After travelling more around New Zealand, I’m certain if I can say that Christchurch is my favourite city here – but it certainly ranks pretty highly. Not only is it a very pleasant place to go and to visit, but it’s very convenient and makes all those things you need to go into the city to take care of, a pleasant experience.
So when it does come time to go to a city since I’ve been here – either for supplies, or for sights and events, or to catch a flight – I’ve happily make Christchurch my city of choice. My last review of the city focused mainly on the thing I thought it was best for – really good restaurants. In the event that you haven’t read that review, I recommend you give it a look if you are visiting the city as Christchurch is teeming with great places to eat and drink and I will review only a few of those in this review.
This one I hope to focus more on the other things that the city has to offer – and what you can do while here, whether you have a lot of time to kill, or just a day, money to spend or are on a really tight budget. You can’t beat the atmosphere in Christchurch, for a big city it’s got a wonderful vibe, and so long as you’re not out on a Saturday night (which for some reason turns a very pleasant and breezy place into every other city on a weekend) you can wander about peacefully for hours just having a relaxed look at all the sites.
If you like a town where loads is going on, then Christchurch may not be for you –though there is a very good arts scene with loads of museums and artist orientated events and galleries. There are plenty of shops with – if not good prices, at least good selection of anything you may want to buy in New Zealand from standard souvenirs to interesting local products and standard trendy shops and malls.
TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS
If you are in Christchurch on a budget, you might find it a bit difficult. If you arrived with the same information I had when I left ("Oh, with the New Zealand dollar, everything will be really cheap" ) then you will be quickly and sorely disappointed. Despite it’s huge number of resident backpackers, this is not a cheap country to visit The New Zealand dollar is only slightly off the Australian, US, and Canadian dollar at the moment (July 2008) though the prices reflect what they were when it was $3 to the pound (now much closer to $2) with a nice added touch of growing inflation. If you come to New Zealand expecting it to be a bit pricey, you will be well prepared with a few pleasant surprises. For the most part though – expect the average cost to be more than what you would pay in the US, and at least what you would pay in Britain (more if it’s anything that’s exported – or very local) and you will be well equipt to deal with the prices. The good news is that Chrsitchurch isn’t actually more expensive than any small town in New Zealand (with some exceptions.) In some cases it may even be cheaper – and with a much better selection. Not to mention that there is a lot that you can do and enjoy in the city which costs nothing (great museums, parks and city walks and often you get great street performers and excellent weekend markets) where as outside of the city the only free thing you will be able to do is walk – and even some of those come with a price tag.
If you are a little bit thrifty you can get by with out spending a fortune here. There are some very good hostel options in the city, and even a good hotel option that isn’t too pricey (check the review on Hotel SO) the food might not be cheap (though pretty comparable to what you get in other places) but it is very good and you can find cheap options, especially if you look out for their really good lunch specials. The markets are wonderful (and wonderfully free) and the museums ask for a $5 donation. And be sure to stop into Christchurch Cathedral, it’s become one of my favourite in the world.