General information for visitors
Sister city affiliations
Christchurch is affiliated to the following sister cities:
- Adelaide, Australia
- Christchurch, Dorset, England
- Gansu Province, China
- Kurashiki, Japan
- Seattle, USA
- Songpa-Gu, Korea
Local transport
Christchurch has an open and planned road system linking major arterial roads to a parallel street system. National highways provide smooth entry and exit from the city.
Travel time around Christchurch (by road):
| Airport to inner city | 20 minutes |
| Inner city to United Croquet Club | 5 minutes (circuitous) |
| United to St Martins Croquet Club | 15 minutes |
| United to Cashmere Croquet Club | 15 minutes |
| United to Fendalton Park Croquet Club | 15 minutes |
| United to Elmwood Park Croquet Club | 10 minutes |
| United to St James Park Croquet Club | 15 minutes |
Transport for players and officials
Transport will be available from the United Croquet Club to the surrounding clubs for those scheduled to play at those locations before the start of play each day, and return transport to the United Croquet Club will be arranged at the end of play.
Public transport services
Christchurch has a well-developed public transport system that ruins 17 hours a day, between the hours of 6am to 11pm (approximately, depending on specific service).
The city has a free inner city shuttle service and minimum charge services to the suburbs, where the competition venue is located.
There are a number of taxi companies operating in the city, offering a relatively inexpensive means of travel around Christchurch, 24 hours a day.
Day tours
There is nowhere else in the world where you can experience so much, so close and so easy.
Amazingly within two hours of a major international airport, you will find every ingredient for a totally memorable holiday.
- You can be sailing on the blue water of the Pacific Ocean and then dine on delicious seafood at a beachside restaurant.
- Relax on a leisurely punt ride on the meandering Avon river and then take a tour of public and private gardens.
- Board a vintage tram on a city boulevard, view intriguing underwater species at a city aquarium, and then visit a museum showcasing early Māori and European life.
- Take your seat aboard one of the “top six train journeys in the world” into the Southern Alps. Visit a high country farm and then jet boat down a braided river.
- Experience what life is like in the freezing climate of Antarctica and unwind in natural mineral hot pools at Hanmer Springs.
- Get close to nature and swim with rare dolphin species, watch playful seals and experience the thrill of giant sperm whales up close.
- See superbly preserved Victorian and neo-Gothic buildings side-by-side with award winning modern architecture.
- Enjoy a round of golf on a course right in the heart of the city, or tee off from any of over 50 golf courses in the region.
- Take a scenic flight over the city or fly amongst towering peaks in a ski-equipped aircraft and land on an Ice Age glacier.
- Seek your fortune at the Christchurch Casino and then find your artistic temperament at one of our stunning art galleries.
- Enjoy a hike around coastal tracks or through alpine forests and then cast your line in the wild for a feast of trout or salmon.
- Enjoy the famous flightless Kiwi bird and then experience hundreds of years of prod history and tribal passion at a traditional Māori concert.
All this and much more, combined with the most spectacular scenery, give you more memorable experiences per square kilometre than anywhere in the world.
Further information
- Tourism New Zealand
- New Zealand Tourism Online
- Qualmark – New Zealand's Tourism Mark of Quality
- NZ Escape
- Destination New Zealand
Money
New Zealand has decimal currency based on dollar and cent denominations. The smallest coin is the 10 cent piece. Prices are down to the cent but for cash transactions the total is rounded to the nearest 10-cent.
Price comparisons (in US$)
| Hotel cooked breakfast | $10 | Hotel lunch/dinner | $10-20 |
| Bar lunch | $5-15 | 3-course dinner | $30-40 |
| Can of beer (330ml) | $1.50 | Glass of beer (500ml) | $2.50 |
| Glass of wine | $5 | Bottle of wine | $12 |
| Big Mac combo | $4.50 | Coca Cola (330ml can) | $1.50 |
Banks
Trading banks and Bureaux de Change are open Monday-Friday 9am to 4:30pm. Banking facilities at international airports provide foreign exchange services for international arrivals and departures, including weekends.
Credit cards and traveller’s cheques
The practice of payment by credit card is widely accepted throughout New Zealand. Those in common use include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and JCB. Traveller’s cheques can be changed at trading banks, large city hotels and many other trading establishments.
Shopping
Visitors to Christchurch are able to shop within the central city, or in one of the many suburban shopping malls. Normal retail hours are 9am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday with one late night a week to 9pm (usually Thursday or Friday). Additionally, many city and suburban shops are open all weekend.
Water
All New Zealand cities and towns have excellent public water supplies. Tap (faucet) water is fresh and safe to drink.
Driving licences
Reciprocal driving rights exist between New Zealand and most countries. Most rental car companies will ask for an International Driver’s Licence. The drivers will need to be over 21 years of age.
Language
English and Māori are the two official languages. English is the predominantly spoken language.
Resident population
New Zealand’s population is approximately 4.2 million. The population of Christchurch is 338,000.
Passports
Passports are required for all visitors to New Zealand and must be valid for at least three months after the date the visitor intends to leave New Zealand.
Every person arriving in New Zealand must complete an arrival card.
Import restrictions
New Zealand has very strict bio-security requirements. Many foodstuffs are barred entry. You must declare any foodstuffs, plants and equipment such as golf clubs. New Zealand Customs Service has more information at http://www.customs.govt.nz/travellers/default.htm.
Visas
Full details can be found at the Immigration New Zealand website at http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/visit/.
People from some countries don't need a visa to enter New Zealand. However, they are still required to provide:
- travel tickets or evidence of onward travel arrangements, and
- evidence of funds for maintenance
If you are visiting for three months or less and are from a country in the list below, you will not need a visa.
| Andorra | Argentina | Austria |
| Bahrain | Belgium | Brazil |
| Brunei | Bulgaria | Canada |
| Chile | Cyprus | Czech Republic |
| Denmark | Estonia* | Finland |
| France | Germany | Greece***** |
| Hong Kong** | Hungary | Iceland |
| Ireland | Israel | Italy |
| Japan | Korea (South) | Kuwait |
| Latvia* | Liechtenstein | Lithuania* |
| Luxembourg | Malaysia | Malta |
| Mexico | Monaco | Netherlands |
| Norway | Oman | Poland |
| Portugal*** | Qatar | Romania |
| San Marino | Saudi Arabia | Singapore |
| Slovak Republic | Slovenia | South Africa |
| Spain | Sweden | Switzerland |
| United Arab Emirates | United States of America**** | Uruguay |
| Vatican City |
* Visa waiver does not apply to people travelling on alien's (non-citizen's) passports issued by these countries.
** Residents of Hong Kong travelling on Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or British National (Overseas) passports.
*** Portuguese passport holders must also have the right to live permanently in Portugal.
**** Including nationals of the USA.
***** Greek passport holders whose passports were issued on and after 1 January 2006. (Greek passports issued before 1 January 2006 are not acceptable for travel after 1 January 2007).
British citizens and other British passport holders who produce evidence of the right to reside permanently in the UK can visit for up to six months without a visa.
Australian citizens and people who hold a current Australian permanent residence visa or a current Australian resident return visa do not need a New Zealand visa to enter New Zealand.
Also see the Immigration service website at http://www.immigration.govt.nz/