Photos and Stories from Christchurch

We wrapped up our tour of New Zealand’s South Island with a brief stay in Christchurch.

Christchurch is probably best known, unfortunately, for the damage it suffered during earthquakes on September 4, 2010, and February 21, 2011, the latter of which killed 185 people. Adjusted for inflation, these earthquakes caused over $52.2 billion in damage, making them New Zealand’s costliest natural disaster and one of the most expensive disasters in history. 

We visited Christchurch for one day during our 2013 cruise from New Zealand to Australia. At the time, the destruction in the downtown area was still plainly visible. Some buildings had been demolished, while others stood abandoned. It was sad and a bit eerie.

Now, 15 years after those terrible earthquakes, we are happy to report that Christchurch has rebounded. The downtown is vibrant with attractive new buildings. The Christ Church Cathedral, which sustained massive damage, is still being rebuilt, but most other evidence of the earthquakes’ damage is gone.

During our stay, we visited the Christchurch Botanic Garden, the Christchurch Art Gallery, and the Arts Centre, all located within a couple blocks of each other.

But first things first! February 24, the day we arrived, was Dave’s birthday, so we celebrated with dinner at a restaurant next to our apartment. 

We’ve learned that many cities and towns in New Zealand have beautiful city parks and botanic gardens, and Christchurch was no exception. Even outside of gardens such as these, most cities maintain colorful flowers and trees throughout the city, especially on the center medians of the main streets. 

After exploring the sizable botanic garden on a sunny, warm day (the first we had on this trip), it was lunch time and we were ready for a break. Fortunately, we found a stylish restaurant called Fiddlesticks that fit the bill nicely. We each ordered a glass of sangria (always a hit with us), which was as delicious as it was artfully presented, and fish and chips – also delicious.

Rested and refreshed, we crossed the street to the Christchurch Art Gallery. It’s always a good sign when the building itself is a piece of art. 

We didn’t take many photos inside the gallery, but here are a few. In the art museums we’ve visited in Australia and New Zealand, we have appreciated the opportunity to view the works of artists who aren’t well known in North America or Europe.

The projected imagery onto this piece made it unique and interesting.

The Arts Centre was a complex of 23 heritage buildings housing shops, restaurants, art spaces, and cultural event spaces that was formerly a university. The buildings were stately and elegant, but most of the tenants were retail-oriented. There were three interesting exhibits, but most of the rest wasn’t of much interest.

Most of Christchurch’s other points of interest were on the outskirts of town, and we decided not to travel to them. If you ever visit, we recommend the International Antarctic Centre near the airport. We visited it in 2013 during our cruise ship stop.