Christchurch: Gondola, Avon River Punt & Tram Pass

Gondola rides river punting and vintage trams in Christchurch

You’ll ride vintage trams through central Christchurch, float quietly along the Avon River in a hand-crafted punt with a local guide steering, and soar above city rooftops on the Port Hills gondola. Take your time—each experience is flexible across different days. Expect small surprises: laughter from locals, sunlight breaking over distant hills, maybe even your own mispronounced “Kia ora.”

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Christchurch's top attractions

• Ride the Christchurch Tram
• Take Avon River Punt cruise
• Visit Christchurch Gondola summit
• Relax at Gondola cafe

The Experience

We stepped onto the old Christchurch Tram just as a couple of school kids hopped off, laughing about something I couldn’t catch. The driver—he introduced himself as Mike—waved us in with that easy Kiwi warmth, and we rattled through the city center past murals and those new glass buildings. I kept craning my neck for glimpses of the old stone facades. You can jump off wherever you like, so we did, near the Botanic Gardens where the air smelled faintly of wet grass and coffee from somewhere nearby.

Later, we wandered down to the Avon River for our punt cruise. The guide wore this straw boater hat (I guess it’s tradition?) and pushed us gently along with his pole. It was quieter than I expected—just the hush of water against wood, ducks gliding by, a couple on a picnic blanket waving from under a willow. My partner tried to pronounce “Ōtautahi” after our guide mentioned it’s what Māori call Christchurch; Li laughed when I tried to say it in Mandarin—probably butchered it.

The next day we took the #8 bus out to the Christchurch Gondola. There was a bit of a queue (cruise ship day apparently), but honestly, nobody seemed bothered. Up in the gondola car, you could see all the way out to Banks Peninsula—the clouds were low over the Southern Alps but there was this sudden break of sunlight on Lyttelton Harbour that made everyone go quiet for a second. We grabbed lunch at the summit café; nothing fancy, but sitting there with hot chips and that view… I still think about that moment sometimes.

What’s included

Your sightseeing pass covers a full-day hop-on hop-off ticket for the heritage tram around central Christchurch, a guided punt ride along the Avon River (you’ll need to prebook your timeslot), plus entry to ride up and explore at the top of Port Hills with access to all summit facilities on the Christchurch Gondola—but keep in mind transport out to the Gondola isn’t included so you’ll need to catch public bus #8 or arrange your own way there.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Christchurch Attractions

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Top questions

Is transport to the Christchurch Gondola included?

No, transport is not included but you can take public bus #8 to reach the Gondola station.

Can I use my sightseeing pass on different days?

Yes, you can visit each attraction on separate days if you prefer.

Is wheelchair access available for all attractions?

The tram and gondola are partially accessible; punting is not wheelchair accessible unfortunately.

Do I need to prebook my Avon River Punt time?

Yes, you should prebook your punt timeslot by contacting the supplier directly before arrival.

Where do I collect my tickets?

You can collect tickets from Cathedral Junction Booking Office or at any attraction when you arrive.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed at all attractions included in this pass.

What’s included in this sightseeing pass?

A heritage tram day pass (hop-on hop-off), an Avon River punt ride with guide, and Christchurch Gondola ride with summit access.