Canterbury

Things to do in Canterbury

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Top 10 attractions in Canterbury

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International Antarctic Centre
No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Christchurch

International Antarctic Centre

7.7
4.6/5
257 reviews
The International Antarctic Centre is an important gateway to understanding Antarctica, located near Christchurch International Airport. Here, you can learn about various aspects of the Antarctic Circle, including its history and geology, through sound, light, and electrical displays. 1. The architecture of the International Antarctic Centre draws inspiration from unique Antarctic landscapes such as icebergs and glaciers, with interiors designed to reflect the climate and icy conditions of Antarctica. Upon entering, visitors first encounter displays of outdoor conditions at Antarctic bases and real-time photos and data transmitted from Scott Base. 2. The Antarctic storm chamber features real snow and low-temperature fans, allowing you to experience the sub-zero cold of Antarctica firsthand, complete with simulated blizzard winds. Visitors must change into warm clothing and shoes before entering. 3. Penguin feeding show in the penguin introduction area further along is the penguin introduction area, where you can also watch feeding shows. Here, you'll see the world's smallest little blue penguins, which are incredibly adorable. If you're particularly interested in these blue penguins, you can join the penguin encounter tour to explore backstage facilities, learn about penguin quarantine zones, their daily routines, and dietary habits, and even get up close with them.New Zealand · Christchurch
Christchurch Tram
No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Christchurch

Christchurch Tram

7.4
4.7/5
75 reviews
The Christchurch Tram is a retro-style sightseeing tram route that loops around the city center. Christchurch had trams running through its streets as early as the late 19th century. After tram services ceased in the 1950s, a fleet of meticulously restored vintage carriages returned to the tracks in the 1990s. With their wooden interiors, brass handrails, and the crisp "ding-ding" of bells, riding one feels like stepping onto a time machine. The full loop around the city center takes less than an hour, with over ten stops along the way, allowing you to hop on and off at your leisure and spend as much time as you like at each attraction. The tram connects key highlights of the city center: Cathedral Square, the colorful Spanish-style shops of New Regent Street, the food-filled Riverside Market, the lush Botanic Gardens, and the Arts Centre composed of Gothic-style heritage buildings. A stop is also located near the Avon River punting jetty, while the Cardboard Cathedral, built from paper tubes, is within walking distance. Families with children can let the little ones run wild at the Margaret Mahy Playground. Outside the windows, century-old buildings alternate with post-earthquake landmarks, while the driver provides a guide to the history of these streets—from the reconstruction story of the cathedral to the memorial significance of the Bridge of Remembrance—making the ride both engaging and informative. A few details are worth noting during your experience: the outer sightseeing seats are not fully rainproof, so choose inner seats on rainy days; eating, drinking, and phone calls are not allowed onboard; for photography enthusiasts, waiting for the tram to pass the colorful facades of New Regent Street or cross the stone bridge over the Avon River yields particularly striking shots.New Zealand · Christchurch

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Experiences you can't miss in Canterbury

Featured Day tours in Canterbury

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New Zealand Tekapo Chameleon Stargazing Tour [Hotel Pickup, Chinese/English Optional, Small Group]
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5.0/5
· 3 reviews· 59 booked
Duration: 1.5 hrs
English
Free cancellation
FromDKK 456.37
Queenstown round-trip Aoraki / Mount Cook scenic tour with optional helicopter sightseeing and glacier explorer boat
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FromDKK 1,088.99
Mount Cook 1-day tour | Lake Tekapo · The Church of the Good Shepherd | Tasman Glacier viewpoint hiking trail
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3.0/5
· 2 reviews· 54 booked
Duration: 11.5 hrs
English
103 travelers saved
FromDKK 1,183.2
Queenstown to Christchurch one-way 1-day tour | Aoraki / Mount Cook · Lake Pukaki · Lake Tekapo
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5.0/5
· 1 review· 90 booked
Duration: 11.2 hrs
English
73 travelers saved
FromDKK 1,563.78

Featured Culture & history in Canterbury

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From Christchurch: Full-Day Lord of the Rings Tour to Edoras
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4.9/5
· 107 reviews
Duration: 10 hrs
Free cancellation
96 consecutive positive reviews
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromDKK 1,199.29DKK 1,262.42
Christchurch Highlights Audio Tour: City Icons
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Duration: 1.5 hrs
English
Free cancellation
Book now for today
20% off
Limited-time sale
FromDKK 47.76DKK 59.71
From Christchurch: Sheep Farm Experience with Lunch & Winery
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5.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 6 hrs
Free cancellation
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromDKK 1,234.15DKK 1,299.11
Christchurch: Historic Landmarks, Earthquakes & Rebirth Walking Tour (2-Hour)
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Duration: 1.6 hrs
English
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromDKK 429.15
Arthur's Pass & Castle Hill Day Trip From Christchurch
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4.9/5
· 11 reviews
Duration: 10 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromDKK 711.85DKK 749.32

Featured Food & drink in Canterbury

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From Methven: Hot Air Balloon Flight in Canterbury with Wine
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4.8/5
· 19 reviews
Duration: 4 hrs
English
Free cancellation
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromDKK 1,503.57DKK 1,582.71
Christchurch: Kai Bites Walking Tour with Lunch
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Duration: 1.5 hrs
Free cancellation
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromDKK 840.63DKK 884.88
Christchurch Guided Walking Tour with Optional Wine Tasting
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4.0/5
· 1 review
Duration: 2 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromDKK 125.23DKK 131.83
Christchurch: Ōtautahi Meander Walking Tour with Tastings
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5% off
Limited-time sale
FromDKK 608.13DKK 640.14

Featured Outdoor & sports in Canterbury

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New Zealand Mount Cook Tasman glacier helicopter sightseeing + glacier hike | professional equipment provided
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FromDKK 3,466.68
Christchurch Hop-On Hop-Off Tram
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4.5/5
· 848 reviews· 49 booked
Duration: 24 hrs
English
Free cancellation
Book now for today
FromDKK 161.66
Helicopter line for glacier hiking at Aoraki / Mount Cook in Queenstown, New Zealand
Trip.Select
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5.0/5
· 2 reviews· 24 booked
Duration: 3 hrs
English
Free cancellation
FromDKK 3,514.19
Skydiving at Aoraki / Mount Cook in South Island, New Zealand | multiple time slots/altitude options + professional instructor
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FromDKK 1,247.25
Mount Cook: 3-Hour Tasman Glacier Helicopter Ride and Hike
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4.9/5
· 110 reviews· 89 booked
Duration: 3 hrs
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
29 consecutive positive reviews
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromDKK 3,562.1DKK 3,749.58
Christchurch Gondola and Tram City Tour Combo
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5.0/5
· 6 reviews
Duration: 1 day
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
5% off
Limited-time sale
FromDKK 293.35DKK 308.79

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Private Tours in Canterbury

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Group Tours in Canterbury

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Free things to do in Canterbury

What travelers say about Canterbury

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111***97October 24, 2026
4.0
I took seasickness medication beforehand. The sea wasn't too windy that day, but there were still some swells, and I felt a little seasick when the boat first set off at a low speed. The boat was very clean, and the crew was very attentive to service. We didn't see many whales that day, and the ones we did see weren't very big; I only caught a glimpse of a whale's tail once. Overall, it was a good experience. The only downside was that it's about a 2.5-hour drive from Christchurch, but thankfully, the journey passes through vineyards, and there are a few wineries worth visiting.

Whale Watch Kaikoura

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_TT***56October 22, 2026
5.0
A very unique experience during visit Mt Cook. Pilot will bring us fly over Tasman lake so that we can have an amazing view. After that we will have a short landing on top and have a photo shoot. Check in super easy, just show the booking and all done in 5 min.

Mount Cook Helicopter Experiences

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M23***52October 15, 2026
5.0
It's suitable for a half-day trip; if you have enough time, it's quite nice to experience the various activities. Our flight was in the afternoon, so we spent the morning sightseeing, had lunch at the cafe, and then checked in at the airport.

International Antarctic Centre

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_AP***89October 10, 2026
5.0
Good way to see some penguins if you didn’t make any prior arrangements to see more.

Ōamaru Penguins

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耳東氵罒幸一止August 24, 2026
5.0
很好玩的一个体验,而且坐着电车绕城市看风景很轻松。我们都很高兴。在Trip平台买票也很方便,到地点就能轻松领取实体票然后上车,车上的领导也很细心的为每一个景点做介绍……👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Christchurch Tram

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Thinh0304October 7, 2026
5.0
My friends and I recently had the pleasure of experiencing Punting On The Avon at the Antigua Boat Sheds, and it was an absolutely excellent outing from start to finish. We were looking for a relaxing group activity, and this completely exceeded our expectations. The scenery and natural environment along the river are stunningly beautiful, making it a perfectly tranquil escape that contributed to a fantastic atmosphere.  Our overall enjoyment was top-tier; gliding along the water while taking in the picturesque sights was both peaceful and incredibly fun to share with friends. Everything was incredibly well-organized, and we all felt that the exceptional service provided outstanding value for money. If you are traveling with a group of friends and looking for a highly rated, memorable experience on the water, we cannot recommend this enough!

Punting On The Avon (Antigua Boat Sheds)

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赶景August 5, 2026
4.0
The Lin'an Art Museum is located inside the Wu-Yue Cultural Park, which also houses the Lin'an Museum and the Wu-Yue Cultural Museum. The art museum is not large, but it is quite exquisitely decorated, and the surrounding environment is fantastic. You can visit it while you are at the museum.

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

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Flora_GuAugust 12, 2025
5.0
Christchurch, the largest city on New Zealand's South Island, nestled between mountains and the sea, offers panoramic views of the city and coastline from the cable car. We followed the directions a friend had sent us and arrived near the summit. A short climb up brought us to the cable car station. There's an observation deck and a cafe on the second floor. This way, we only had to buy a one-way ticket down the mountain, which was significantly cheaper. A Chinese staff member at the ticket office told us about a "Time Tunnel" car showcasing the history of Canterbury, New Zealand. If you take the No. 8 bus to the base of the mountain, you can take the cable car up and then back down—perhaps a classic way to enjoy the experience.

Christchurch Gondola

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_M1***49February 16, 2026
5.0
When we arrived, it was raining. We were asked if we wanted the activity moved indoors due to the weather, and we were offered a refund or a reschedule. We didn't reschedule. Although the activity was indoors, the alpacas were just as cute, our mood was just as good, and the activity was just as wonderful. Thank you for the cookies; they were delicious.

Shamarra Alpacas

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铨上风满楼July 3, 2025
4.0
The scenery is amazing, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery from different angles by taking a helicopter... The cost performance has great room for improvement, and part of the price of the helicopter 🚁 is the kb of the tour guide...

Tasman Glacier

Trip Moments in Canterbury

Frequently asked questions

What are the must-do things in Canterbury?

Don't miss these attractions in Canterbury: Whale Watch Kaikoura, Mount Cook Helicopter Experiences, and International Antarctic Centre. If you like Day tours, try New Zealand Tekapo Chameleon Stargazing Tour [Hotel Pickup, Chinese/English Optional, Small Group]. If you enjoy Culture & history, try From Christchurch: Full-Day Lord of the Rings Tour to Edoras.

You can give Christchurch Farm Experience 1-Day Tour in New Zealand's South Island [Includes Wine Tasting + Lunch | Round-Trip from Christchurch] and From Methven: Hot Air Balloon Flight in Canterbury with Wine a try. Before you go, please check their opening hours and menus online. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak hours.

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include New Zealand Tekapo Chameleon Stargazing Tour [Hotel Pickup, Chinese/English Optional, Small Group], 1-day whale watching tour in Kaikoura, New Zealand [round-trip from Christchurch + small group of 16 + whale watching included], and Queenstown round-trip Aoraki / Mount Cook scenic tour with optional helicopter sightseeing and glacier explorer boat. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

As of October 30, 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Canterbury is around DKK 456.37 – DKK 1,908.02. Rates vary by duration, group size, transportation, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

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Change and cancellation policies vary by attractions and tours. Please check the product details page for more information.

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