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14 Jan 2021

The most ‘Insta worthy’ places to visit within an hour from Christchurch

Looking to capture that perfect Instagram worthy photo while you’re in Christchurch? We’ve rounded up some picture-perfect spots within an hour of Christchurch Airport that will sit pretty on your feed.

New Regent Street

Officially one of the most beautiful streets in New Zealand, New Regent Street sits in central Christchurch. With stunning Spanish Mission architecture and a distinctive pastel colour scheme, it can’t help being the perfect backdrop. Complete your photo with a delicious cone of gelato from Rollickin’ Gelato, or a whisky cocktail from The Last Word. Or both!

The Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park

Vibrant colourful flowers, towering trees, tropical conservatories, picturesque riverside scenes and something for every season – the Botanic Gardens is an Instagrammer’s dream. For a different photo perspective, try punting or kayaking on the Avon river.

Godley Head

Starting at Taylors Mistake beach (which also offers many photo opportunities), walk the Godley Head track. Yes, for this gram worthy photo you will need to do some exercise! But we promise you, it’s worth it, with stunning coastal views as far as the eye can see, and a WWII coastal defence battery at the top.

New Brighton Pier

Looking for that perfect sunrise or sunset snap? New Brighton Pier is the place to go. With sweeping views stretching towards the horizon and Pegasus Bay, coastal dunes and striking colours, here’s everything could you ask for.

Waipara Wineries

Immerse yourself in the breath-taking panoramic vistas of North Canterbury. Waipara is home to many independently owned boutique vineyards and wineries. Who doesn’t need a winery picture on their gram feed?! Hire a bike and take a scenic tour through the vines, making sure, of course, to stop along the way for the world class wine and food. There are so many to choose from, but a few of our favourites are Greystone, Black Estate and Georges Road with their recently opened cellar door.

Port Hills

Sitting between Christchurch city and Lyttelton are the Port Hills. From dawn to dusk, and every moment in between, the views from these hills do not disappoint!

Explore the Port Hills on foot, by bike or by car. From bush-clad gullies to rocky outcrops with magnificent views, there are loads of locations on the hills to offer beauty and diversity for your photos.

Street Art

Vibrant street art has popped up all over Christchurch and offers the perfect colourful and fun backdrop.  Scout out all the best spots and create your own art trail, including some of our favourite pieces at the airport here.

Akaroa

OK, so it may be just over an hour away and the furthest of our recommendations, but this little historical French settlement nestled in the beautiful Banks Peninsula is definitely worth the trip! So many shots to choose from - stunning views across the harbour, Daly’s Wharf with its signature old fashioned lamppost half way down to name just two. This spot is just as picturesque for those Insta snaps on a sunny blue-sky day as on a moody day.

Or if you’re after something a bit different, how about getting your photo taken with some adorable, fluffy alpacas? Shamarra Alpaca Farm offers tours so you can meet their friendly, award-winning alpacas. As well as being very cute and photogenic, they’re also comfortable with interacting with people, which makes for the best selfie! Located above beautiful Banks Peninsula, Shamarra Alpaca Farm is probably one of the happiest places on earth, if all the smiles in these photos is anything to go by.