Campervan-Friendly Sightseeing in Christchurch
Quick summary: Christchurch’s best sights fall into two groups for campervan and motorhome travellers. On the city’s edges, attractions such as the International Antarctic Centre, the wildlife parks, the gondola and the beaches have room to park and slot easily into a pickup or return day. In the centre, the Botanic Gardens, the Avon River, the trams and the street art are best enjoyed on foot after leaving the vehicle at your holiday park.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Near the airport | International Antarctic Centre, Orana Wildlife Park, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve |
| Western suburbs | Riccarton Bush and Riccarton House |
| Port Hills | Christchurch Gondola, summit walks and lookouts |
| Coast | Sumner, Scarborough, New Brighton and its pier |
| Central city (on foot) | Botanic Gardens, Avon River punting, heritage trams, street art, art gallery |
| Best approach | Drive to the edge-of-city sights; walk or bus in the centre |
Which sights near the airport suit a campervan?
The airport area is perfect for the first or last hours of a hire.
- International Antarctic Centre. Right beside the airport, it explores Christchurch’s long role as a gateway to Antarctica, with an Antarctic storm simulation, rides in an all-terrain vehicle and little blue penguins.
- Orana Wildlife Park. New Zealand’s open-range zoo, with native species including kiwi and animals from around the world across large outdoor habitats.
- Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. A reserve with a strong focus on New Zealand wildlife, including kiwi viewing in a nocturnal house.
All three have open car parks with space for larger vehicles.
What can you see in the western suburbs?
Riccarton Bush is one of the last remnants of the kahikatea forest that once covered the plains, with a short loop walk among trees hundreds of years old. Next door, Riccarton House is a historic homestead set in gardens beside the Avon River, and a popular market runs in the grounds on some days.
Is the Christchurch Gondola worth visiting in a campervan?
Yes. The gondola’s base station sits in the Heathcote Valley on the city’s south-eastern edge, with parking at its foot, so you don’t need to drive into the hills. The cabins climb to the summit of the Port Hills, where you look one way over Lyttelton Harbour and the other across the city and the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps. Walking tracks lead along the crater rim from the top. See gondola rides for tickets and combined experiences.
Elsewhere on the Port Hills, an adventure park has zip lines and mountain-bike trails with views over the city. See zipline tours and other adventure tours around Christchurch.
Which beaches are easy to reach?
- Sumner has a sheltered beach, a lively café strip and Cave Rock on the shore, with beachfront parking.
- Scarborough, just beyond Sumner, has a quieter beach and coastal walks towards Taylors Mistake and on to Godley Head, where clifftop tracks pass old coastal defences above the entrance to Lyttelton Harbour. The road out is narrow and winding, so Godley Head tours are an easy alternative in a large vehicle.
- New Brighton has a long surf beach, a pier stretching out over the waves and a large seaside playground.
Weekend afternoons in summer are busy at all three, so aim for weekdays or mornings.
What should you see in the central city on foot?
Leave the campervan behind and spend a day exploring the centre on foot or by bus:
- The Botanic Gardens in Hagley Park, with themed gardens, glasshouses and riverside paths.
- Guided walking tours, covering the rebuild, the street art and the river, or a self-guided scavenger hunt around the centre.
- Punting on the Avon River, gliding past willows and gardens with a guide in Edwardian dress.
- The heritage trams, which loop around the central city with commentary.
- Street art, with large murals on buildings and laneways, a legacy of the rebuild.
- The art gallery, with New Zealand and international collections.
- Quake City, which tells the story of the Canterbury earthquakes and the city’s recovery.
- Riverside dining and the city’s markets, food halls and laneway bars.
Which Christchurch attractions have room for an RV in the car park?
The attractions on the edges of the city: the International Antarctic Centre, Orana Wildlife Park, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, the Christchurch Gondola base station and the beachfront car parks at Sumner and New Brighton. Spaces still fill on busy days, so arrive early, and use bays marked for long vehicles where they exist.
How can you fit sightseeing around the hire?
- Before pickup: spend a day in the central city on foot, then collect the vehicle the next morning.
- On pickup day: visit an attraction near the airport after collecting the vehicle, then head to your first night.
- On return day: stay near the airport the night before, visit a wildlife park or the Antarctic Centre in the morning, and return the vehicle in the afternoon.
See our guides to where to park a campervan and tours on pickup and drop-off day.
Compare campervan and motorhome hire in Christchurch
Frequently Asked Questions
Sights on the city’s edges suit campervans best, including the International Antarctic Centre, Orana Wildlife Park, Willowbank Wildlife Reserve, the Christchurch Gondola, Riccarton Bush and the beaches at Sumner and New Brighton.
The gondola’s base station in the Heathcote Valley has parking at its foot, so you can ride to the summit of the Port Hills without driving into the hills.
The International Antarctic Centre is beside the airport, and Orana Wildlife Park and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve are a short drive away, all with open car parks.
Leave the campervan at your holiday park and explore on foot or by bus, enjoying the Botanic Gardens, Avon River punting, the heritage trams, street art and the art gallery.
Sumner has a sheltered beach and café strip with beachfront parking, while New Brighton has a long surf beach and pier. Weekdays and mornings are quietest.