Three Perfect Days: A Trip to Christchurch

Begin your first day by heading to Victoria Square for a tram ride around Christchurch, passing the colorful storefronts of New Regent Street and iconic sites like Cathedral Square. You’ll get a better understanding of the city’s rebuilding efforts with the amount of construction and the plaza’s Gothic namesake still shrouded in scaffolding.

Visit the Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū to see Māori art, including Robyn Kahukiwa's striking painting of women from her tribe performing a haka, a ceremonial dance of empowerment.

Next, take a stroll in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, exploring its conservatories, rose garden and walking paths. The gardens offer a tranquil escape in the center of the city. You can also enjoy a ride on the Christchurch Gondola, which offers panoramic views of the city, Southern Alps and Lyttelton Harbor.

If you’re a foodie, go on a cultural food tour with Ash Jefferys of Āmiki Tours, stopping by The Fudge Cottage for treats flavored with feijoa, a small, green skinned tree fruit sometimes called pineapple guava and King of Snake for a moong dal salad (split mung beans) with avocado, pumpkin seeds and a lime dressing. Or, if Mediterranean food is more your style, try the goat cheese croquettes and whipped ricotta at Bar Franco.

Speaking of food, start your day with a flat white and truffled scrambled eggs at Miro, a chic café housed in one of the last remaining Art Deco buildings in Christchurch. For a fancier dinner, have a multi-course dinner at Mapu Test Kitchen in Lyttelton, with innovative dishes like kingfish with yuzu and banana-based noodles. For dessert try the purple peach gnocchi with rhubarb ice and yellow kiwi fruit curd.

For your first night’s stay check out Sudima Christchurch City, with both a variety of amenities and a great view of the city.

Spend day two on the water and drinking wine. First, go punting (a pole-guided boat ride) down the Avon River. Sit back and enjoy an informative guided tour, as you glide past weeping willows and spot local wildlife like paradise shelducks.

Then take a drive to the Waipara wine region with a stop at Pegasus Bay Winery for a tasting. Established by the Donaldson family who were pioneers of the Canterbury wine industry, they specialize in pinot noir and riesling.

End the day with a scenic drive along the rugged Kaikōura coast, where the road hugs the ocean, and waves crash against black rocks. For a closer look at the marine life, try kayaking to spot seals and dolphins. You can also go whale watching in this area.

Since you’re having a more relaxing day, we suggest a light (but delicious) breakfast at C1 Espresso. The granola and poached pear alongside a flat white is a perfect combination. For a multicourse lunch, head to Black Estate vineyard, for dishes like chicken-liver parfait and barbecue lamb paired with the vineyard’s award-winning pinot noir.

For dinner, we suggest eating at your hotel Hapuku Lodge + Tree Houses. Mussels and picanha take center stage there.

Start the day with a thrilling (and unique) experience: swimming with dusky dolphins (a species of dolphins with dark bluish-black back and white belly) through Dolphin Encounter Kaikōura.

After you’re done attend a cooking class at Hapuku Kitchen, where you’ll pick fresh ingredients from the garden and learn how to prepare local seasonal foods like stuffed squash blossoms.

Finish your day in the air with a whale-watching helicopter tour, spotting sperm whales and dusky dolphins from above, followed by a visit to the fur seal colony at Ohau Point.

Even if you don’t take a cooking class, you can still grab a snack back at your hotel Hapuku Lodge + Tree Houses. And for dinner, Nins Bin is a roadside stop known for its garlic butter-drenched seafood, with sunset views overlooking the ocean. Watching the sun dip into the horizon reflects Christchurch's stunning natural beauty.