Discover the stories, architecture and cultural heartbeat of Christchurch on a premium guided walk through the city’s most significant heritage and arts landmarks.
Led by professional storytellers and delivered in a relaxed small-group format, this tour is designed for visitors who want more than the highlights, it’s a deeper, behind-the-scenes experience of the city’s past, recovery and creative future.
What you’ll experience:
An exclusive tour inside the Christ Church Cathedral Restoration project
Back of house tour of the Court Theatre Tour including props and rehearsal rooms
Personalised tour of Ravenscar House Museum including the history behind the project
A curated walk through Christchurch’s most meaningful heritage and arts precincts
Architectural highlights, hidden details and local insights you won’t get walking alone
Tour Overview:
Tour runs: Daily
Start time: 10:00am
Duration: 2.5 hours (approx)
Group size: Maximum 20 guests
Meeting point: Court Theatre, Christchurch CBD
Walking pace: Easy to moderate - comfortable for most fitness levels
Price: $149 per person
Step inside one of New Zealand’s most respected performing arts institutions and discover what makes The Court Theatre the beating heart of Christchurch’s creative community. On this exclusive behind-the-scenes experience, guests will learn how world-class productions are brought to life, meeting the spaces where actors rehearse, sets are built and stories begin. Your guide will share insider insights into the Theatre’s history, its journey through earthquake recovery and its bold future in the city’s new civic arts precinct. It’s an intimate look into the craft, people, and passion that shape live theatre in Aotearoa.
1. THE COURT THEATRE
2. CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL
The tour takes guests inside the iconic Christ Church Cathedral, offering a rare opportunity to explore its extraordinary past, present and future. Visitors will hear the remarkable story of its original 19th-century construction, the materials and craftsmanship that defined its Gothic Revival design and the profound impact of the Canterbury earthquakes. Our guides will share the latest on the ambitious reinstatement project, what has been achieved to date, and the engineering and heritage vision guiding its restoration. This is a powerful narrative of resilience and renewal, told within the walls of the city’s most recognisable landmark.
The Worcester Street Boulevard is one of Christchurch’s most elegant and culturally significant corridors. The boulevard links the heart of the city with its most treasured arts precincts, including Christchurch Art Gallery, a striking glass-fronted landmark and the historic grounds of the Arts Centre a Gothic Revival complex
3. WORCESTER STREET BOULEVARD
In the heart of the historic Arts Centre, guests will pause in the iconic quad, a place where heritage architecture, contemporary art and creative energy come together. Here, the tour introduces two significant sculptures: Echo by Neil Dawson, a suspended geometric form that dances lightly above the courtyard and STAY by Sir Antony Gormley, a striking cast-iron figure that invites reflection on presence, weight and belonging. Standing beside the beautifully restored Great Hall, visitors will hear how this Gothic Revival masterpiece has served Christchurch for generations, from concerts and gatherings to its role in the city’s cultural renaissance.
4. ART CENTRE QUAD
Guests will be led through Ravenscar House for a guided exploration of this award-winning architectural treasure and its exceptional private art collection. The tour reveals the remarkable legacy of Jim and Susan Wakefield, the philanthropic couple who envisioned a home built not for living, but for sharing. Visitors will learn how the house’s striking contemporary design was shaped by light, form and memory, and how each artwork was chosen to reflect New Zealand’s artistic identity. This guided experience offers rich storytelling on the collection, the architecture, and the generosity that brought this cultural gem to life.
5. Ravenscar House Museum
BOOK YOUR PLACE
Christchurch has undergone a powerful transformation following the 2011 earthquake, emerging as a vibrant cultural destination.
Our walking tour invites visitors into the heart of the city’s arts and heritage precinct - offering exclusive behind-the-scenes access to significant cultural institutions and stories of regeneration, creativity, and identity.
OUR TOUR MAP
STARTING POINT:
We meet at the Court Theatre to meet the guide and a Tour Briefing
1.COURT THEATRE:
Backstage Experience. Meet the makers of live theatre.Behind-the-scenes access to rehearsal spaces, costumes, production areas and creative storytelling.
2. CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL:
Guided entry onto the Reinstatement site with exclusive access inside the Cathedral to hear of the stories of history, resilience and renewal.
3. WORCESTER BOULEVARD WALK:
Architectural storytelling: heritage buildings, street art, sculptures, art gallery, history in motion.
4. ARTS CENTRE QUAD:
View Echo by Neil Dawson and STAY by Antony Gormley
5. Ravenscar House Museum :
Private guided tour through an architectural icon housing one of New Zealand’s finest private art collections.
The tour ends at Ravenscar House