Cheap Flights from Adelaide to Christchurch

Top Experiences for Visitors

Christchurch Tramway

The Christchurch Tramway is one of the city’s most-loved attractions. It’s a restored heritage tram that loops around the CBD, stopping at some of the top Christchurch attractions while providing live commentary. The Christchurch Tramway makes 17 stops which include the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, and colourful New Regent Street. Tickets for the Christchurch Tramway are valid for an entire day, so you can hop on and off the tram as often as you’d like throughout the day.

Sumner Beach

If you book Adelaide to Christchurch flights for a summer getaway, plan to spend some time at Sumner Beach. Sumner is a popular coastal suburb that’s an easy 20 minute drive from the Christchurch CBD. The beach itself is beautiful, and the water is calm – ideal for swimming or taking a beginner surf lesson. The suburb is also surrounded by hills and cliffs, making for some excellent views. Cave Rock is another landmark to check out while you’re in Sumner, and the beautiful Godley Head is just a stone’s throw away.

Riccarton House

There’s a lot of history to take in at Riccarton House while you’re holidaying from Adelaide to Christchurch. There are two historic buildings, beautiful gardens, and a native forest with kahikatea trees that are about 600 years old. The main Riccarton House was built between the mid- to late 19th century, and the smaller Deans Cottage on the property dates back to 1843, making it the oldest surviving building in the Canterbury Plains. You can enjoy a self-guided tour of the gardens and see the exterior of the Homestead and Deans Cottage or book onto a guided tour for a look inside Riccarton House. The interior features beautiful Victorian and Edwardian designs and still houses many of the original homewares, offering a glimpse back to a previous era.

Public Transport and How to Get Around from the Airport

Christchurch has a network of 28 bus routes that you can use to get around the city and suburbs. You can even catch bus routes 3 and 29 from the airport into the city. Both of these routes travel into the CBD, and route 3 continues further to Sumner.

The Diamond Head ferry is located south of the city and comes in handy if you’re planning a day trip to the Banks Peninsula. The ferry crosses the bay between Lyttleton and Diamond Harbour, which is at the very start of the Banks Peninsula.

The Christchurch Tramway offers another option for tourists holidaying on flights from Adelaide to Christchurch – however, it’s more of a tourist attraction rather than an official mode of transportation. The Tramway loops around the CBD, stopping at several attractions and landmarks on the way.

Public transport is a good option within the city, but having access to a car is essential if you’re looking to explore more of the Canterbury region. You can hire your car with Webjet, then pick it up from Christchurch Airport when you arrive. Use the car to reach exciting spots like Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula, Kaikoura, and Arthur’s Pass.

The Cost of Visiting Christchurch

There’s a great selection of Christchurch hotels that are available to book with Webjet. Hotel rooms in the centre cost about $150 NZD on average, but you can also find budget options from about $70 NZD per night.

You can also hire a car with Webjet while planning your trip from Adelaide to Christchurch. Rates start from about $55 NZD per day. Alternatively, you can use public transport to get around. A bus to or from the airport costs $8.50 NZD cash or $2.65 NZD with a Metrocard. Otherwise, bus fares are split across three zones with the city and inner suburbs falling into zone 1. Cash fares cost $4.20 NZD in one zone, $5.70 NZD across two zones, or $6.70 NZD when travelling across three zones. Note that you can get discounted fares if you use a Metrocard, which costs $5 NZD to purchase.

Christchurch is also teeming with fun activities to budget for. Tickets for the Christchurch Tramway cost $25 NZD for adults, and each adult can take up to three children for free on their ticket. A guided heritage tour of Riccarton House costs $18 NZD for adults and $5 NZD for children. Quake City is another fun attraction – adult tickets cost $20 NZD, and kids under 15 years old enter for free when they’re with an adult. Lastly, if you’d like to visit the International Antarctic Centre, entry costs $49 NZD for adults and $29 NZD for children.

FAQ

What airlines offer flights from Adelaide to Christchurch?

You can fly from Adelaide to Christchurch with Qantas, Air New Zealand, and Jetstar. However, none of these airlines offer direct flights between the two cities and include a stopover along the way.

How long does it take to fly from Adelaide to Christchurch?

Flights from Adelaide to Christchurch are available from about six hours, which includes a stopover.

How far is Christchurch Airport from the CBD?

Christchurch Airport is located about nine kilometres from the city centre. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the CBD by car.

How much does it cost to travel from Adelaide to Christchurch?

Adelaide to Christchurch flights start from rates of about $375 to $400 NZD each way.