Getting There

By plane: Christchurch International Airport is 12km northwest of the city. There are various shuttle services that connect it with the city centre, ranging from $5-$13. Shop around before jumping on one.

By train: Christchurch's main train station is located approximately 3km from Cathedral Square, the city centre's focal point. It has good connections with the rest of the South Island.

By Bus: Christchurch does not have a central bus station. Instead various bus companies drop people off at various points throughout the city.

Getting Around

On foot: As Christchurch is relatively small in size, and is also extremely flat, it is easily explorable on foot.

By bus: While you might not need to use it during your stay, it is good to note that there is a free bus service that operates throughout Christchurch's called 'The Shuttle'. For more info see 'Christchurch For Free' below.

Christchurch has a reasonably dry temperate climate, with warm to hot summers and mild winters. Summer temperatures range from mild to extremely hot, often moderated by a prevailing northeasterly wind. Northwesterly winds, however, are not so beneficial; they are known to reach gale force strength, wreaking havoc on occasion. Winters bring clear, cold days, with temperatures often dropping below freezing at night.

Embassies

USA: +64 4 462 6000*
UK: +64 4 924 2888*
Canada: +64 4 473 9577*
South Africa: +64 4 234 8006*
Ireland: +64 9 977 2252**
Germany: +64 21 651 987*
Spain: +64 4 913 1167*
Italy: +64 4 4735 339*
Australian: +64 4 473 6411*
France: +64 4 384.25.55*
*Number is for embassy in Wellington
**Number is for embassy in Auckland

© Image in 'Budget Tips' courtesy of Red Bus Ltd.

Yellow Rocket, Regent Building, Cathedral Square This bright, young and funky eatery specialises in bagels and coffee. Staff are chirpy, making it a good place to begin the day. If you're not an early riser, their bagels are perfect for an afternoon bite while people watching from the outdoor seating area. Open Mon-Fri 7.30am-6pm, Sat & Sun 8am-6pm.

Dux de Lux, Cnr Hereford & Montreal Streets A favourite among the city's locals (which is partly due to the enormous beer garden), 'Dux de Lux' specialises in two things - seafood and vegetarian cuisine. Thankfully copious amounts of both types of food appear on their menu with affordable prices beside them. Open daily from 12 noon-4am.

A taste of Asia East in the City, 266 High St Containing a collection of outlets specialising in Asian food, 'East in the City' provides a cheap and cheerful option for lunch or dinner. Here you'll find Thai, Indian, Chinese and other types of cuisine. Open daily from 10am-10pm.

The Honey Pot Café, 114 Lichfield Street An extremely relaxed atmosphere in this café makes it the perfect place for afternoon lunch. Specialising in gourmet sandwiches, you can opt to create your own or choose one of their creations such as the 'Ren + Stinky' which is packed with onions or the self-explanatory 'The Works'. Open Mon-Fri 7am-11pm, Sat-Sun 8am-11pm.

The Mandarin, 777 Colombo Street If you desire to have an Asian meal, but in more intimate surroundings, try this Chinese restaurant just mintues from Cathedral Square. The menu has lots to choose from and you won't pay that much more for the privilege of having your meal brought to you. Open daily from 12 noon-11pm.

Cartel, His Lordships Lane One of Christchurch's newest bars, 'Cartel' is also one of it's hippest. This is where the city's coolest cats come to relax at the outdoor seating or sip on mojitos in the intimate, inside surroundings. Different DJs spin tunes regularly while live bands play on occasion also. Open daily from 5pm-2am.

Saints and Sinners, 56 Cathedral Square Christchurch's premier backpacker bar enjoys one of the best locations in the city. Like so many bars popular with those travelling around the globe, here you can impress with your vocals at the karaoke nights, rock to one of the live bands on gig nights, take advantage of the happy hour, or simply shoot pool in the games room. Open daily from 4pm-1am.

Go to a rugby game If you're in town between mid February and late May, make sure to spend an evening watching the Christchurch Crusaders in the Super 14 league. If you're not in town those months, you'll be able to see Cantebury play in rugby union between late July and early October. The best way to get tickets is by buying combo-tickets in Holy Grail (88 Worcester St) that include transfers to and from the game and a couple of beers also.

Mad Cow, 98 Oxford Terrace Arguably the liveliest bar on Oxford Terrace, aka 'The Strip', 'Mad Cow' is packed with testosterone-filled young men and an equal amount of young women leaving little to the imagination. No prizes for guessing why it's the most popular bar on The Strip then. Watch out for the regular drinks promotions. Open Mon-Wed & Sun 4pm-1am, Thurs-Sat 5pm-5am.

Micky Finn's, 85A Hereford St This token Irish bar has all the trimmings you'd expect in an Irish bar such as signposts and old whisky signs. While it is packed with kitsch, it is one of the best places to catch live music in Christchurch and live bands play most nights. Open daily from 4pm-close.

Christchurch Cathedral, Cathedral Square A relatively new cathedral, Christchurch Cathedral was completed just over a hundred years ago in 1904. Boasting some amazing stained-glass windows, visitors can climb the cathedral's tower for breathtaking views of the entire city. Open Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 7.30am-after evening service; admission to cathedral free, charge for tower.

All aboard Christchurch Tramways, various locations Running through Christchurch city centre is a 2.5 kilometre track for the city's famous tram. Taking 25 minutes to complete, the route passes through Cathedral Square and by the art gallery and the Botanic Gardens. You can hop on and off over two days making it a great way to take in the city's sights. Open daily from 9am-9pm (summer)/6pm (winter); admission $14.

Punting on the Avon, 2 Cambridge Terrace While Christchurchis a quaint and relaxing place, one of the most soothing things to do is to take a punt (flat-bottomed boat) down the River Avon. They are a great way to see the city while somebody else does all the hard work. Open daily from 9am-6pm (summer), 10am-4pm (winter); admission $20.

Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, 60 Hussey Road For an insight into New Zealand's natural environment and history, visit this park located 15 minutes outside the city. Here you can see native animals up close and witness Maori cultural performances. Open daily from 9.30am-30 minutes before dusk; admission $25.

Christchurch Gondola, 10 Bridle Path Road, Heathcote Valley Lifting visitors almost 1,500 feet above sea level, a ride in the Christchurch Gondola affords visitors breathtaking 360° views of the city, the Canterbury Plains and Lyttelton Harbour. Open daily from 10am-9pm; admission $22.

Go to the Christchurch Art Gallery Found at the corner of Worcester Boulevard and Montreal Street, and specialising in New Zealand art but with an emphasis on work from the Canterbury region, this art gallery is also the most unique building in the city. While many of the pieces are traditional Maori works, others are far more contemporary. Open daily from 10am-5pm (9pm on Wed); admission free.

Chill out in the Botanic Gardens Established in 1863, Christchurch's Botanic Gardens are a great place to while away an afternoon. Covering 30 hectares of land, here you will find up to 10,000 exotic and indigenous plants, rose gardens, water gardens and ornate fountains. Open daily from 7am-1 hour before sunset; admission free.

Visit the Cantebury Museum Open to the public for more than 130 years, this museum has a collection that fills three floors. Exhibits here include 'Antartic Gallery', 'Transport Gallery', and the 'Bird Hall'. It is also conveniently located beside the entrance to the Botanic Gardens on Rolleston Avenue. Open daily from 9am-5.30pm (Oct-Mar)/5pm (Apr-Sept); admission free ($2 donations suggested).

Everyone enjoys a free ride... Make use of the free city shuttle Operating from 7.30am on weekdays, 8am on Saturdays and 10am on Sundays, 'The Shuttle' is a great free service that is used by both locals and tourists. The route passes by Town Hall, Cathedral Square and other attractions and finishes nightly at 10pm. All buses are a special hybrid type of bus which run mainly on electricity, making them extremely kind to the environment.

Visit the Arts Centre Located on Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch's Arts Centre is the creative hub of the city's cultural precinct and showcases craftwork, paintings and more. Open daily from 10am-5pm; admission free.