Christchurch Hop-On Hop-Off Vintage Tram Tour

Cathedral Junction and Cathedral Square

Your tram journey starts at Cathedral Junction, a covered arcade off Worcester Street that serves as the main stop of the loop, steps away from Cathedral Square. The square is the historic heart of Christchurch, laid out by the city's founders in the 1850s around the Gothic Revival ChristChurch Cathedral, completed in 1904.

The cathedral was badly damaged in the February 2011 earthquake, and its reinstatement is one of the city's biggest heritage projects. From the tram the driver explains what happened in 2010 and 2011 and how the centre has been rebuilt since, with new public spaces, modern architecture and restored heritage buildings. This is the best place to begin a Christchurch tram tour and to understand the city's story.

Worcester Boulevard and the Arts Centre

From Cathedral Square the tram travels down Worcester Boulevard, a tree-lined avenue that links the city's cultural institutions. The Arts Centre is a striking group of Gothic Revival stone buildings, once the seat of the original Canterbury College, the forerunner of the University of Canterbury. After years of careful restoration following the earthquakes, its quadrangles now hold galleries, cinemas, craft shops and cafés.

Hop off here to wander through the cloisters and courtyards, one of the most photographed spots in the city. The nearby Christchurch Art Gallery, with its modern glass façade, is also within a short walk. Allow about an hour to see the Arts Centre at a relaxed pace before catching the next tram, which comes every 15 minutes.

Canterbury Museum, the Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park

At the end of Worcester Boulevard stands the Gothic Revival Canterbury Museum on Rolleston Avenue, known for its collections on Māori culture, colonial life and Antarctic exploration. Check its current opening arrangements before you go, as major heritage buildings in the city have been strengthened and redeveloped in recent years.

Right behind the museum lie the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, founded in 1863 and set within the huge green space of Hagley Park. Rose gardens, giant old trees, glasshouses and the gently flowing Avon River make this the reason Christchurch is called the Garden City. Entry to the gardens is free, and spring and summer are the best time to visit, when the flower beds are at their brightest.

New Regent Street

New Regent Street is one of the most photographed streets in New Zealand. Built in 1932 in the Spanish Mission style, it is lined with pastel-coloured shopfronts with curved gables, small balconies and decorative tiles, and the tram runs slowly right down the middle of the pedestrian street, a rare sight anywhere in the world.

The street was restored after the earthquakes and is now full of small cafés, ice-cream shops, gift stores and boutiques. It is a perfect stop for a break, and the tram passing between the colourful buildings is the classic Christchurch photo. Hop off, take a seat at an outdoor table and watch the next tram roll by before continuing your loop.

Riverside Market and the Avon River

Riverside Market, opened in 2019 on the banks of the Avon River, is an indoor food market with fresh produce stalls, bakeries, delicatessens and eateries from many cuisines. It has quickly become one of the liveliest places in the rebuilt city, and it is a great place for lunch during your day on the tram.

The Avon River, known as Ōtākaro in Māori, winds through the whole city centre, with willow-lined banks, footbridges and the Bridge of Remembrance nearby. Walking along the river between tram stops is one of the nicest things to do in Christchurch on a sunny day. With your full-day ticket you can return to the tram at any stop and carry on whenever you are ready.