For most international travelers, Christchurch is more of a transit hub than a destination unto itself. It’s the largest city on the super-scenic South Island, so many visitors will begin and/or end their trip here. The city is still famously recovering from the devastating earthquakes in 2011, so visitors are likely to see some damage and a lot of rebuilding for years to come.
Christchurch has some wildlife parks and other natural attractions that are worth a look, and it can be used as a base to see some of the scenery that the South Island is famous for.
| Population | 366,000 |
| Area | 379,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+12 |
| Currency | New Zealand dollar |
| Airports | Christchurch International Airport (CHC) |
Food and drinks can feel expensive so self-catering is suggested for those trying to keep costs down.
| Budget breakfast | Coffee, pastries and more await you at many of the local cafes. | $4.46 - $7.14 |
| Budget lunch | For lunch you can choose from sit down restaurants or places to get a quick bite to eat. | $5.95 - $10.71 |
| Budget dinner | Dinner is more of a formal event with higher prices but there are still places around that serve great food at very reasonable prices. | $7.74 - $14.88 |
| Beer | Both domestic and imported beer tends to be on the more expensive side whether sold at a restaurant or bar. | $4.76 - $6.55 |
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 72 | 54 | 2.0 |
| February | 70 | 54 | 2.0 |
| March | 66 | 50 | 2.0 |
| April | 63 | 46 | 2.0 |
| May | 57 | 39 | 2.0 |
| June | 52 | 36 | 2.0 |
| July | 50 | 34 | 3.0 |
| August | 54 | 36 | 2.0 |
| September | 57 | 41 | 2.0 |
| October | 63 | 45 | 2.0 |
| November | 66 | 48 | 2.0 |
| December | 68 | 52 | 2.0 |
Christchurch is a great time to visit throughout the year, but some parts of the year may be better suited for certain individuals. Although temperatures are never too extreme one way or the other, you’ll still be able to see a difference from month to month.
The hottest parts of the year are January and February while the coldest months are June and July. Rain occurs throughout the year with the highest chance of showers in May.
| 21 Mar | 7:32am | 7:41pm |
| 21 Jun | 8:03am | 4:59pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:22am | 6:25pm |
| 21 Dec | 5:44am | 9:10pm |
Hotel and hostel prices in Christchurch are pretty reasonable by standards for this part of the world, so it’s not a bad place to linger for a couple days on your way in or out of the country. The city center is quite compact and most of the better deals are a bit away from the middle.
Peak season starts in late June and runs through till Easter in early April. Not only is this the time of year when most people visit, but when hotels increase their nightly rates.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 15.48 - 19.64 |
| 66.67 - 83.93 |
| 74.40 - 117.86 |
| 102.38 - 150.00 |
| 79.76 - 126.19 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 14.88 - 19.05 |