If you have the time, head to...
by wen_viaggio
If you have the time, head to the North and visit Auckland. Though the city of Auckland is not as scenic as those in the South, it still offers its own attractions such as the towering entertainment complex,Harrah's Sky City.
Mountain biking
by dave_williams
The mountain biking in Chch is fantastic. Port hills are awesome have heaps of different rides and tracks. The rapaki track is probibly the best way to get up the hill (20mins if you blast up) and then lots of exploring to do either single drack transversing the hills or lots of fast downhills. The views from the top are well worth the effort getting up there.
Bottle lake forrest is not too bad esp night riding. Pretty easy but good single track and heaps of trees to crash into if you want to get carried away. A mountain bike with knobbly tires is about all you need. Obviously the madder you are and the faster you like to charge down the hill the more important it is for suspension. I started of on a hardtail (no suspension) and had heaps of fun. There are lots of different rides for different abilities so you really can't go wrong.
New Brighton Pier
by martin_nl
After Sumner we drove a few more k's and we ended up in New Brighton, where the people of Christchurch and New Brighton built this great pier. If the amount you donated to the pier was big you can even have a bench or a lantern named after you. Great idea or not? There were lots of surfies riding the big waves here. We opted for something less adventurous and cold (!!) and went into the library instead and afterwards had a nice milkshake at the cafe right next to the pier and under the library building.
A spectacular Hospitality Precint
by Kakapo2 about SOL Square
If I found the photo I had taken on a night outing, I could even show you how SOL Square looks like... (I suspect it is on an external hard drive, and surely on the one which is downstairs at the moment...)
They claim they are the hottest hospitality precint in Christchurch - and they are probably right. Although... I think it is more relaxed to hang out at The Strip along the Avon with its nice outdoor views on a hot summer's night.
SOL Square is like a huge party square, surrounded by pubs, bistros and clubs, with wonderful lighting at night. You can fall from one bar into the other - and this is what usually happens the later it gets. People falling over, with more and more women too drunken to stand upright or even on their feet. As long as they are not and do not spoil your evening you can enjoy the fabulous atmosphere which I find especially nice when sitting on one of the upper storey decks or balconies overlooking the square.
Some restaurants and pubs facing Lichfield Street are also part of the SOL Square buzz, for example the excellent MU Steakhouse and His Lordships. Even a gallery is there, if you need some cultural inspiration ;-)
SOL stands for: South of Lichfield, meaning: South of Lichfield Street, between Colombo and Manchester Streets.
It is easy to reach from the Lichfield Street exit of the Bus Exchange which should make the decision even easier to leave the car at home or at your accommodation. You just have to cross Lichfield Street, and get into the precint through one of the small lanes, best through His Lordships Lane.
I think SOL Square is about the best example of city revival, created by a now struggling developer who has also built the SO Hotel and Living Space.
BY TRAM
by kiwigal_1
In the central area of Christchurch old restored trams run around a loop circuit. There is a handy all day pass you can buy that will get you around to most of the interesting shopping and site seeing spots.