Airport
Christchurch International Airport
IATA Code: CHCLocation: The airport is situated eight miles (12km) from Christchurch.
Time: Local time is GMT +12 (GMT +13 from the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March).
Contacts: Tel: +64 (0)3 358 5029.
Transfer between terminals: The two terminals (domestic and international) are joined to one another and within walking distance of one another.
Transfer to the city: The Airport Flyer offers a public bus service to and from the city centre. It costs NZ$7 and is a 30 minute journey. There is also a door to door shuttle bus that travels to all areas within Christchurch and costs NZ$15-20. Taxis go to the city centre for NZ$30.
Taxis: Taxis are available from outside the domestic terminal or to the left of customs in the international terminal. It takes 20 minutes to get to the city centre and taxis charge between NZ$30 and NZ$40 for the trip.
Car rental: Car rental companies include Avis, Budget, Hertz, Maui rentals and Thrifty.
Facilities: There are shops, bars and restaurants, banks, ATMs and bureaux de change at the airport. Other facilities include left luggage (NZ$5 to 8/day), mobile and sim rental, showers, a business centre, a post office, and a hotel reservations desk. Disabled facilities are good, those with special needs should inform their travel agent or airline in advance.
Parking: There is covered and uncovered parking available at varying rates. Short-term parking is NZ$5 per hour up to NZ$25 per day, and long-term parking has similar charges with a weekly maximum of NZ75
Departure tax: Airport tax is NZ$25, except for children 12 years of age and under and transit passengers of up to 24 hours. Credit cards are accepted.
Website: www.christchurchairport.co.nz
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Christchurch
The largest city on South Island, Christchurch is the most English of New Zealand's cities, named after an Oxford college. The atmosphere is reminiscent of an English university town, with school boys in striped blazers and punting on the River Avon, a grand Anglican cathedral dominating the central square, little stone-walled bridges, elegant Victorian architecture and numerous parks and exquisite gardens.
Dubbed the 'Garden City', it is the lively capital of the Canterbury region, priding itself on its green areas, arts and history as well as its sports. The surrounds offer beach suburbs, protected bays and dolphin swimming, green valleys and snow-capped mountain ranges for skiing, hiking, mountain biking and climbing. The city itself has a relaxed and cosmopolitan centre with historic trams rattling along the streets of the bustling downtown area, a lively pub and restaurant scene, theatres, street buskers, museums and art galleries.
Christchurch was heavily damaged by a major earthquake in early 2011, and some of the damage is still evident, with several major tourist attractions closed for repairs, though most of the city is functioning normally. Christchurch is the gateway to the South Island and offers the visitor an appealing mixture of historic charm and vibrant city life, a pleasing balance between urban pursuits and outdoor activities. With the least rainfall of any of the other cities and plenty of sunshine it is a perfect base for a Canterbury experience.
