90-Minute Guided Walking Tour with Gelato

Highlights

• Walk with a local guide who knows the city's stories, not just its buildings
• See a Gothic cathedral and one built from cardboard tubes, minutes apart
• Cover central Christchurch in 90 minutes, ideal on a tight cruise-day schedule
• Enjoy a scoop of Rollickin' gelato on pastel New Regent Street, included

Description

Ninety minutes. One city. No wasted steps. If you have a few hours in Christchurch, off a ship at Lyttelton or on a stopover between one thing and the next, the usual advice is to pick a single sight and hope it was the right one. This walk is the other option: the centre of the city, the short way round, with someone who lives here doing the talking. Christchurch is not a city that shows you what it has always been. It shows you what it is becoming. In ninety minutes you will stand in front of a Gothic revival cathedral still marked by the 2011 earthquakes, then walk a few streets to a working cathedral built out of cardboard tubes. That gap, between the city that was and the city being built in its place, is the most interesting thing happening in New Zealand right now, and almost nobody is telling visitors about it properly. You meet your guide at the Bridge of Remembrance and set off along the Avon River, the waterway the whole centre is built around. From there it is Gothic stone and modern glass facing each other across Worcester Boulevard at the Arts Centre and the Christchurch Art Gallery, then into Cathedral Square, the heart of the old city, where the restoration of ChristChurch Cathedral is still unfolding. New Regent Street comes next: a pastel Spanish Mission arcade built as a bet against the Great Depression, with the heritage tram still running through it. This is where your gelato is waiting. One scoop from Rollickin' Gelato, hokey pokey or lolly cake, about as New Zealand as it gets. The walk carries on to the Cardboard Cathedral and Latimer Square, the ground where the city gathered after the quake, then back along Cashel Street through the street art and the rebuilt blocks, with Te Kaha standing where the city decided to put its new stadium. You finish where you started, at the Bridge of Remembrance. The 2011 earthquakes are part of this story and we do not skirt around them, but we handle them the way locals do: honestly, briefly, and with respect. This is a walk about a city that got back up. Coming off a ship? We meet in the city at the Bridge of Remembrance, not at the port, so you will need the Lyttelton shuttle or your own transfer in and out. Departures are timed to ship days and finish well before all-aboard. If your ship does not berth at Lyttelton, you get a full refund. The walking is flat and easy, and the route starts and finishes at the same landmark. All ages are welcome, and prams and carriers are no problem. Bring comfortable shoes and a jacket for Canterbury's weather. We will bring the rest.

Includes

Up to 90 minute guided walking tour of central Christchurch Local guide sharing stories, history and hidden details A scoop of ice cream in a classic New Zealand flavour - hokey pokey or lolly cake Discover Christchurch's fascinating history Explore the city's remarkable architectural heritage Learn about the 2010–2011 earthquakes and Christchurch's remarkable recovery Visit some of the city's most significant landmarks and public spaces Discover the changing face of Christchurch, from its historic heart to its modern rebuild

Excludes

This tour does not include entry to ChristChurch Cathedral

Important Information

• Meeting Point: The Bridge of Remembrance
• Please arrive 10 minutes before the tour starts so we can begin on time.
• This is a walking tour through central Christchurch that lasts up to 90 minutes, so comfortable footwear is recommended.
• The tour takes place outdoors in all weather conditions, so please dress appropriately for Christchurch's changeable weather.
• The tour includes a complimentary gelato from Rollickin' Gelato
• The tour explores Christchurch's history, heritage, culture, architecture and ongoing regeneration, including the impact of the 2010/2011 earthquakes.
• The tour involves regular walking and standing, with stops at various locations throughout the city centre.

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund