The Best Things To See And Do At Night In Christchurch New Zealand

Christchurch is the largest city on New Zealand’s South Island. Home to more than 380,000 people, the city is known for its English heritage and is the main centre of the Canterbury region. As New Zealand’s second-largest city, the vibrant nightlife offers visitors a taste of the world with its international array of bars and restaurants.

1. Wine and dine at The Terrace

Restaurant, Oceanian

Quake City, The Terrace, Christchurch, New Zealand

This new inner-city precinct looking out onto the Avon River, with steps leading down to the water’s edge, is a good option for visitors who want to wine and dine at some of Christchurch’s top restaurants and bars. It opened in 2018 and was established to replace the Strip, the entertainment zone destroyed in the 2011 earthquake. Try cheese made from buffalo milk and Wagyu beef produced in the Canterbury region from the menu of the Terrace Tavern or enjoy one of New Zealand’s top independent craft beers on tap at the Craft Embassy.

2. Watch a show at the historic Isaac Theatre Royal

Building, Theatre

CHRISTCHURCH - DEC 04 2015:Isaac Theatre Royal. Its one of the most intricate rebuilding projects of the 2011 earthquake that damaged Christchurch CBD with an overall rebuild cost of NZ$40M.

An iconic theatrical venue in Christchurch, the Isaac Theatre Royal has enthralled audiences with captivating shows for more than 100 years. Opened in 1908, the building has survived almost being bulldozed in the late 1970s before it was saved at the last minute by community fundraising efforts. Restoration efforts and earthquake proofing have made it one of New Zealand’s safest and strongest performance venues.The theatre hosts international music acts, local plays and family-friendly pantomimes and is the self-proclaimed “spiritual heart of the Canterbury arts scene”. The main auditorium seats 1,292 people and there is also an intimate studio space, the Gloucester Room.

3. Enjoy a retro game night at Arcadia

Amusement Park

Play retro arcade games at Christchurch’s Arcadia restaurant and gaming venue. Visitors can battle it out with friends on Space Invaders and Pacman, old-school style. Arcadia also hosts regular pinball machine tournaments with Twilight Zone and Frankenstein machines as part of their large collection. Fish and chips are their speciality as well as burgers, and their menu includes discounted offers for members. Try the Works burger with bacon, cheese, onion rings and red onion for a monster meal, or the Apricot chicken burger with cream cheese, bacon and a chicken patty for something more unusual.

5. Try an after-dinner scoop at Rollickin Gelato

Cafe, Dessert

Dessert cafe Rollickin Gelato is the home to great ice cream in Christchurch city. Made from the best milk and whole-food ingredients (like real mint leaves in the mint chocolate gelato), organic goodness and creativity are at the heart of what Rollickin Gelato offers customers. The branch on Regent Street stays open until 10pm every night (and 11pm on weekends), making it the perfect stop for an after-dinner scoop on the way home.

6. Take part in Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre

Amusement Park, Theatre

Only open on Saturday nights, the Ferrymead Heritage Park in the suburb of Heathcote is home to Christchurch’s Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre. Solve a mystery while having dinner and watching a show with friends. The evening’s entertainment even includes a haunted tram ride. Don’t forget to dress up.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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