I was really curious to see how much had changed since my last visit to Christchurch (when I travelled around NZ four years ago with my crazy fam – I’ll add my video to the bottom of this post) but also to see what is was like without the many overseas tourists.

After the earthquakes almost 10 years ago there’s been a constant buzz of construction work going on all over the city, with cranes being a permanent feature on the skyline. However with so much devastation, and lots of issues with insurance & paperwork, progress hasn’t been as quick as once hoped.

The international airport normally (although not in the current Covid-19 pandemic) brings in a lot of tourists which is great for local businesses and helps to keep the money pumping into the city. Christchurch is a busy place and I was interested to see how it was getting on with the lack of tourists.

Firstly, I was really gutted to find out that the Container Mall (ReSTART) has been removed. It was a great hub for people to go to for good food and always had a good positive atmosphere. However this couldn’t have been better replaced – welcome to The Riverside Market.

By moving the shops from the container mall into the riverside complex, it has not only given them all an impressive decor upgrade, but it’s created and even bigger haven for foodies and buzz-seekers alike. From plant based cheeses to macadamia coffee, European style bakeries to a Mediterranean food market, it’s got every food option you can think of.

What I also loved was the amount of seating available too, due to the double floored seating area above the market. Around the building and upstairs there are also many restaurants to choose from, if you’re looking for more of a sit-down meal or even high tea.

The gift shops and handmade stores were not forgotten about either, these were thoughtfully placed near the entrance so you walked past them down a cool alleyway on your way into the market.

All of the area along the riverside by the Bridge of Remembrance Arch has been given a big upgrade with lots of new restaurants to try out. We gave the Mexican restaurant Chiwahwah’s a go, the food was incredible and the atmosphere was brilliant. With so many options it honestly felt like you could eat out for a whole year and still not visit all of the cuisines available.

Chiwahwah Mexican Cantina Bar

I promise this won’t be just about food, but Rollickin ice cream parlour (which apparently was one of the first places to open after the earthquakes) is still providing a lot of delight – their current flavours due to the upcoming elections: Jacinta fever, Cookie Crusher Collins & David Smore. I love that they’ve built around their shipping container too, as if in memory to the Re-Start Container mall.

Sadly there didn’t seem to have been much change to the Cathedral. They had finally decided a few years ago to re-build it rather than demolish it, however I think it will be a long time before we see any visual improvements to the building. I can’t imagine it’s an easy project 😅

I was really pleased to see the outdoor jukebox and dance floor still there, which had been used to fill a space where a building stood previously, to try bring some joy back to the city after the devastation. I remember seeing people dancing on this when I did an open top bus tour, which is also a great way to see the city and learn about it’s history. You can get a discount on this and a heap of other activities around Christchurch using Bookme.co.nz.

Outdoor Jukebox

You could definitely sense the lack of tourists as we walked down New Regent Street, it seemed eerily quiet with a few empty windows where the souvenir shops used to be. We did however walk down on a Friday afternoon, so perhaps by the evening the restaurants would be brought to life, plus it meant I was able to get a photograph without lots of people in the way. 😂

Christchurch is through no fault of it’s own a random mix of old & new buildings, with so much history & emotions still very much felt as you walk around. I couldn’t have more respect for the city, and I think they are doing an amazing job of rebuilding it without forgetting its past. I would absolutely recommend visiting the place, there is still an awesome buzz to it without the big tourist queues – what more could you want!? Just remember to pack a coat – it’s not windy like wellington but it can definitely rain 😅

I can’t wait to visit again, hopefully my next trip will be giving the mountain bike park and the Adrenaline forest a go 😏

Let me know in the comments below if you’re planning a trip to Christchurch soon!

Thanks for reading,
Harriet.

As I said earlier, here’s my video from my trip around NZ with my family – it sums us up pretty well..