New Zealand / Christchurch & Canterbury Coast / Christchurch

Christchurch

Garden City Rebuilt, Gateway to the South

2 daysIdeal stay₹7,150From / night₹2,480Food / dayFreeEntry

The South Island's largest city and its main airport, rebuilt after the 2010-11 earthquakes: punting on the Avon through the Botanic Gardens, the Cardboard Cathedral, the heritage tram and the International Antarctic Centre by the airport. The French harbour village of Akaroa, with Hector's dolphins, is 1.5 hours away on Banks Peninsula. Start of the TranzAlpine train to the West Coast and end of the Coastal Pacific from Picton.

Highlights

Punting on the Avon
Botanic Gardens
International Antarctic Centre
Heritage tram loop
Christchurch Gondola
Akaroa and the Hector's dolphins
TranzAlpine train day trip

Things to do

Botanic Gardens and punting on the AvonMorning · 2h 30m
International Antarctic CentreAfternoon · 3h
Akaroa day trip and dolphin cruiseMorning · 8h
Heritage tram and the rebuilt city centreAfternoon · 2h
TranzAlpine return to Arthur's Pass (day trip)Morning · 6h

Tours & tickets

Tours & tickets in Christchurchvia GetYourGuide Tours & tickets in Christchurchvia Klook

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When to go

Best time: November – April

Matariki (Māori New Year) — The rising of the Matariki (Pleiades) star cluster, a public holiday since 2022: dawn ceremonies, light shows, kai (food) festivals and star-viewing events across the country, biggest in Auckland and Wellington. A long weekend: domestic flights and ski towns are busier.

Getting there

Fly into Christchurch (CHC)

Search flights to CHC from your city ↗

Flights from India

From Delhi (1 stop)from ₹55,000
From Bengaluru (1 stop)from ₹54,000
From Chennai (1 stop)from ₹54,000
From Mumbai (1 stop)from ₹56,000

Fly into Auckland (AKL), 765 km away

Then: Flight · 4h (Air New Zealand / Jetstar)

Search flights to AKL from your city ↗

Flights from India

From Delhi (1 stop)from ₹55,000
From Bengaluru (1 stop)from ₹54,000
From Chennai (1 stop)from ₹54,000
From Mumbai (1 stop)from ₹56,000
From Kolkata (1 stop)from ₹56,000
From Hyderabad (1 stop)from ₹56,000

Fares from India: one way, per person; typical fares, not live prices.

Entry rules

Your passport

E-visa before you fly for up to 270 days, about ₹24,260

Apply online for a New Zealand Visitor Visa on Immigration New Zealand's Immigration Online (immigration.govt.nz), at least 6 weeks before you fly and earlier for December to February. Indian passports can't use the NZeTA.
Pay the NZ$341 visa fee and the NZ$100 tourism levy (IVL) online, together about ₹24,300. If INZ asks for your passport or documents, the VFS Global centres in India handle them for a service fee.
Upload your passport, a photo, 3-6 months of bank statements, flight and hotel bookings, a letter from your employer or business, and your income-tax returns.
The visa comes by email as an eVisa (nothing is stuck in the passport): print it and carry it.
Before you land, fill in the free New Zealand Traveller Declaration (NZTD) online or in its app, and declare all food on it: undeclared food brings an instant NZ$400 fine.

Carry: Passport valid for at least 3 months after the day you leave New Zealand; Visitor Visa (eVisa) printout; Return or onward ticket; Proof of funds: NZ$1,000 per person per month of the stay (NZ$400 a month if your accommodation is paid), about ₹55,000 a month; Hotel bookings or a host's invitation for the whole stay; NZTD confirmation.

The fee rose to NZ$341 plus a NZ$100 levy in October 2024; older guides quoting NZ$211 are out of date. INZ moved visitor applications to its enhanced Immigration Online system in September 2026, so check the current steps and processing time on immigration.govt.nz before you apply.

Checked 2026-10; confirm with the embassy before you fly.

Also in Christchurch & Canterbury Coast

🐋 Kaikoura · Whales, Dolphins and Seals Under Snowy Mountains

Plan a trip to Christchurch

Flying in from elsewhere? Start at Christchurch (CHC)