Your perfect weekend in Ōtautahi Christchurch for Electric Avenue
It’s time to get festy ready. With tickets sorted and accommodation booked, the weekend planning begins. We’re talking about minimising the stress and maximising all the great things you can see and do while you’re in Ōtautahi Christchurch!
Find thrills on the country’s longest zipline, soak in seaside hot pools after dancing for hours on end, or spend a lazy Sunday in one of the city’s coolest rooftop bars. Ōtautahi is the ultimate playground of fun and you don’t want to waste a second.
Brunch to kick off the weekend
A good day in a new city starts with breakfast, so pop into one of Christchurch’s many cafes for a bite to eat and some caffeine to fuel your adventures. If you are staying in the central city, you are spoilt for choice at the options for delicious meals and great coffee. Many are walking distance from central, and favourites include Miro, Westend Stories, Akin, Child Sister and C1. Other great options that are a little further out include Hello Sunday, Little Poms and Gentle Giant.
Cruise around the city
As a relatively flat city, Christchurch is the perfect place to explore by bike. It also makes for a great way to find your bearings in an unfamiliar place and experience the city up close and personal. Chill Bike Tours offer multiple different tour routes, including the Garden City Bike Tour and the Urban Explorer Bike Tour, which are both 2.5 hours. There are also options for longer tours, including the private Food and Wine Tour, and the City to Sea Electric Bike Tour. Your expert tour guide will teach you some of the fascinating history and rebuilding of Christchurch, and show you some of the city’s hidden gems (the kind that even locals don’t know about!)
Tick off some Ōtautahi bucket list items
Christchurch is full of must-see spots and unique attractions, so be sure to get a few of these into your weekend! A bucketload of adrenalin awaits you at Christchurch Adventure Park – home to New Zealand’s longest and highest zipline. Take the chairlift to the top and get back to home base using four epic ziplines. Or for a slower pace, Christchurch Attractions operates Punting on the Avon, the Christchurch Gondola, and the Christchurch Tram. It’s not a visit to Christchurch without ticking off at least one of these! If you would rather move on foot, discover a street art scene that will leave you in awe. A stroll through the inner city reveals many colourful artworks from a range of inspiring artists.
Tasty casual eats for lunch
You’re never short of tasty lunch spots in the inner city, including Christchurch’s modern twist on a traditional food court, Little High Eatery that offers a little bit of everything. From Bacon Brothers Burgers to Base Woodfire Pizza, this is the perfect spot for larger groups where everyone fancies something different! Or check out one of Ōtautahi’s most loved foodie spots Riverside Market. With an array of local businesses calling the indoor market home, wander the stalls and the delicious delights. For an easy lunch on the go, choose from loaded salad bowls from Herba Gourmet or fresh sandwiches from Bellbird Bakery. If the sun is shining, park up at one of the outdoor tables and dig into souvlakis from Dimitris Greek Food or a flavourful curry from Dosa Kitchen.
‘Hair of the Dog’ craft beer crawl
Welcome to Craftschurch – the unofficial home of craft brewing in Aotearoa. The beer doesn’t get any fresher with over 25 local brewers experimenting with the freshest hops and pouring in over 30 killer tap rooms on site or in town. From the latest hazy to new sours, there’s an exciting collaboration or innovation to be found at each of these trailblazing pubs. Choose from the incredible selection of local breweries including Cassels, Two Thumb Brewing, Three Boys, ChinChiller, Eruption, Wigram Brewing, Volstead Brewing, the Beer Baroness at Pomeroy’s and great ale houses like Punky Brewster, Craft Embassy and Moon Under Water.
Settle in for a soak
If you are wanting some time to chill out and have a moment of quiet, then a soak at He Puna Taimoana is just what you need. Set on the beautiful seaside of New Brighton, the hot pools offer stunning ocean views that really enhance the peaceful environment. Spend time in the pools and other facilities including a sauna and cold plunge pool. Once you are feeling pampered and refreshed, grab a bite to eat and a coffee at the delicious café onsite, Saturdays.
World-class dining
Christchurch has an exquisite culinary scene, with the evening dining options ranging from sophisticated restaurants, cosy pubs and rooftop bars to casual dining alfresco style. Head to The Terrace, set along the Avon River, where you’ll find many of the city’s best eateries and bars. Have a delicious Italian dinner at Original Sin, tasty bites at Delilah or some classy drinks at cocktail bar Kong. With its colourful, Spanish Mission style architecture, New Regent Street also boasts an abundance of unique restaurants, vibrant bars and indulgent dessert spots. Go for fine dining or more casual eats, sip away at whiskey lounge The Last Word or head straight for something sweet at Rollickin Gelato. If you nab a table outside you might even catch the tram running down the middle of the street.
Discover delicious gins
The Juniper Collective is a one of its kind gin boutique in the heart of Cashel Mall, and a special place to visit for all gin lovers. The boutique is open to the public during the day, where you can peruse the hundreds of New Zealand gins, while picking the brains of expert staff. In the evenings, you can book a private tasting for your group. The Gin Tasting Experience includes tastings of five New Zealand gins, pairings with a variety of local and international tonics, a grazing platter and 10% discounts on all purchases.
