Three weeks in New Zealand - 4/12 - 5/4/2024

Day 15-Christchurch-4/25/2024

Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island and the second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Downtown Christchurch (Ōtautahi) is a wonderful blend of heritage charm and modern renewal with the Avon River (Ōtākaro) winding through the center of the city, with a large urban park along its banks.  Christchurch has a reputation for being an English city, with its architectural identity and nickname the 'Garden City' due to similarities with garden cities in England, but also has a historic Māori heritage.

Christchurch’s heart has been artfully rebuilt after the 2010–11 earthquake, blending heritage architecture, green open spaces, riverfront vibrancy, and modern cultural venues. It’s a walkable, cyclist-friendly city, and pulsing with life.

The tramway is a popular tourist attraction, offering scenic rides through the city.

The iconic heritage tram circles the central city, with hop-on/hop-off service allowing exploration of key spots. 

 Trams run frequently, making it a convenient mode of transport within the CBD (downtown).

Christchurch Chief Post Office, a heritage landmark nestled in the southwestern corner of Cathedral Square is known for its striking architecture. The Chief Post Office isn’t just visually striking, it’s a symbol of Christchurch’s history. Its red‑brown walls, ornate white detailing, and elegant clock tower form a timeless presence in Cathedral Square, representing both colonial roots and the city’s resilience in rebuilding post‑earthquakes, Completed in 1878–79, it originally housed Post, Customs, Immigration, Public Works and NZ’s first telephone exchange in 1881. It served postal services until 2000, then hosted a tourist information center, cafe, offices, aquarium, and more until the 2011 earthquakes forced its closure. Heritage-listed Category I, it’s being strengthened and repurposed in the early 2020s as "The Grand", intended for dining, retail, and a revamped visitor center.

Cathedral Square locally known simply as the Square was badly damaged in the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake and underwent significant renovations post-earthquake to restore its functionality.

We are now at the Riverside Market & Lanes located by the Avon River.

In front of the river is home to 100 local vendors offering fresh produce, international eats, cafés, and bars, open 7 days a week.

The Christchurch heritage tram regularly passes right by Riverside Market along Oxford Terrace, skirting the Avon River. This stretch corresponds to Stop 4 on the tram loop, making it super convenient for people to hop on or off as you enjoy the riverside dining and market atmosphere

The promenade and seating were part of a design-led project that reshaped Oxford Terrace into a friendly, pedestrian-first zone. It deliberately intertwines nature and city life.

Terraced seating areas along Oxford Terrace, right beside the Avon River. These are steps and benches built into the riverbank, often close to small pedestrian bridges, perfect for relaxing by the water.

The terraces have become a beloved place for locals and visitors alike to pause, people-watch, or connect with the Avon River’s gentle flow .

From here, you can enjoy beautiful riverside views, watch the birds flying by, right in the heart of the city.

The Bridge of Remembrance is one of two main war memorials in Christchurch and it was dedicated to those who died in WWI and serves as a memorial for those who participated in two World Wars as well as subsequent conflicts in Borneo, Korea, Malaya, and Vietnam. Owned by Christchurch City Council, it is located on the Cashel Street Bridge at the head of City Mall.

The archway was built over the east end of the Cashel Street bridge that links Oxford and Cambridge Terraces over the Avon River. 

We are now at City Mall which is a large shopping center with a variety of stores, dining options, and entertainment.

This area is really cute with lots of cool stores.

Inside it is not a traditional mall food court, but a vibrant, indoor-outdoor market filled with artisan food stalls, eateries, bakeries, and bars.

Bellbird Bakery, known for their fresh sourdough bread, buttery pastries, and French-style baked goods, using organic ingredients are almost sold out of all of their products for the day.

We stopped by this friendly bar for a quick refreshment.

Hoa ordered a local beer and for me just a bottle of sparkling water.

We also ordered a half dozen oysters to wash it down with a local beer.  The oysters were so good, fresh, and tasty.

Close by Hoa saw The Spirits Workshops that is specializing in producing small batch premium spirits using pure Canterbury ingredients and they are offering a tasting of 3 types of whisky.

Established in 2015, the distillery merges traditional methods with innovative techniques to create the acclaimed Divergence Whisky and Curiosity Gin ranges. Their locally inspired spirits reflect New Zealand’s unique flavor profile, with quality and craftsmanship at the forefront of every bottle.

We met this really nice couple, Maureen and Bob from Florida and we had a couple of drinks with them.  Hoa and Bob went to do a whisky tasting and they had a really good time.

Dinner

We were just walking around and we stumbled on this really nice Japanese restaurant which I cannot remember the name.

The restaurant is big with a long bar on the side and it has a very good vibe.

Table setting with a view of the bar.

A cold beer to start...

Sushi platter with fresh scallop, tuna, and salmon.

We love sushi so this was just perfect to start our meal.

Next, we ordered a plate of Takoyaki, which literally means “grilled octopus” in Japanese, are slightly crispy balls of pan-fried savory batter filled with diced cooked octopus.

They are good but not the best.

Kaarage chicken is Japan's beloved fried chicken with tender chicken marinated in aromatics and twice fried until golden brown.

Hoa loves chicken Karaage and these were very juicy and flavorful and great with a cold glass of beer.

We ended the meal with two bowls of ramen noodles.

We got a classic ramen with thick cut of Pork in a Tonkotsu pork broth and a Miso broth.  Both were delicious!

Ending the meal with a brownie base, panna cotta and crispy crumble raspberries.  Overall we had a really nice dinner here.

Walking back to our hotel

We passed by the Bridge of Remembrance and was lit up with red lights at night

Riverside Market at night

Park next to Riverside Market.

We are now in the heart of Christchurch.

At night time the streets in Christchurch are pretty empty and it is really nice to walk around.

We are staying at the Heritage hotel which was the iconic Old Government Building in Cathedral Square.

The façade blends reddish-brown brick, ōamaru limestone, and crisp white stone trim, with a grand, colonnaded entrance and arched windows that echo classical Italian palaces. Often described as “one of New Zealand’s most magnificent monumental structures,” it stands as a landmark of civic pride and architectural elegance.  The interior is also very interesting.

NEXT... Breafkast and the Avon River