CHC · Layover Guide
Christchurch
Stop in Christchurch.
Best layover: 3–12h
LayoverScore™
Base city score. Your route score varies by savings and timing.
Exit realism
Comfortable window
Enough room in Christchurch for a real stop. Keep the buffer at the end anyway.
Landside playbook
If time slips
- Drop the last stop. Go straight to the train, taxi rank, or ride pickup you already chose.
- Add 15 minutes to map ETAs for the return leg at rush hour.
- One ticket for the whole trip protects you when the inbound is late. Separate tickets do not.
Worth knowing
- Do not stack three stops. One solid block in the city beats a rushed loop.
- Do not treat one map time as gospel for immigration lines. Pad on your first pass through this hub.
Planning a stop in Christchurch?
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Places to stay
Search hotelsLayoverScore™ breakdown
Score 58 · Discover 47 · Ease 15
Why Christchurch scores 58
Getting there
Purple Line Bus 29 $5 · Uber/Taxi $35
min to center
bus- 01Purple Line Bus 29 (25 min, NZD 8.50)
- 02Taxi/Uber (15-20 min, NZD 45-60)
- 03Super Shuttle (25 min, NZD 25)
- 01Punting on the Avon River through the Botanic Gardens
- 02Exploring the Cardboard Cathedral and earthquake rebuild architecture
- 03Wandering the street art murals in the city center
- 04Sampling craft beer at Cassels & Sons Brewery
- 05Visiting the Canterbury Museum and adjacent Botanic Gardens
Experiences in Christchurch
Timed tours and tickets for Christchurch are listed on our partner site.
Open listingsOpens in a new tab.
Need a room for your layover? Browse hotels near the airport.
Where to stay →Drop your luggage. Don't drag it around the city.
Christchurch Airport Left Luggage
Ground floor, domestic terminal
$10/bag
0 min walk
Sudima Christchurch Airport
Adjacent to terminal
$89/day
3 min walk
LugLocker Central City
Cathedral Square area
$8/bag
2 min walk
From the terminal to the good part.
Purple Line Bus 29
city-center
Every 15-20 min, stops at Cathedral Square
25 min
$5.00
Uber/Taxi
city-center
Readily available at arrivals
18 min
$35.00
Super Shuttle
city-center
Shared van service, book ahead
25 min
$15.00
Christchurch Attractions Pass
Gondola, Punting, Tram, Antarctic Centre
Good value if doing 3+ activities
$55
per day
Getting there
Get an Uber from the airportAt the airport
- 01Antarctic Centre adjacent to airport with penguin encounters
- 02Koru Lounge with mountain views
- 03NZ craft beer and wine at airside bars
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