Guide12 Hours Christchurch

We start our adventure on an unsuspecting Sydenham Street, where an illuminated bear will be your beacon towards one of Christchurch’s most delicious windows. Grizzly Baked Goods has become one of the city’s most addictive destinations, with a hole-in-the-wall bakery stocking shelves full of real sourdough bread and a cabinet glistening with buttery pastries (the Morning Buns are a must), jam-packed donuts, scrumptious bagels and toasted sandwiches. A cup of smooth Embassy filter coffee paired alongside a smorgasbord of heavenly carbs will fuel your action-packed day in the 03.

If you’ve been taking a social media hiatus, you may have missed the opening of Christchurch’s new hotspot across every newsfeed. Riverside Market has completely electrified the inner city with its bustling community hub, complete with a 7-day-trading farmers’ market, owner-operated eateries and boutique retailers. Grab your reusable totes and let loose in the aisles of fresh, seasonal and local fruits and vegetables, cheeses, free range meats, seafood, European wines, coffee beans, cold-pressed juices – you name it! With 30 independent eateries and 40 market stalls, it may be difficult to resist a second breakfast – don’t say we didn’t warn you.

This independent bookstore has been a cornerstone of Christchurch since the 1970s. Browse through Scorpio’s huge selection of titles, enjoy all the local-bookstore-warm-fuzzies, plop down in a cosy chair for a few page turns and peruse the robust New Zealand literature section. If bookworms are to get on with the day at all, they’ll need to set a timer here.

If you’re to uncover all of Christchurch’s little gems, you’ll need to venture off-road and veer into the hip backstreets of the city. Located in the SALT District, Little High Lanes is one such neighbourhood offering a maze of cool shops, eats and entertainment. Find preloved threads in Recycle Boutique’s new central digs, get your brows in order at Off & On, give your hair the royal vegan treatment at Earth Organic Hairdressing and admire the colourful murals everywhere you turn.

A popular resident of the laneways you’ve just been exploring, Little High Eatery is home to nine local, family-run eateries. The food cooperative offers everything you could ever want at lunchtime, as well as delicious eats your stomach never knew it needed ‘til now. So what will it be, then? A gloriously juicy and free range Bacon Brothers burger? Fresh, modern Japanese dishes from Sushi Soldier? Flavour-packed Chinese dumplings and bao from Eightgrains? Make that all of the above, thanks.

The Arts Centre boasts one of the most unique and exciting collections of retail stores in New Zealand, and all under one roof. With a focus on sustainable and Kiwi made goods, shops like Frances Nation will wow you with beautiful, made-to-last objects for the home that all have their own story to tell. At Rekindle, a buzzing maker space, you’ll find handmade wares all of which are made by local craftspeople who subscribe to Rekindle’s ethos of ‘making what we need from what we have’. Indigo & Provisions houses a collection of carefully curated work wear, home wear and heritage styles and Skin Space is a natural skincare apothecary stocking top-quality beauty products for the conscious consumer.

If you’re a culture fiend, you’ll need little encouraging for this must-do. However, if the word ‘museum’ makes your eyes go droopy – hear us out! Canterbury Museum stands proudly on the edge of The Botanic Gardens, housing a mammoth collection inside some of the city’s oldest buildings. Discover powerful Māori exhibitions, embark on an Antarctic exploration, explore the impressive Bird Hall, and be stopped in your tracks by edgy street art, photography and art installations. And if you’re still not convinced, then there’s always cake in the top floor cafe overlooking the garden.

Whoever said public transport wasn’t cool, obviously hasn’t spent much time ordering Bodgies from Smash Palace’s school bus window. There’s something truly special about this place and its sense of community that accommodates suits and hi-vis, grandpas and students, artists and yuppies, labradors and pugs… Join the mix of characters and find yourself a sunny spot under the festoon lights in the garden. This is the perfect place to ring in the start of your Christchurch evening with top tunes, a few local brews and of course a bowl of cheerios.

With the sound of Smash Palace’s old-school playlist fading in the distance, look both ways and cross the street towards The Monday Room’s home – which happens to be the only pre-quake building left standing on south High-Street. Like its setting, this local restaurant’s menu offers a one-of-a-kind social dining experience. Leave all decision-making at the door and allow their Trust The Chef special to fill your whole table with a generous banquet of bold, creative and seasonally-inspired dishes. There’s even a Trust The Somm to top your glasses with the very best wine pairings (ooh la la!).

Watching dusk fall on New Regent Street’s pastel coloured neighbourhood is enough to bring out the inner-romantic in all. Enjoy the last of the daylight wandering past the charming homes of this heritage streetscape (and envying all who live there). The street is home to some of Christchurch’s best bars and restaurants, including Twenty Seven Steps, The Last Word and The Institution, and sitting on the street corner is the cherry on top – Rollickin’ Gelato. There’s a reason you were blessed with a second stomach for dessert, and this is the ultimate place to it to good use. Their creamy, organic scoops are handmade on site every morning and feature fun-filled flavours like Butterscotch with Sticky Date, PB&J and Espresso.

Those who love gin already and those who want to get to know her better will all fall madly in love with this cocktail bar. Gin gin’s pink interior, vibrant plant life and quirky decor all complement the exciting and unusual cocktails that are on offer here. The drinks menu features boutique gin from New Zealand and beyond with added colour, flavour and texture from special additions like fermented berries, tonics, rose petals and more. Did you think we were going to end your night on a basic G&T? No way.