Riverside Market

Christchurch

To outsiders, it’s Christchurch. To insiders, it’s a thriving network of inner-city and suburban neighbourhoods, each with something special and different to offer. There’s the vibrancy of the new CBD, the tranquillity of the many parks and outdoor spaces, coastal suburbs with a culture all their own, boutique shopping to match the best and big-sky views all the way to the Alps.

Dive into Cityscape’s definitive guide to every nook and cranny of our always amazing city and its surrounds. Shop, explore, eat, drink, hike, bike and live up a storm in Ōtautahi Christchurch.

Big-city sass

Small but perfectly formed – that’s Christchurch. It’s got all the sass of its sprawling counterparts, with fashion-forward shopping precincts, hospo haunts of every shade and a big-city smorgasbord of art galleries, design stores and centres of culture. All in one grid. Turn left or right 4 times and you’ll be back where you started. Try that in Auckland.

Flowers and trees

And birds and bees. From Garden City to the new identity of Ōtautahi Christchurch as a place of harmony between people and nature, here is a city of green spaces and some wild places too. Serenity is never too far away. No coincidence that it’s fertile ground for all manner of artisans, from craft brewers to vegan bakers and natural cheesemakers.

Did you know...

HagleyPark is the 3rd biggest city park in the world, behind New York’s Central Park and London’s Hyde Park.
Christchurch has long been a departure point for Antarctic explorers, including Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton.
The Māori name for the area is Ōtautahi. It was first settled in 1250. Ōtautahi is home to Ngai Tahu, the main iwi in Te Waipounamu (South Island).

Mountains to the sea

From the vantage point of a rooftop bar, Port Hills lookout or the top floor of Tūranga, the central-city library, you can look over the city and Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps and the Pacific Ocean. Myriad stunning land and seascapes are there to explore. You can surf in the morning and ski in the afternoon!

Communities

The Crossing

The Four Aves

Take a lap of the Four Avenues and you’re going to see the beating heart of a new Christchurch. Everything is within walking or scootering distance, so get out and explore the art, the food, the history and the social hubs central Christchurch has to offer.

Neil Dawson, Fanfare

Northbound

Stretching from Bealey Avenue to the Waimakariri River, this is a predominantly suburban area with some significant outdoor hotspots including Bottle Lake Forest and The Groynes.

New Brighton Beach

Seaside & sunshine

East to the sea! Our coastal suburbs have a culture all of their own, as well as aquatic and land-based activities and stunning views up and down the coast. Between the beach and the CBD, you’ll find residential areas interspersed with smaller retail centres.

Christchurch Adventure Park

Heading for the hills

This area encompasses everything you’ll find between Moorhouse Avenue and the Port Hills. Depending on which neighbourhood you find yourself in, industrial and commercial businesses can bump up against boutique shopping, lovely suburban eateries and brand-new residential developments.

Riccarton House

Alpine views

An enormous area stretching between Hagley Park, Christchurch International Airport and student town. Some of the city’s oldest and most sought-after suburbs are here, as well as your more standard residential areas. Plenty of delightful cafés and boutique retail dot the area.