Christchurch
City in New Zealand
Christchurch is a city in New Zealand with a population of 383,200. Located 305 km from Wellington, it features several notable landmarks, including the Christ Church Cathedral and the Cardboard Cathedral.
What to see
The city's landmarks include the Christ Church Cathedral, the Cardboard Cathedral, and the CTV Building. Visitors may also explore sites such as the Canterbury Museum, the Christchurch Art Gallery, the Christchurch Arts Centre, the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, the Bridge of Remembrance, and the Air Force Museum of New Zealand. Other places of interest include the 185 empty chairs, Ferrymead Heritage Park, Orana Wildlife Park, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, and the Riccarton area.
When to go
The warmest months are January and February, with daily highs of 21 °C and lows of 13 °C. Temperatures drop steadily through autumn and reach their lowest in July, with a high of 10 °C and a low of 3 °C. Rain is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, with monthly rainfall between 41 mm and 77 mm. The number of rainy days ranges from 10 to 16 days per month, with the wettest period occurring during the winter months of June, July, and August.
Getting there
Christchurch International Airport is located 10 km from the city center.
Top sights in Christchurch
Weather by month
The warmest month is January, with an average high of 21 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 21 | 21 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 20 |
| Average low, °C | 13 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| Rainfall, mm | 41 | 45 | 48 | 50 | 64 | 66 | 77 | 75 | 44 | 54 | 49 | 50 |
| Rainy days | 12 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Christchurch (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- 185 empty chairs
- Air Force Museum of New Zealand
- Bridge of Remembrance
- Canterbury Museum, Christchurch
- Christchurch Art Gallery
- Christchurch Arts Centre
- Christchurch Botanic Gardens
- Ferrymead Heritage Park
- Orana Wildlife Park
- Riccarton
- Willowbank Wildlife Reserve