Christchurch Gondola

Christchurch Gondola is an amazing experience and a must-do when visiting the city. The ride up is smooth and scenic, offering stunning panoramic views of Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains, Lyttelton Harbour, and the surrounding hills. At the top, the views are absolutely breathtaking, perfect for photos and just soaking in the beauty of the landscape. There are plenty of viewing spots, and the area is well maintained and easy to explore. It’s suitable for all ages and a great activity whether you’re visiting with family, friends, or as a couple. Well worth the time and highly recommended for anyone wanting a memorable Christchurch experience.

Amazing experience, a must do!! The views of Christchurch & Lyttelton are breathtaking!!! Just do it! You can walk around the viewing platform & out to the edge of the hill (with the sheep) see the paragliders take off & soar the skies. Have a coffee beer or bite to eat at the cafe . The Gondola staff are great & it’s a fun experience. Catch the #8 bus for $4 from Christchurch or uber is approximately $24

Had a great trip up in the gondola. Very clear day for seeing the surrounding Bays and city. I arrived ahead of any crowds around 9.30am. It was perfect as it allowed me to have a gondola to myself. The staff were very friendly and I enjoyed the food in the cafe. I chose to walk back to the base instead of taking the gondola. It was a good walk, taking about 40 mins.

Had a great family time at the Christchurch Gondola. The scenic views from the top station are absolutely stunning. The staff were very friendly, and there’s a café, restaurant, and gift shop at the top, making it a perfect spot to relax, eat, and enjoy the experience.

We went to Christchurch Gondola to revisit the place we were at when my daughter was younger. A lasting memory before she head off to university in Australia. We arrived around 1.45pm on Saturday by bus. We booked the tickets in advance. The place was not busy at all so it was a surprise for us. We went out on a walk, conscious to stick within the boundary even though I wanted to go out of the perimeter. It was a beautiful place with panoramic views. The wind helps keep the temperature down. If you plan to get here by bus, take no. 8 from the interchange. There are plenty of parking spaces that we can see.

The shuttle bus ticket from downtown Christchurch to the Christian gondola, one way is 7 1/2 New Zealand dollar round-trip is 15. Gondola ride is NZ$42 per person. The Christchurch Gondola is an unmissable South Island experience, offering breathtaking 360-degree views of the Southern Alps, Lyttelton Harbour, and the sprawling Canterbury Plains. The ten-minute ascent to the summit of Mount Cavendish is spectacular, though visitors should be well-prepared for the elements. Due to its exposed position on the Port Hills, the summit is prone to exceptionally high winds. These powerful gusts can make the outdoor viewing decks feel quite intense and occasionally cause the cabins to sway, adding a thrill for some but a challenge for others. Bringing a windproof jacket is essential. Despite the blustery conditions, the panoramic vistas and the "Time Tunnel" historical ride make this a truly top-tier Christchurch attraction.

It is a popular tourist attraction in Christchurch. It's 1,000 metres (1,100 yd) in length, and from the summit it is possible to see across the city of Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps in the north and west, and down into Lyttelton Harbour and Banks Peninsula in the south and east. You can get here by car (about 20 mins drive) and park free at the base station. You can also use public transport to get here. It takes about 20 minutes to get up to the top station. There you will find a restaurant, walking tracks, views of the city, toilets. Very popular place, lots of tourists and locals. Level terrain around the stations though there are stairs at places. Wear comfy shoes, take water, wear hat, sunscreen. Great place for photography.

Nice place to see the views over the city. Poorly marked trails if you want to hike around at the top. Food was available at the café on top to grab a snack. Pleasant staff. It was interesting to see where the sheep were hanging out in the rocks in the shade.

For the views and a little of Christchurch's past, the cable car ride to the top of the Port Hills is a must. You see Lyttelton Harbour in view and even the Southern Alps on clear days. At the summit, you'll find a historical exhibit about Christchurch's geological and cultural history, including the volcanic origins of the region. There was an earthquake here in 2010 and 2011, both causing severe destruction and massive chaos.

A bit far from the central business district but accessible on the bus network (30 minutes or so, depending on traffic), the Christchurch Gondola is a cable car that climbs Mount Cavendish. From the top (445 meters / 1460 feet), you can see the Christchurch skyline as well as down into Lyttelton Harbor. If your weather is mostly clear, don't miss this. If it's cloudy, I would suggest waiting it out. A gift shop and restaurant at the top has meals, snacks and ice cream. They are strict about last call at 5:00 pm and if you're taking the bus, note that the bus might not come into the parking lot after 5:00 pm so you need to go to the stop on the street. [Review 393 of 2024 - 46 in New Zealand - 21426 overall]

If you are coming from the Central Business District, take the 8 bus (Lyttleton) from the Lichfield bus interchange. It's NZ$4 cash. It drops you off literally a few steps away from the door to the facility. (Take the 8 bus Airport to get back to downtown.) The trip was maybe 15 minutes because I went during an off-time. It was an overcast day, so there were only a few people there. No waiting, and I had the car to myself in both directions. Despite the clouds and haziness, there were still views to be had. The gondola moves slowly so people can get on and off. It can be slowed down even more, and staff can even kind of stop it for you for a moment. One car could fit six adults. There are a few bumps, especially as you start out, and when you go over the towers. Sometimes the cars stop for a few minutes. If you are apprehensive, the worst parts are as you get started, especially coming down. Both buildings are accessible, with ramps and a lift at the top. The hardest part is getting in and out of the gondola. However I don't know what they can do if you use a wheelchair or must have a walker or rollator. You should check with them in advance if any of these applies to you. Up top, you enter (and exit) through the gift shop. It's actually a good-sized and nice gift shop. I left some money there. The toilets are here (and there are toilets at the bottom, too). At the bottom is a drink vending machines. The cafe's at the top, upstairs from the gift shop. There are stairs from the gift shop. The lift (elevator) is around the corner by the gondolas. There are observation decks at both levels. Several trails of varying lengths start off from the observation deck at the lower level. The cafe had a good selection and the food was good. My ham and cheese toastie was good. You can enjoy adult beverages there, too. There's a seating area in front and even a larger seating area around back. The parking lot seemed big, but on a clear day in high season, I imagine it can get full quickly.

The view from the top of the gondola was beautiful. Many trails to hike around while up there. Coffee shop and gift shop also available. Christchurch is beautiful

The gondola is the best vantage point to view Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains & Lyttelton Harbor. They have a time tunnel experiencing the history and geological evolution of this region. There is a shuttle or the gondola back down with our back to the Port Hills for the best views of the Southern Alps. Admission is $35, they open at 20 and a visit is about 2 hours. The 38 bus stops right on front, from both directions. This was confusing, Many of us thought we could take the gondola to Christchurch. I didn't realize we would be spending hours with views of the botanic gardens below & a commercial port. It was a foggy cloudy morning, I don't think we would have seen much of anything, so we moved on.

Worth a visit on a nice day. If it's too cloudy, don't bother. There's an interesting ride/video about Christchurch and how it was formed.

It's not as simple as stated in the previous reviews. The Gondola ride, and Cafe's could be seen as family centered. However I look at it as the cafe's not being the focal point, but instead the ride, and views. I had a steak salad in the "Rock Cafe". It was really quite good. The views once you reach the top, are breathtaking! The inlet around the Lyttleton Harbor is a flooded volcanic crater. Think Crater Lake, but much grander. You can do anything from a short trek around the gondola's center, or hook on down to the full trail around the crater. The full Crater track took my cousin in-law, a sponsored trail runner, 8 hours to run. 2018 #2

This was my first ride ever in a cable car. The ride was both exciting and amazing! At the top is a lookout point offering breathtaking birds-eye views of Christchurch and the neighbouring suburbs. Also, there is a restaurant there which catered to my family's vegan needs. They specially prepared for us burgers and sandwiches, both of which comprised our first meal in New Zealand. The views from the tower were great, but I think I would probably have taken more aesthetically pleasing photographs if I had taken the gondola ride during the golden hour. I would recommend visiting this place during that time. Besides a restaurant, there is also a souvenir shop. However, be mindful that prices here are more expensive than in the malls. You can purchase souvenirs for lower prices at two-dollar shops.

The gondola gives you pretty views and a nice ride. Along with the views, there's an excellent restaurant at the top -- the Red Rock Cafe -- and a large gift shop. (I think there's a museum as well, but I didn't take the opportunity to see what it was like.) The staff at the top and at the bottom are friendly and efficient. This was not a Must See to me, with all the other vantage points in the area, but it was enjoyable.

Well the view is amazing that's for sure but up the hill, I don't call it mountain, there is not much. The red rock cafe is nit fully licensed and so no beer is available at sunset. The view is amazing up there but I'd rather hike it as going up by gondola next time. Value for money is good as I bought a combo ticket although it's not nice the transfer is not included. This was not mentioned in the advertisement.

Three and a Half. I had my hopes up for visiting Christchurch Gondola. I was told the views were fantastic, the restaurant was delicious and that this was a tourist destination I couldn't miss. More like Tourist Trap. For $25 you will get a 10 minute ride to the top of the Port Hills with views of Christchurch that can be seen on any Port Hills road for free. Once at the top, there is a cute little gift shop with sweeping views towards Lyttleton and Governor's Bay (fine, that was worth it) and you can take the ChCh History Train Ride for free. This 7 minute ride needs some updating and a little more history than cheese. Still here? Head on up to the "restaurant" area for 360 degree views of Christchurch and surrounding areas. I will say, these are great views, but not any you couldn't get anywhere else in the Port Hills. The "restaurant" is more like a cafe with very limited options. The fries and special seasoning was pretty good and I enjoyed the chicken wrap, it just wasn't what I was expecting. I'm glad I explored it on my own, as I don't think I would be bringing my family here if we only have a day to explore. Much better suited to families with small children.