Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the FAQ page of Christchurch Attractions! This is your comprehensive guide to some of the most frequently asked questions about our stunning sites and memorable experiences. We understand that planning a visit can often bring up a lot of questions, so we’ve compiled a list of answers to the queries we hear most often.
Christchurch Gondola
The Christchurch Gondola officially opened on 24th November 1992.
On average, the ride takes about 10 minutes although top speed allows us to make the ride time 4 minutes 30 seconds.
No, unfortunately our Christchurch Tram route does not extend to the Gondola. The Gondola is a 15-minute drive by car from central Christchurch, and is also accessible via public bus number 8 which departs from the Christchurch Bus Interchange and stops at the door of our Gondola Base Station.
Our base station is wheelchair accessible and one wheelchair is available for guests to borrow from reception. Our cabins are wheelchair accessible for manual wheelchairs no wider than 600mm due to the cabin doorway width. An elevator is available at the summit station for wheelchair-bound guests to access the café & observatory and functions space levels. Please note that the Christchurch Discovery Ride is not wheelchair accessible.
We recommend that guests do not leave valuables in their vehicles at any time.
Yes, one-way tickets are available to purchase at our Gondola base station or at our retail store at the summit station. Current pricing is $25 per adult, $12 per child and $62 per family.
Christchurch Tram
Approximately 50 mins for one circuit, but tickets are valid for hop-on hop-off travel for one calendar day.
Approximately every 10-15 minutes in summer and every 15-25 minutes in winter.
There are currently 18 stops throughout central Christchurch. Customers can hop on and off at any stop, and our trams will pause at every stop so there is no need to alert the driver in advance that you would like to board or disembark.
Tickets can be purchased online through our website, from our Booking Office at stop 1 in Cathedral Junction, or from our drivers at any of our stops. We also have mobile ticket sellers called Tram Hosts who may be at selected stops to sell tickets to our customers. We accept cash and Eftpos/credit card payments at all of our in-person selling locations.
If you have pre-purchased a ticket online through our Christchurch Attractions website, you can collect your tickets at our Booking Office at stop 1 in Cathedral Junction or from our drivers at any of our stops. You will just need to show our staff the booking confirmation and quote your booking reference (CHXXXXXX) in order to collect your tickets.
Please note that if you have purchased your tickets through an online seller such as Book Me, GrabOne, Viator or through a travel agent, you will need to visit our Booking Office to collect your tickets.
Two of our Trams are able to accommodate up to two manual wheelchairs on board at one time using the wheelchair hoist located in Cathedral Junction (please note that motorised wheelchairs are too heavy for the hoist to lift, and the maximum safe working load is 250kg). We recommend phoning ahead on the day on 03 366 7830 to check whether wheelchair-accessible trams are operating and what time they will be departing from Cathedral Junction.
Two to three small, folded prams can be accommodated on board each of the larger trams (please note that the smaller trams are not able to accommodate folded trams so as not to block access to the aisles). Several trams also have pram hooks available to secure up to two prams to the exterior of the trams.
Punting on the Avon
Our standard shared ride is 30 minutes, as is our private ride option.
The ride will start at either the Antigua Boat Sheds or Worcester Bridge depending on which tour option you purchase. The Antigua Boat Sheds ride will finish at the same location and the Worcester Bridge ride will end at Victoria Square. There are no options to disembark from the ride any earlier due to health and safety reasons.
Winter in Christchurch can be quite chilly, so we have blankets available at both sites to keep our guests warm on board in the colder winter months. We also have umbrellas and waterproof blankets available for guests to keep dry on showery or rainy days.
Unfortunately Punting on the Avon is not wheelchair accessible. For guests who are able to step out of their chair, our Antigua Boat Sheds and Worcester Bridge landings are accessible by wheelchair for guests to then step out of their chairs to take a seat on board the punts. Parties that include a wheelchair-bound guest are also welcome to lift the chair in and out of the punt if they wish to. Please contact our staff on 03 366 0337 for further details.
Christchurch Pass
The Christchurch Pass includes tickets for a return Christchurch Gondola ride, a 30-minute shared Punting on the Avon tour and an all-day Christchurch Tram pass.
No, you can choose to visit the attractions over more than one day if you wish to (i.e. you could visit the Christchurch Tram and Punting on the Avon one day, and the Christchurch Gondola on the following day).
The Christchurch Pass allows you to organise your day so you can visit the attractions in whichever order you would like. A suggested itinerary could include:
10:00am – 10:30am Punting on the Avon (example time only – bookings essential)
11:00am – 12:30pm Christchurch Gondola
1:00pm onwards Christchurch Tram (you can hop on and off with your ticket)
*Transport to and from the Gondola via private car or public bus #8
Please note this is a suggested itinerary only. Bookings are essential for Punting: please phone +64 3 366 0337 to schedule a time.
Botanic Gardens Tour
Approximately 40 mins for one full trip, but tickets are valid to hop on and off the tour at the three stops.
The Botanic Gardens Tour departs from behind the Peacock Fountain at 11am, 12pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm and 3:30pm Thursday – Sunday in winter, and on the half hour from 10am until 4pm (excluding 1pm and 1:30pm when our drivers will be taking breaks) daily in summer.
There are three stops included on the tour, including the main departure point which is located behind the Peacock Fountain in the Botanic Gardens: from the main entrance on Rolleston Avenue, walk straight ahead and around the Peacock Fountain where you will see our purple teardrop flag marking the departure point. The other stops included on the tour are outside the Christchurch Botanic Gardens Visitor Information Centre and the Woodland Bridge.
Tickets can be purchased online through our website, from the Christchurch Attractions Booking Office in Cathedral Junction, or from our Botanic Gardens Tour drivers at any of our stops. We accept cash and Eftpos/credit card payments at our in-person selling locations.
Unfortunately the Botanic Gardens Tour is not wheelchair accessible. For guests who are able to step out of their chair and on to the shuttle, wheelchairs and walking frames can be left at the Christchurch Botanic Gardens Visitor Information Centre while on the tour. Please contact our staff on 03 366 7830 for further details.
Christchurch Tramway Restaurant
Our $149 menu package for our 7:30pm departures includes a welcome drink, starter, entrée, main, dessert, and tea or coffee.
Our $125 menu package for our 5pm departures (available on selected dates only) includes a welcome drink, starter, main, dessert, and tea or coffee.
Our 7:30pm dinner services take approximately 2 hours. The Tramway Restaurant usually completes 2.5 circuits of our 5-kilometre tram route during this time.
Our 5pm dinner services usually take approximately 1.5 hours with the tram completing 1.5-2 circuits of the tram route.
This is a very popular experience, so bookings are essential. We recommend booking as early as possible to secure a table, particularly for weekends or busy travel periods.
Please note that the Tramway Restaurant experience is not recommended for children aged under 10 years, and children aged 5 years and under may not dine for safety reasons. Our standard menu and pricing apply for all children aged 6 years and over who are booked on board.
Yes, our menu includes gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian and vegan options (we do recommend letting us know about these requirements when you book).
We can cater for all other dietary requirements (including coeliac disease) with advance notice: please contact our reservations team on 03 366 7830 or at info@christchurchattractions.nz at least three days prior to your booking date to advise your requirements and chat through options with our team.
Yes, a small airplane-style restroom is available on board. The tram also stops partway through our 7:30pm services to allow guests to stretch their legs and use the larger restroom facilities in Cathedral Junction.
Unfortunately, the Tramway Restaurant is not wheelchair accessible. For guests who are able to step out of their chair, our staff can use the wheelchair hoist in Cathedral Junction to lift manual wheelchairs up to the entrance of the tram so that guests can walk the 3-4 metre distance to a nearby table. Please phone our staff on 03 366 7830 in advance for us to organise a table near the entrance and to have the wheelchair hoist ready to operate (please note that the wheelchair hoist has a maximum working load of 250kg).
Tram & Gondola Annual Pass
The Tram & Gondola Annual Pass includes unlimited entry to the Christchurch Tram and Christchurch Gondola for 12 months from the date of issue.
Entry to Punting on the Avon is not included, but you will receive a 30% discount off our standard Punting on the Avon rates when making a booking over the phone or in person: please mention when you book that you have a valid Annual Pass, and bring your card along with you to present to the staff on the day. Please note discounts aren’t available for online bookings or special events.
Our Annual Pass cards are issued with the name and photo of the adult card holder: the card can then only be used by the nominated adult on the card. For family passes, the two adults included in the pass will each have a card printed with their name and photo – please note that only one adult needs to be present when purchasing a family pass, as we can take the second adult’s photo at a later date if they are not able to be there when the pass is purchased.
If purchasing a child pass, your child will need to have their name and photo printed on their card so only they can use this. For family passes, the nominated adults can bring any three children to the attractions, so photos of the children are not required for these cards.
No, Annual Pass cards are non-transferable and can only be used by the adult named and pictured on the card. We are unable to change the nominated adult named and pictured on the card.
No, both adults are issued their own personalised cards which they can use for entry to the attractions either together or separately. Please note that cards are non-transferable, so cannot be used by anyone other than the adult named and pictured on the card.
Annual Pass holders receive a 10% discount off purchases at the Christchurch Gondola’s Shop at the Top retail store (please note this applies to full-priced items only, and is not valid for stock already discounted or on sale). Please present your pass to the staff when making your purchase.
Please note discounts are not available at the Christchurch Gondola’s Red Rock Café.
Annual Pass holders also receive a 30% discount off our standard Punting on the Avon rates when making a booking over the phone or in person: please mention when you book that you have a valid Annual Pass, and bring your card along with you to present to the staff on the day. Please note discounts aren’t available for online bookings or special events.
Annual Pass holders are also entitled to a 50% discount off our standard Jet Boat experience at Hanmer Springs Attractions when making a booking over the phone or in person: please mention when you book that you have a valid Annual Pass, and bring your card along with you to present to the staff on the day. Please note discounts apply to the full retail rate, and are not valid in conjunction with any other specials or discounts.
No, our standard Annual Pass validity is for 12 months from the date of redemption.
No, unfortunately we are unable to honour Annual Pass cards after the expiry date printed on the card. You will need to renew your Annual Pass for another 12-month period or pay for a single-entry ticket to visit the attraction.
The layout of our base station at the Christchurch Gondola means we have one line of entry into the premises and all Annual Pass holders must pass by the reception desk so we can record entry to the attraction.
When visiting the Christchurch Tram, you can board at any of the 18 stops. Please have your card ready to present to the driver when hopping on board.
Visitors need to be able to show either the physical card or a copy of this on their phone to enter the Christchurch Tram or Christchurch Gondola. Visitors who have lost their card can have it reprinted at either location for a $5 replacement fee.
No, we don’t offer discounts on Annual Passes are they are already heavily discounted. However, for Hāpai Access Card holders with the +1 symbol on their cards, we can create a carer card for your carer to use to accompany you free of charge – please note that carer cards can only be used when accompanying the Hāpai Access Card holder named on the carer card.
The physical voucher has a 6-month expiry. The voucher can be redeemed at the Christchurch Attractions Booking Office in Cathedral Junction or at the Christchurch Gondola before the expiry date. The staff will then create and print your Annual Pass card which will be valid for 12 months from the date it is printed.
Other Questions
Occasionally we offer promo codes for discounted tickets during specific promotions (such as kids go free at the Gondola for KidsFest or our school holiday Jet specials at Hanmer Springs Attractions). These promo codes are advertised on our website and social media pages and can be used for online purchases.
Please note that all other discount material (including Entertainment Book vouchers, discount vouchers from accommodation providers, and discount coupons from travel guides) must be presented when purchasing tickets in person at the attractions in order for the discount to apply. These discounts are not valid for online bookings.
The Christchurch Tram and Christchurch Gondola are both participating businesses in the Hāpai Access Card scheme. You can find out more about what we offer for Hāpai Access Card holders on the Hāpai Foundation website.
Please note that as KiwiAble Cards have been discontinued, we will only be accepting the Hāpai Access Card at the Tram and Gondola.
Unfortunately we do not offer senior rates at our attractions. We offer adult tickets for guests aged 16 years and over, child tickets for guests aged 5-15 years inclusive, and family tickets valid for two adults and up to three children. Infants aged under 5 years enter the attractions free of charge.
No, you are welcome to visit the attractions included in your combo ticket on different days if you wish to.
Please note that only certified disability assist dogs wearing their official harnesses are allowed at our attractions.
For guests bringing their disability assist dog on the Tramway Restaurant, we ask that you please advise our team in advance so we can allocate you an appropriate table and can notify other diners as a courtesy in case they have allergies to dogs.