New Zealand is somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit and after moving to Australia, it was going to happen sooner than later. Luckily, we have a friend from college that recently moved back home to Christchurch, NZ earlier this year, so we knew that this was the perfect opportunity to spend a long weekend there.
We were limited on time so we only stayed in Christchurch for the duration of our trip (about 4 days). If you’re looking to visit Christchurch or New Zealand in general, I definitely recommend making Christchurch one of your stops. 
Christchurch is located on the East coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Although we still thought that area was incredibly beautiful, apparently a lot of the historical sites and buildings, were destroyed in a few large earthquakes in the past few years.
Regardless of the earthquakes, Christchurch offers plenty to do and a ton of breathtaking views. If you’re looking to stay a weekend in Christchurch I recommend checking out the following:
Where to Eat:
Hello Sunday: The first place we went out to eat was for breakfast at Hello Sunday and I have to say this may be one of my favorite breakfast places of all time. Along with breakfast, they serve lunch and coffees with tons of different options and depending on your dietary requirements. They have gluten free, dairy free, vegan options all available at Hello Sunday. I got the smashed avocado with a side of mushrooms and we all had a bit of the fried chicken to split. Everything was so delicious and full of flavor. The combination of the ingredients on each our plates was something that I wouldn’t have necessarily thought to put together but worked together to create a beautiful dish.
Himalayas Indian Restaurant: This place is the perfect spot for large groups. In New Zealand and in Australia, BYO places are pretty popular. I’ve never heard of these kinds of places until moving to Australia, but essentially you can bring your own alcohol to these places which is great and makes a night out a lot more affordable. We picked up a few bottles of wine to bring with us and when we got there ordered delicious Indian food. I got the Tikka Masala and some cheese naan which was delicious. If you like Indian food or traveling with a large group, I highly recommend checking out this place.
White House Black: White House Black is great for a Sunday brunch, which is what we ended up doing. The restaurant itself is adorable, the staff is super friendly and the food is delicious. If you’re looking for a nice place for brunch, this is the place. With brunch available until 3:00 pm on Sunday, it’s the perfect place to get together with some friends after a big night out.
Saigon Star: If you’re looking for a delicious bowl of Pho– this is the place to go. Saigon Star is once again a BYO, so you’re able to bring your own alcohol. They have a large menu full of different options that are perfect for individual servings or to share around the table. Saigon Star reminded me of one of my favorite Vietnamese places in Cleveland, Ohio which I mentioned in my Cleveland Travel Guide-Superior Pho. Superior Pho definitely made me fall in love with Pho- so it was nice to find a place that was equally as delicious on the other side of the world.
Things to Do:
Hike Halswell Quarry: One of the afternoons we decided to hike around Halswell Quarry. The nice thing about this hike (other than the beautiful views) is that you can make it nearly as short as you would like or as long– with different paths and options throughout the area. The area is full of beautiful gardens and dog parks throughout so it’s the perfect place to pack a picnic and stay for a few hours.
Christchurch Gondola: We ended up doing the Christchurch Gondola our last day in Christchurch and I’m so happy we didn’t leave Christchurch without experiencing it. Although you can technically hike up to the top, the Gondola is a lot faster and more convenient. It’s also a lot of fun riding up to the top, taking in all the views and catching a glimpse of the hundreds of sheep on the mountains as well. The views at the top are absolutely stunning and are certainly picture-perfect. If you only have time to do a few things in Christchurch- this should definitely be at the top of the list.
Local Markets: For the weekend we were there, there was actually a few markets going on. We opted to go to the Christchurch Farmer’s Market which was great! I love markets in general because you not only get to try out different products and food, but you’re also supporting local businesses, which is so important to do! At this particular market, there was a combination of food and local handmade goods. I recommend coming fairly hungry because there is plenty of delicious options for you to choose from. Also if you’re staying in Christchurch a little longer, they have local bread, meats, and other produce available that I would have loved to get if we were staying for longer than a couple of days. They also have a pretty awesome website, so if you would like to know more about the event check out their website here.
Rugby Game: Christchurch is home to the Christchurch Crusaders. So if you’re in Christchurch you should definitely stop and see a game. I’ve never been into rugby (being from the U.S. it’s not as popular as it is in other areas of the world) nor do I know much about it, but apparently the Crusaders are a pretty good team. The Crusaders played South Africa the night that we went and it was pretty fun, minus the rain and cold weather so definitely dress according to the weather. For people from the U.S. who may not be as familiar with rugby, it’s essentially the same atmosphere as a football game with food trucks and beer and tons of excitement from the fans.
Hanmer Springs:
Almost immediately after we got to Christchurch we drove to Hanmer Springs which was about a two-hour drive. Since we were on a tight schedule we wanted to do as much as we could in a short period of time. If you’re in the Christchurch area, I highly recommend making the time spending a night at Hanmer Springs.
Since there is so much to do in Hanmer Springs, instead of making a separate post of specifically what to do in Hanmer Springs, I decided to just add it to the end of this post. Hanmer Springs is a resort area where they have tons of hot pools with different temperatures, minerals, and benefits for your body. An adult pass is about $25 NZ and for $10 more you can get a pass to ride the slides, which I definitely recommend. We went later in the evening and it was raining, but it was pretty nice since the cold rain was able to cool us off from the hot pools and it was also less crowded than what it would have been earlier in the day. They have a restaurant on site so you can stay all day, however, we only needed to spend a few hours there since you can only stay in hot pools for so long before you start getting tired.
Also– make sure you hydrate a lot during and after. This is something that we forgot to do and I definitely regret.
Where to Stay in Hanmer Springs:
Settlers Motel: We stayed at the Settlers Motel which was fantastic. Only about a 5-10 minute walk to the entrance of the hot springs, the Settlers Motel was extremely comfortable and accommodating. We had us and another couple so we opted for the apartment suite which included two bedrooms with a queen a twin in each, a kitchen, large bathroom, living room area, and a back deck area with a swing for children if you have them with you. They also have tons of movies that you’re able to borrow from the office, complimentary laundry, and BBQ that you’re able to borrow if you want to have a BBQ one night. The staff was super friendly and with such a great location and affordable price, I highly recommend staying there.
Unfortunately I don’t have pictures from our particular trip to the hotel, however, their website is great and full of accurate photos of the place. Also if you don’t follow me on Instagram, you really should! I post every day of my adventures on my Instagram Stories– including a room tour from our stay at Settles Motel. You can follow me on Instagram by clicking here.
What to Do in Hanmer Springs:
Along with the hot pools, there are tons of different things to do in the area. If you’re adrenaline seekers, there’s everything from bungee jumping, speed boating, jet skiing, and ATV rides available where you can book right in town. There’s also a lot of cute boutiques in the area and a lot of spas as well. There are delicious places to eat, cute coffee shops, and a grocery store if you’re looking to cook a meal back at your hotel (which is what we opted to do for dinner).
Hike Conical Hill: The morning before we left, we decided to hike Conical Hill. The drive from our hotel was only about 15 minutes and the hike itself took us about 30 minutes one way. The views at the top were beautiful and I highly recommend you do this quick hike if you’re in the area.
Lastly, I highly recommend just driving around the area. The views are stunning around this area and there’s plenty to do! I hope you found this Christchurch Travel Guide helpful! Visiting Christchurch definitely made me want to explore NZ some more! I can’t wait to travel back to New Zealand and explore other towns.
Have you been to New Zealand before? Let me know in the comments down below and any recommendations on where to visit for our next New Zealand trip!
