- 1Queenstown sits on Lake Whakatipu, with Coronet Peak and The Remarkables ski areas; Christchurch is the South Island's largest city.
- 2By road they are about 6 hours apart via Lake Tekapo, and InterCity's daily coach takes 8 hours and 10 minutes.
- 3Air New Zealand flies up to four non-stop flights a day between Christchurch and Queenstown, about 1 hour.
- 4Christchurch Airport has long-haul links; Queenstown Airport's flights are domestic and trans-Tasman.
01 / Short answer
Should I visit Queenstown or Christchurch?
Choose Queenstown for the lake and the mountains, Christchurch for a city, or see both. Destination Queenstown describes Queenstown on the shores of Lake Whakatipu, with Coronet Peak and The Remarkables for winter; it gives the season as June to August, with the best snow between mid-June and early September. Milford Sound and Glenorchy make day trips from Queenstown. Christchurch is the South Island's largest city, with a free art gallery, Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens, and day tours to Akaroa, Kaikōura and Arthur's Pass. The two are about 6 hours apart by road, or about 1 hour by air.
02 / Side by side
How do Queenstown and Christchurch compare?
| Topic | Queenstown | Christchurch |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Queenstown-Lakes District: 47,808 usual residents at the 2023 Census. | Christchurch City: 391,383 at the 2023 Census, the South Island's largest city. |
| Setting | On the shores of Lake Whakatipu, says Destination Queenstown. | ChristchurchNZ says Hagley Park and the Christchurch Botanic Gardens span the heart of the city. |
| Mountains | Coronet Peak and The Remarkables ski areas; Destination Queenstown gives the winter season as June to August. | ChristchurchNZ lists day tours by road to Arthur's Pass, via Castle Hill and the Otira Viaduct. |
| Flights | Queenstown Airport lists domestic and trans-Tasman flights: Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia. | Christchurch Airport has long-haul links, including a daily Singapore Airlines service. |
| Day trips | Milford Sound by road or by air, and Glenorchy at the head of Lake Whakatipu; our Milford Sound planner covers the long day. | ChristchurchNZ lists day tours to Akaroa (a harbour nature cruise), Kaikōura and Arthur's Pass. |
03 / Christchurch
What can I do in Christchurch?
Opening hours and sites change, so check current details with each place before you go.
- Christchurch Art Gallery
Free entry, open 7 days from 10am to 5pm and until 9pm on Wednesdays, on the corner of Worcester Boulevard and Montreal Street.
- Canterbury Museum
The Rolleston Avenue site is closed for redevelopment, and the museum runs a pop-up at 66 Gloucester Street. Check current status with the museum.
- Quake City
Canterbury Museum runs Quake City, with stories of the earthquakes, at 299 Durham Street North. RNZ reports the magnitude 6.3 quake in 2011 killed 185 people.
- Hagley Park and the Botanic Gardens
ChristchurchNZ lists them as free, with conservatories and a rose garden, in the heart of the city.
- Street art
ChristchurchNZ lists the city's street art among its free things to do, and says many central spots are within walking distance of each other.
04 / Getting between
How do I travel between Queenstown and Christchurch?
| Way | Time | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Fly | About 1 hour | Air New Zealand flies up to four non-stop flights a day: about 1 hour on the A320, 1 hour 10 minutes on the ATR 72. Fares change daily, so check current fares with the airline. |
| Coach | 8 hours and 10 minutes | InterCity runs daily from outside the Bus Exchange on Lichfield Street, Christchurch, to the Athol Street car park in Queenstown, stopping at places including Tekapo, Omarama and Cromwell. |
| Drive | About 6 hours | Mackenzie tourism gives Christchurch to Tekapo as 2 hours 50 minutes and Tekapo to Queenstown as 3 hours. Check current road status on SH8 in winter. |
| Tour | A long day | The one way tours listed with this guide, from Queenstown to Christchurch via Lake Tekapo and Aoraki/Mount Cook, take 13 to 14 hours. Check current prices with the operator. |
05 / Do both
Can I see Queenstown and Christchurch on one trip?
- The inland road
The direct road runs through the Kawarau Gorge, Cromwell, the Lindis Pass, Omarama, Twizel and Lake Tekapo. The Dark Sky Project says Takapō is on the main highway between the two cities.
- Break it at Tekapo
Lake Tekapo is roughly halfway: 2 hours 50 minutes from Christchurch and 3 hours from Queenstown, says Mackenzie tourism. Our Lake Tekapo guide covers what fits in a stop.
- Drive one way, fly the other
A one way drive with a 1 hour flight back saves a second long day on the road. Check one way rental terms with your rental company.
- The West Coast
A longer route uses SH73 from Christchurch over Arthur's Pass and SH6 via Haast to Wanaka. Check current road status with NZTA before you set off.