Cheap flights to Christchurch

Virgin Australia operates flights to Christchurch every day, from Sydney and Brisbane. Together with our partner Air New Zealand, we also offer flights to Christchurch from Melbourne.

Christchurch Airport Information

Christchurch Airport is located approx. 11km north-west of Christchurch city centre. The airport can be accessed by various transport options, including:

• Car Hire: Receive mates’ rates when you choose from a great choice of hire cars from our car partners.
• Taxi: A taxi rank is located outside the International Arrivals Hall. Travel time from the airport to the city centre is approx. 15-20 minutes. A standard fare to the city centre is approx. $45-$65. Taxis can be pre-booked through the iSite team, located in the International Arrivals Hall.
• Shuttles: Shuttles provide a door-to-door service to Christchurch and surrounding areas. Shuttles can be cheaper than a taxi, but are usually shared, and therefore can take longer. Prices vary. A shuttle rank is located at the northern end of the International Arrivals Hall, between the terminal and the long-term car park. Shuttles can be pre-booked through the iSite team, located in the International Arrivals Hall.
• Bus: Christchurch International Airport is well served by public buses, with three routes connecting the airport to the city centre and beyond. All buses arrive and depart from the regional transport hub at the northern end of the International Arrivals Hall.

Domestic and International flights operate from within the same integrated terminal building. Signs mark the way from Domestic to International.

Things to do in Christchurch

Explore

Situated on the east coast of New Zealand’s stunning South Island, amid the wild beauty of the Canterbury region, Christchurch is a captivating city. A cosmopolitan hotspot, the city is fringed by mountains, bays and rivers, and steeped in Maori and European history. ‘The Garden City’, as it is known internationally, is dotted with green spaces, flower beds and appealing al fresco settings, while the streets resonate a traditional English ambience and host a plethora of historical and cultural drawcards. Hit by damaging earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, Christchurch is in the process of rebuilding, but from the disaster the community has managed to innovatively add to the city’s landscape and atmosphere.

Discover

Surrounded by stunning natural diversity and awe-inspiring landscapes, Christchurch is a unique city, with an incredible portfolio of things to see and do. Nowhere else on earth offers world class alpine resorts, golf course, bungy jumping, rafting, mountain biking, hot-air ballooning, wind surfing, whale watching, wineries and gardens, within just two hours of an international airport. Christchurch’s city centre is compact and cosmopolitan, and while it suffered greatly as a result of damaging earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, it has rebuilt, and continues to rebuild, to operate as a great place to visit and explore.

Shop

Christchurch Central City is a hub for shoppers, featuring a number of unique retail precincts. Christchurch’s major retail zone revolves around Cashel Street in the city centre, where post-quake innovative retail project Re:Start sees a temporary pop-up community of retailers operate shops, cafes and banks out of shipping containers. Lower High Street has emerged as a hip fashion retail district, home to new and well-established designer fashion labels. Upper High Street caters to the youth fashion market, with the city’s best selection of surf, skate, ski and street wear brands. New Regent Street is made up of pastel-hued Spanish Mission style terraced buildings housing galleries, studios, florists and cafes. Poplar Street is a thriving community of boutique shopping, dining and entertainment businesses. While SOL (South of Lichfield) enjoys a proud history of textiles, and is home to some of New Zealand’s leading fashion retailers.

Eat

Despite being hugely affected by devastating earthquakes, Christchurch Central City remains as great place to eat and take in the city’s atmosphere. The area offers two food courts and over 130 cafes, restaurants, bars and clubs. In the wake of the quakes some of Christchurch’s city restaurants relocated to fringe districts, which now buzz with activity and unique dining experiences. South of Moorhouse in Addington (dubbed SoMo) is the city’s newest and hippest neighbourhood, featuring a spattering of cafes and eateries. Sydenham is a popular dining and entertainment escape from the CBD. While the area surrounding Victoria Street has emerged as one of Christchurch newest ‘eat streets’. A mere 10 minutes’ drive from the city centre Christchurch Famers Markets offers a true South Island food experience, with makeshift stalls selling everything from artisan breads to regional cheeses and gourmet cupcakes. Impressive eating opportunities also wait outside the city, in settings like The Selwyn Food & Wine Trail.

Drink

Abuzz with trendy inner-city dining and entertainment precincts, Christchurch brims with cafes, bars and nightclubs. Addington is the city’s newest hub for live entertainment, home to the relocated iconic Court Theatre, and the cafe and bar district dubbed SoMo, ‘South of Moorhouse Ave’. Oxford Terrace is a unique dining and entertainment destination: a cobblestoned street on the banks of the beautiful Avon River with a great variety of quality bars and restaurants. Poplar Street’s former commercial warehouses have been divided up and converted into a series of unique boutique dining and entertainment settings. While South of Lichfield (SOL) is quickly gaining a reputation as Christchurch’s coolest district, a heritage district home to some of New Zealand’s leading restaurants, cafés, bars, nightclubs.

Christchurch Holiday Packages

Experience all that Christchurch has to offer, our holiday partner Blue Holidays has a great array of Christchurch holiday packages. Packages include flights, accommodation and a great variety of extras.