NZ: returning van; Christchurch exploring

· accommodations · exploring · food · map · RV · town · travel · New Zealand 2025

We traveled from our last campsite to return the rental van, then got dropped off at a hotel in downtown Christchurch, and did some touring around the central city.

Here’s an interactive map of our route, with the stops marked:

A pile of things to donate to Red Cross:

A pile of things to donate to Red Cross

A pile of our luggage:

A pile of our luggage

McRent Christchurch:

McRent Christchurch

Other campers:

Other campers

Our van:

Our van

No problems dropping off the van (unlike a German family that returned their camper at the same time as us, that had thousands of dollars of damage!). McRent arranged an Uber to our downtown hotel for the night, Distinction:

Distinction hotel

Hotel room:

Hotel room
Hotel room

We went to the Tramway Cafe for lunch:

Tramway Cafe for lunch

We did a city tour tram ride:

City tour tram

Tram route:

Tram route

A must-do in Christchurch — punting on the Avon:

Punting on the Avon
Punting on the Avon
Punting on the Avon
Punting on the Avon
Punting on the Avon
Punting on the Avon
Punting on the Avon
Punting on the Avon
Punting on the Avon
Punting on the Avon
Punting on the Avon

A brief walk through part of Christchurch Botanic Gardens:

Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Fountain
Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Then more walking around looking at Christchurch buildings:

Christchurch buildings
Christchurch buildings

And back on the tram:

Tram
Tram
Christchurch buildings
Christchurch buildings

Coffee and a slice:

Coffee and slice
Christchurch buildings
Christchurch buildings

Christ Church Cathedral reconstruction; it was significantly damaged in several earthquakes:

Christchurch cathedral reconstruction
Christchurch cathedral reconstruction

More buildings and art:

Christchurch buildings
Christchurch buildings
Christchurch buildings
Christchurch buildings
Christchurch buildings

A very nice city.