Post-earthquake Christchurch rebuilt its nightlife in shipping containers and pop-up venues; the result is a compact, unpretentious bar scene centred on Ox and C1 Espresso.
The 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes destroyed most of Christchurch's central city, including its original bar and club district. What emerged in the decade since is a nightlife scene built around temporary structures, shipping containers, and purpose-designed new builds — a combination that gives it a more experimental feel than most mid-sized cities. The Re:START Container Mall on Cashel Street gave the model its name, and the bar scene that grew up alongside it has kept much of that improvised spirit even as permanent buildings have returned.
The main nightlife corridor now runs along Oxford Terrace (known as the Strip) along the Avon River and up into the central city blocks around High Street and Manchester Street. Smash Palace, a bar built inside a reclaimed double-decker bus on Welles Street, is the most photographed venue in the city and reliably good for a cheap beer. The Volstead Trading Company on Manchester Street has the best whisky selection in Christchurch. For late-night dancing, Atlas Beer Cafe and the venues along Oxford Terrace run until 3am or 4am on Friday and Saturday. Drinks prices: NZD 8–12 for beer, NZD 14–18 for cocktails.
Party hostels within reach of 's main celebrations. Ranked by guest rating.
Day-by-day breakdown
Walk along Oxford Terrace from the Bridge of Remembrance around 7pm. The outdoor terraces along the Avon are the best late-afternoon and early-evening spots in summer, with views over the water and a mix of locals and tourists. Volstead Trading Company on Manchester Street is the right stop for a considered whisky or craft beer around 8pm before the later scene opens. Smash Palace on Welles Street is best visited before 10pm when it fills; the bus bar is visually interesting but physically cramped when busy.
The clubs and late bars on High Street and along Oxford Terrace get going from 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The Foundry on High Street is a reliable dance venue running from 10pm to 3am with DJs covering commercial and electronic. Loft Bar and Nightclub above a building on Oxford Terrace has city views and a wider dancefloor. Most venues close at 3am; taxis and Uber are straightforward from the central city. The 24-hour McDonald's on Colombo Street is the post-club landmark.
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