In honour of the Canterbury VS Otago NPC rugby final tomorrow (likely already long since past by the time you read this) I decided to pit the South Island’s two largest cities against each other in a tourism battle. At least if Otago (Dunedin) loses the rugby I reckon it’ll win this particular fight.
Disclaimer: I’m a Dunedin local so there’s likely to be some bias in this post.
Christchurch VS Dunedin: The City Centres
If you’re planning a trip to Christchurch or Dunedin you’ll likely spend a lot of your time in the city centres. Both cities are strong in this regard, with walkable downtown areas with plenty of attractions and good places to eat, drink and sleep.
Christchurch is more spreadout (it’s a far larger city) and it lost a lot of its history after the 2010 / 2011 earthquakes. The rebuild has been long and messy but it’s starting to look good now and will be even better when the new stadium opens in 2026.
Hagley Park and the Avon River are the main highlights of the city centre and there’s a really good food market (more on that later).
Dunedin’s city centre is a lot more compact. George Street / Princes Street (they merge at the Octagon) runs for a few kilometres and you’ll find most things you need there or on a few streets either side of it. You’ll find nightlife and dining at the Octagon (Dunedin’s version of a town square) and the whole area is packed with old buildings. The Dunedin Railway Station is the historical highlight but there’s heaps to see if you’re a fan of late 1800s / early 1900s architecture.
The Verdict: Dunedin wins this battle easily. I love how much you can see on a relatively short walk and your chances of getting lost are slim. It feels like you’re exploring a small city in the UK / Europe — history on every corner! Christchurch is a lot more modern these days and while they’ve done a great job with the rebuild you can’t beat an atmospheric old town when it comes to exploring.
Banks Peninsula VS The Otago Peninsula
Christchurch and Dunedin both sit on land shaped by volcanic activity. This created both Banks Peninsula and the Otago Peninsula, some of New Zealand’s most spectacular coastal areas. Both are easy to access from the city centre and are home to beaches, viewpoints, walks, scenic drives and wildlife including penguins, dolphins, sea lions and albatross (they breed at Taiaroa Head, Otago Peninsula).
The Verdict: Another win for Dunedin. While Banks Peninsula is beautiful and there’s a lot to explore, the Otago Peninsula is on another level. It’s perfectly setup for tourism. The high road (Highcliff Road) takes you along oceanside of the peninsular, with sights including rugged beaches, short, spectacular walks, sweeping roadside views and a castle!
Drive to the end of the Otago Peninsula via Highcliff Road (which meets the harbourside road in Portobello) and visit Taiaroa Head at the end of the peninsula. Drive back to the city via Portobello Road (which runs along the harbour) and check out the small villages, boat houses and cafes. The two sides of the Otago Peninsula are very different but you can see it all in a day and the distances are short (Taiaroa Head is only 45 km from the city centre).
Banks Peninsula is great as well but it’s a bit more spreadout and the best bits (around Akaroa) are quite far from the city centre.
Beaches
Dunedin has some of New Zealand’s best beaches, as long as you don’t mind them being a bit windswept. They’re usually too cold to swim in for most people too.
READ MORE: 26 of the Best Beaches in Dunedin
Christchurch’s beaches are a little less inspiring. They’re decent but there aren’t as many and they aren’t nearly as picturesque. I’m sure the water is also cold, although I’ve never swum at a beach in Christchurch or Dunedin so I’m no expert.
READ MORE: Where Are the Best Beaches in Christchurch
The Verdict: An easy win for Dunedin.
Attractions and Things to Do
The attractions around Dunedin are mostly nature based and it doesn’t quite boast the variety that Christchurch does. The nature is world-class though, so if you’re into walks, scenic drives and looking out over beautiful vistas you cant beat Dunedin.
READ MORE: 30 of the Best Things to Do in Dunedin
Christchurch has good nature too (not too much outside of the Port Hills / Banks Peninsula though) but it also has family friendly attractions that you tend to find in bigger cities. It has two zoos, a cable car, old trams running through the city and more indoor activities than Dunedin.
READ MORE: 19 of the Best Things to Do in Christchurch
The Verdict: This one is a tie. Dunedin has the better nature but Christchurch has more tourist attractions and more places to take kids. Both have great museums and gardens.
Eating and Drinking
With a huge array of food from around the world, takeaway chains, cafes, proper sitdown restaurants and bars you won’t struggle to find a good place to eat and / or drink in either city. The suburbs / outskirts of the city centres are full of good food too.
The Verdict: I’m giving this one to Christchurch, mostly because of Riverside Market. It’s a food market / restaurant zone — you’ll find something for everyone there no matter how big your group is and how fussy you all are. Dunedin doesn’t have a central food hub like that but hopefully we get something similar in the future.
Events
Rugby is huge in New Zealand and both Christchurch and Dunedin are home to Super Rugby teams (Crusaders and Highlanders) and NPC teams (Canterbury and Otago). Dunedin has a modern stadium with a roof and Christchurch is about to get one (opening in 2026). The All Blacks play a test in each city most years.
Christchurch gets more concerts and comedians, which you’d expect as the bigger city. Dunedin does pretty well too though and has attracted some huge concerts over the last few years. That may dry up a bit once Christchurch’s new stadium is up and running.
The Verdict: Christchurch takes this one. Bigger city usually means better events and I can only see Christchurch improving in this aspect over the next few years.
Nearby Places to Visit
Both Christchurch and Dunedin are short drives away from heaps of cool places. Day trip options abound — from Christchurch you could visit Akaroa, Hanmer Springs and Arthur’s Pass as well as lots of spots in the Southern Alps (Christchurch is closer to the mountains than Dunedin).
Dunedin has the Catlins, Oamaru and Central Otago / Waitaki Valley on its doorstep.
The Verdict: This is another tie. So many cool places to visit from Dunedin or Christchurch, whether you’re on a day trip or staying a night or two.
So, Which Is the Better City to Visit?
Dunedin takes out this battle 3 – 2. A tight contest, but the superior nature and city centre make it by far the better city to spend time in.
Christchurch is great for families though and the city centre is only going to get better. It’s cool that the South Island’s two largest cities are so different — one is a throwback to the Victorian / Edwardian eras and one has its sights set firmly in the future. Visit both if you can!
READ MORE: Christchurch Travel Guide | Dunedin Travel Guide
Are you planning a trip to the South Island? Check out our South Island travel guide! Also — Go Otago!!!!!!
Jon Algie
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