
Rather than a comprehensive way to tour the city, travel by tram is more like a tourist attraction.
It covers up to 17 stops. So, if the itinerary for a day is too little, you can consider the tram.
4. By Bus
If you decide to soak in the local culture and take the bus, do note that the Metrocard costs $10 with minimum top-up values of $10 and standard fares are $2.55.
The 5 bus routes are the Blue Line, Purple Line, Yellow Line, Orange Line, and The Orbiter.
Conclusion
So, here is a working guide for how to travel in Christchurch.
If you happen to get lost, don’t worry.
Just ask a friendly local for directions!