Self-guided Central City walks

Start your walk on the new City Promenade at the intersection of Oxford Terrace and Worcester Street. Walk north (downstream) with the Avon River on your left-hand side.

You’ll walk past the pink Midland Building which has been restored by local developer, Box112. It is now home to Café Miro and Crane Brothers menswear store. Pop in and check out the beautiful wood panelling, staircase and restored cage-style lift.

Next door you’ll see Te Pae, the Christchurch Convention Centre in construction. When you reach the Armagh Street intersection take a look through the viewing window and read about the building features.

Directly across the road is Victoria Square. Restored by Ōtākaro over 12 months and re-opened in March 2018, the Square remains much the same as it was before the earthquakes. Irrigation was improved, pavers and seats were replaced, the Bowker Fountain was repaired, and new artworks were installed. Heritage items were protected during the work.

Cross the road by the river at Colombo Street and walk the northern block of the City Promenade to the Margaret Mahy Family Playground. This was the first Anchor Project to be completed and on weekends and during school holidays it’s packed with families.

Turn right and walk down a block of Manchester Street. This street was redeveloped to cater for alternative modes of transport. The footpath was widened and lined with trees to create a pleasant boulevard for cyclists and pedestrians. The road is now a bus priority route with dedicated bus lanes and traffic signals. It is recommended that cars use the one-way streets in town (Madras, Barbadoes, Durham and Montreal) and only use Manchester to access businesses and parking buildings.

Turn left at Gloucester Street and then turn right into Rauora Park. This is the third largest park in Christchurch central city and it runs five blocks down the centre of the East Frame. The first 172 of 900 ‘One Central’ homes are being constructed now. Some are already up for sale near Hereford Street.

To finish, walk to Cashel Street which will take you to the retail area of the city. The Crown incentivised private developers to build here by promising that Government agencies would tenant the upper floors of office space. Here you’ll find shopping, cafes, and if you walk back down to the Avon River you can finish up at the new hospitality area on The Terrace.

View the map and walking guide. [PDF, 677 KB]

Start your walk on the new City Promenade at the intersection of Oxford Terrace and Hereford Street. This area is known as The Terrace and many popular restaurants, cafes and bars have opened here overlooking the river.

Walk south (upstream) with the Avon River on your right-hand side. Follow the City Promenade to Oi Manawa – Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial which opened in 2016 to remember those who lost their lives or were seriously injured in the Canterbury earthquake in 2011.

When you reach Montreal Street walk south and then turn left onto the Greenway in the South Frame. Beyond the sheltered pathway is Kahikatea Common. One of four larger spaces in the South Frame called gathering spaces.

As you walk along the completed sections of the South Frame you’ll walk through the other three spaces, Matai Common, Evolution square and Vanguard Square. You may note that each of the gathering spaces are at various stages of development. Ōtākaro is creating the spaces and it is then over to private developers to create businesses that complement the area and draw people in. A good example of this is Evolution Square, which is lined with popular eateries and stores.

Cross Lichfield Street into Rauora Park. This is the third largest park in Christchurch central city and it runs five blocks down the centre of the East Frame. The first 172 of 900 ‘One Central’ homes are being constructed now. Some are already up for sale near Hereford Street.

Turn left and walk down a block of Manchester Street. This street was redeveloped to cater for alternative modes of transport. The footpath was widened and lined with trees to create a pleasant boulevard for cyclists and pedestrians. The road is now a bus priority route with dedicated bus lanes and traffic signals. It is best for cars to drive down the one-way streets in town (Madras, Barbadoes, Durham and Montreal) and only use Manchester to access businesses and parking buildings.

To finish, walk to Cashel Street which will take you to the retail area of the city. The Crown incentivised private developers to build here by promising that Government agencies would tenant the upper floors of office space. Here you’ll find shopping, cafes, and if you walk back down to the Avon River you can finish up at the new hospitality area on The Terrace.

View the map and walking guide. [PDF, 677 KB]