Discover Christchurch Scavenger Hunt
Discover the Garden City with a scavenger hunt across Christchurch's rebuilding heart. Walk Cathedral Square as the old stone cathedral comes back together, take a punt down the Avon, climb the pastel facades of New Regent Street and end at the airy Cardboard Cathedral. A city writing its next chapter, with daffodils on every corner.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
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1
Cathedral Square
Navigate to Cathedral Square in the centre of Christchurch and check in by the Chalice sculpture.
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2
New Regent Street
Walk to New Regent Street between Gloucester and Armagh Streets, one of the few intact pre-quake streetscapes, and check in by the tram tracks.
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3
Botanic Gardens
Walk west through Hagley Park to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and check in by the Peacock Fountain or the rose garden.
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4
Cardboard Cathedral
Walk to the Transitional Cathedral (Cardboard Cathedral) on Hereford Street and check in at the entrance.
Challenges (20)
Christchurch kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic Christchurch backdrop (a daffodil patch in Hagley Park, the heritage tram, a pastel facade on New Regent Street) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: Cathedral Square
Navigate to Cathedral Square in the centre of Christchurch and check in by the Chalice sculpture.
Cathedral reinstatement shot
The original ChristChurch Cathedral is being reinstated stone by stone after the 2011 earthquake. Find an angle that captures the building and the construction zone respectfully, and take a group photo with the cathedral in the background.
Trivia: Christchurch earthquake
The destructive Christchurch earthquake that damaged the cathedral and the CBD struck on 22 February of what year?
Answer: 2011
Checkpoint: New Regent Street
Walk to New Regent Street between Gloucester and Armagh Streets, one of the few intact pre-quake streetscapes, and check in by the tram tracks.
Pastel parade shot
New Regent Street's pastel Spanish Mission facades have survived since 1932. Line the team up across the pedestrian street with the colourful facades behind everyone, and take a group photo.
Christchurch Tram photo
The Christchurch heritage tram loops the inner city on a 17-stop route. Find a tram (or photograph the tracks) and take a group photo with the team gathered alongside or boarding.
Trivia: Garden City nickname
Christchurch's long-standing nickname celebrates its tree-lined avenues and Hagley Park. What is the nickname (two words)?
Answers: Garden City / garden city
Checkpoint: Botanic Gardens
Walk west through Hagley Park to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and check in by the Peacock Fountain or the rose garden.
Peacock Fountain pose
The Peacock Fountain in the Botanic Gardens is a hand-painted cast-iron fountain restored to its original colours. Find the fountain and take a group photo with the bright reds, blues and greens behind the team.
Avon punt photo
The Antigua Boat Sheds rent traditional Edwardian punts on the Avon River. Either take a punt and capture the team aboard with the boater behind, or photograph a passing punt from the bridge with the team in shot.
Trivia: Christchurch founded
The first four ships of organised English settlers arrived at Lyttelton and founded Christchurch in what year?
Answer: 1850
Checkpoint: Cardboard Cathedral
Walk to the Transitional Cathedral (Cardboard Cathedral) on Hereford Street and check in at the entrance.
Cardboard Cathedral interior shot
The Transitional Cathedral was designed in cardboard tubes by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. Walk inside and take a respectful group photo with the A-frame ceiling and the cardboard columns behind everyone.
Trivia: Cardboard Cathedral architect
The Transitional Cathedral in cardboard tubes was designed pro-bono by which Pritzker-winning Japanese architect (last name)?
Answers: Ban / ban / Shigeru Ban
Hagley Park team walk
Hagley Park is bigger than Central Park. Walk one of the paths through the trees and take a group photo where the team walks toward the camera with the open lawn and the Avon behind everyone.
185 Empty Chairs moment
The "185 Empty Chairs" memorial on the corner of Cashel and Madras Streets honours those who died in the 2011 quake. Find the white chairs and take a respectful group photo with the team standing alongside (not on) the memorial.
Riverside Market plate
Riverside Market on Oxford Terrace is the post-quake food-hall heart of the city. Order something local (Antarctic fish-and-chips, Canterbury lamb, a flat white) and take a group photo with everyone taking the first bite at the same time.
Local Cantabrian tip
Convince a local Christchurch resident to share a tip about the city. Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
Christchurch finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful Christchurch spot (the Avon at golden hour, Hagley Park at dusk, New Regent Street in evening light) and take an amazing closing group photo. Kia ora from the Garden City!
Frequently asked questions
Three to four hours covers Cathedral Square, New Regent Street, the Botanic Gardens, Avon River punting and the Transitional (Cardboard) Cathedral at a relaxed pace. The CBD is flat, compact and walkable; the Botanic Gardens sit just west of the centre with an easy walk through Hagley Park.
The original ChristChurch Cathedral on Cathedral Square is in long-term reinstatement work after the 2011 earthquake and is not open to visitors at this time. The Transitional Cathedral (Cardboard Cathedral) on Hereford and Madras Street is open daily and is the city's working cathedral. The hunt photographs both.
Yes. The Antigua Boat Sheds and the Punting on the Avon team run 30-minute boat trips through the Botanic Gardens reach, with Edwardian-style boaters poling the team along. Book ahead in summer. Even if you skip the punt, the riverside path photographs beautifully.
Cathedral Square is the natural starting point: free street parking on weekends, the rebuilding cathedral anchors the opening photo, and New Regent Street, the Tram and Riverside Market are within a five-minute walk. From there the Botanic Gardens are a short stroll west across Hagley Park.
Yes. The Botanic Gardens, Hagley Park and the Margaret Mahy Playground are all free and pram-friendly; the punt is a hit with kids; the Tram circles the inner city for an easy lift. The International Antarctic Centre near the airport is a half-day add-on if you want a longer day.