Top Christchurch Hotels

Christchurch is a city to walk around in. The Arts and Craft Center downtown is an excellent place to buy something special. We enjoyed whale watching and the Trans Alpine although the scenery at home (Alaska) I must say is just as beautiful. Nevertheless, we found the railroad trip worthwhile especially since you don''t have to drive.

A beautiful city with lots of lovely eating places, eg Dux du Lux nearly opposite the YMCA, and a wonderful market on the Sunday. The Arts Centre is ''something else'' and, of course, the Wizard is not to be missed! The tram is so handy from the YMCA to the city centre and is very cheap at $12.50 for 2 days. Can''t wait to come back!!

Do try the Twisted Hop micro brewery & pub if you like English beer!

The hotel is next door to the Antarctic Center. It is a good place to go. There is a bus stop in front of the hotel that you can go to downtown Christchurch. There is great shopping and food and tourist attractions. At the firehall, there is a Sept 11 memorial and they have some of the steel beams from the World Trade Center in a sculpture. Downtown is a good place to spend several hours. Buy a "day pass" when you get on the bus for $7 and you will be able to return to the Sudima whenever you want that day. I mistakenly bought a one way for $5.

Loved the coffee at the Yellow Rocket in Cathedral Square, and the organic Japanese food at Aiki in Colombo Street. Punting on the Avon was very nice, and the kids loved the ducks in the river gardens. The Aquarium and Kiwi House were an unexpected surprise and enjoyed by everyone, young and old.

Recommend the Little India as a very good indian restaurant and Topkapi does wonderful Kebabs, both in dowtown Christchurch where you are spoilt for choice with restaurants.

This was my second stay in Christchurch so I spent most of the time for a side trip to Dunedin. Joined local tours to see the Castle and widelifes and it definitely worth the money hiring the guides instead of going on your own. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and professional. Visited the Cadbury Chocolate Factory as well and like the ambience a lot.

Downtown Christchurch ranks among the most interesting of New Zealand areas. It is very English (more English than England as they say), clean, friendly, and with good food and reasonable prices. If you stay at the Y, then foot travel is all you need.

We walked round Christchurch for the most part, taking the bus to go to the gondola. Enjoyed visiting the Cathedral for "evensong" one night. Had an excellent buffet dinner at "The Cabbage Tree".

TransAlpine Express from Christchurch to Greymouth was wonderful, also a day''s trip by small bus to the glaciers, except it cost $180 per person and we had to buy our own lunch. If we''d known the road to the glaciers wasn''t covered with snow, we''d have hired a car cheaper and driven ourselves. We hired a car from ABC(A Better Car) Rentals, 31 Moorhouse Ave, Christchurch for only $35 per day for a Toyota Tercel which managed the trip to Dunedin and return with no problems. They picked us up from the Hotel to take us to get the car and drove us back when we returned the car 6 days later.<BR> <BR> The Antarctic Centre right next to Christchurch airport is a definite place to see - the section where you experience the cold Antarctic winds only opened a month ago. We were speaking to a lady who was going to the real Antarctic for the 4th time and she said the centre is a very good replica of what it''s really like, so you can''t get a better recommendation than that!