How To Reach Christchurch

One of the largest cities in New Zealand, Christchurch was among the first places to be inhabited. Lying on the east coast of the country, Christchurch is the third populous cities in the country after Auckland and Wellington. Located in the non-mountainous region of the country, Christchurch is accessible by road from most other major cities in New Zealand, while the International Airport makes it easy to travel to the city from most parts of the world. The city is open for business around the year making it one of the most visited cities in the country. The best way to get to Christchurch is definitely by air.

Christchurch is served by the Christchurch International Airport located about 11 km from the main city. The airport is connected to all the major cities in the country while being connected to most major cities in the world. The Christchurch International Airport is one of the busiest terminals in the country. Christchurch and Auckland are the only two airports in the country that handle the Boeing and the Airbus. The terminal in Christchurch handles a staggering number of over six million passengers each year.

While there are no direct flights to Christchurch from India, there are plenty of connecting flights that are available from various cities in India. There are regular flights from cities like Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. A number of airlines serve these routes and one can find flights any time of the year. While availability is not a problem, it is always good to book in advance.

Indian nationals are advised to get a visa in advance. It is also important to check the travel regulations of the New Zealand government before traveling to the country.

Given that Christchurch is located in the non-mountainous region of the country, there are a number of land routes to get to the city from various other cities in the country. On reaching any of the major cities in the South Island, one can always take a bus from Picton, Dunedin or Queenstown. The buses ply at specific times and it is important to take note of the timings. While there are no direct land routes to Christchurch from the North Island, one can reach Picton through the regular cruises and then take a bus.

One can also drive to Christchurch from any of the major cities in the South Island. Roads are well maintained but can be narrow at places. It is important to take note of the driving rules in New Zealand before attempting to hit the road.

Although Christchurch is located along the coast, there are no direct cruises or passenger ships to Christchurch from India. You can either fly to destinations that have passenger ships or cruises to Christchurch or take a flight to the coastal city.

On reaching the terminal in Christchurch you can either use the bus services to get to prospective tourist destinations or hire a taxi. You can also rent a car which can make traveling in the city quite flexible. Many important tourist destinations are covered by the Heritage Tram, which is without a doubt an exciting way to travel.