Christchurch Guided Walking Tour: 40+ Sites & Local Stories

Walk past earthquake memorials and heritage landmarks, then step into the spaces Christchurch rebuilt itself around.

A guided walking tour of Christchurch covering more than 40 sites across the central city, led by a local guide in English. You'll pass the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial, Bridge of Remembrance, New Regent Street, the Court Theatre, and Victoria Square, moving through both historic landmarks and the innovative spaces that have reshaped the city since 2010–2011. The tour runs two hours and includes an optional wine tasting at Fiddlesticks Restaurant & Bar in the Arts Precinct.

Step-by-step itinerary

Christchurch city walking tour

• Start at Canterbury Earthquake Memorial
• Visit farmers market and boutique stores
• Pass by main shopping hub and Ballantynes
• See the innovative bus exchange building
• Explore Christ Church Cathedral area
• Pass by central city library
• Pass by The Court Theatre
• Pass by Edwardian-style theatre
• Walk down New Regent Street
• Visit Victoria Square landmarks
• Pass by city’s premier civic venue
• Pass by world class event space
• Visit Bridge of Remembrance memorial
• Pass by city art gallery
• Pass by civic offices
• End at heritage buildings and galleries
• Optional wine tasting at Fiddlesticks

The Experience

The tour starts at the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial, the place that frames what happened to Christchurch and why the city looks the way it does now. From there, the route threads through the central city—past the Bridge of Remembrance, through the farmers market and boutique laneways, along New Regent Street with its Spanish Mission architecture, and into Victoria Square, the original hub where several landmarks cluster. You'll see the Court Theatre in its new 2025 home, the Christchurch Central Library, the Ballantynes Department store, and the bus exchange, a 4 Green Star rated building that shows what the city chose to rebuild. The guide weaves the stories together as you walk: the resilience, the creativity, the choices that shaped what stands now.

The route also passes Christ Church Cathedral, the Old Chief Post Office, the Chalice, New Zealand's only fully operational Edwardian-style theatre, the Christchurch Art Gallery, and the Rutherford's Den heritage precinct. More than 40 stops across two hours means you're moving steadily, not lingering long at any one place—the guide does the work of connecting them. You finish at the heritage precinct in the Arts area, originally Christchurch University, now transformed into galleries, shops, and artisan studios.

If you choose the wine tasting option, you'll end the walk at Fiddlesticks Restaurant & Bar, also in the Arts Precinct, for a relaxed tasting to close the afternoon. The walking tour alone is the standard option; the wine tasting is added at checkout if you want it.

What’s included

• A live guide in English.
• access to more than 40 sites across the central city including the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial, Bridge of Remembrance, New Regent Street, the Court Theatre, Victoria Square, and the Arts Precinct heritage buildings.
• the option to add a wine tasting at Fiddlesticks Restaurant & Bar if you choose that package at checkout.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Celebrate Christchurch Walking Tour

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to understand Christchurch's story—both the earthquakes that changed it and the spaces the city rebuilt—with someone who knows the place. The two-hour walk and local guide mean the route holds together as a narrative instead of a list of stops, and you move through both the landmarks and the newer spaces that define the city now.

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Top questions

What is the Bridge of Remembrance and why does the tour include it?

The Bridge of Remembrance is a World War I memorial to soldiers who lost their lives. It's one of Christchurch's most recognizable landmarks and a key stop on the route because it anchors the city's history before the earthquakes reshaped it.

How much walking is involved over the two hours?

The tour covers more than 40 sites across the central city in two hours, so you're moving steadily through the streets and laneways. The pace is moderate; the route is wheelchair accessible and all areas and surfaces are accessible, though the operator recommends at least moderate physical fitness.

What's the difference between the walking tour and the walking tour with wine tasting?

The Guided Walking Tour is the two-hour route through the city. The Walking Tour + Wine Tasting option adds a relaxed wine tasting at Fiddlesticks Restaurant & Bar in the Arts Precinct after the walk ends, so you choose which one at checkout.

Does the tour go inside any of the buildings, or is it all walking past them?

The tour is a walking route through the city, passing landmarks and moving through laneways and streets. The guide provides insights at each stop, but the focus is on the route itself and the stories of the places you pass, not entering buildings.

What makes New Regent Street worth a stop on this tour?

New Regent Street is a Spanish Mission style street in the heart of Christchurch, lined with boutique stores, restaurants, bars, and cafes. It's one of the city's character-defining areas and shows the blend of heritage architecture and modern life the tour explores.

Is there anything I need to bring or prepare for the walk?

The tour runs for two hours and covers the central city on foot. Comfortable walking shoes are a good idea. The route is wheelchair accessible; service animals are allowed. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need to reach the starting point.