An unmissable Christchurch experience, the Gondola offers stunning unique views of the city, Lyttelton Harbour and beyond from our summit station situated atop the Port Hills. A great family-friendly spot to explore for locals and visitors, a visit to the Gondola is a must-do activity.

Take in the spectacular 360-degree views and see Christchurch from a different perspective: gaze at the snow-capped Southern Alps, sprawling Canterbury Plains and the sparkling waters of Pegasus Bay and the Pacific Ocean.

The summit station offers plenty to entertain: explore the many walking tracks and wide open spaces amidst fresh air, learn about the history of the area on the Time Tunnel ride (entry is free with your Gondola ticket or Annual Pass), and indulge in a spot of shopping at our well-priced gift shop. Sit back and take in the fantastic views with a snack from the licensed Red Rock Café.

Our 4-seat cabins allocated per group ensure exclusivity for your Gondola ride, and the changing weather and seasons mean a different view every time you visit. For frequent visitors we recommend our great-value Annual Pass – perfect for locals!

KidsFest 2021 offer – use the promo code KIDSFEST21 when booking online. Offer is valid for the duration of the winter school holidays from 10-25 July 2021.

What you need to know

Duration

Allow 50-60 minutes to visit

Open hours

Daily from 10am – 4pm (last ride up)
Closed Christmas Day

Christchurch Attractions - Age Limit Icon

Minimum Age

There is no minimum age but for safety reasons children must be accompanied by an adult

What's at the top

Shop at the Top
Red Rock Café
Time Tunnel Experience
Free Wi-Fi
Spectacular 360 view.

TripAdvisor

More than 2,000 reviews on TripAdvisor

Looking for more?

Tram & Gondola Annual Pass

Unlimited rides on the Tram and Gondola all year! Great value for locals and frequent visitors Exclusive pass-holder discounts

TRIPLE PASS: TRAM, PUNTING & GONDOLA

Christchurch Tram City Tour Punting on the Avon River Scenic Gondola Ride

#1 SELLING COMBO: TRAM & GONDOLA

Scenic Gondola Ride Christchurch Tram City Tour

TOP SELLING COMBO: PUNT & GONDOLA

Scenic Gondola Ride Punting on the Avon River

Customer satisfaction first

We are committed to giving you the best experience possible. Whether you are a visitor to Christchurch or a local exploring your hometown sights, our friendly staff will show you the best attractions the city has to offer.

COMBINE AND SAVE!

Purchase our combo tickets for great discounts:
Combine TWO attractions and save $5
Combine THREE attractions and save $10
Savings valid for adult tickets

Daily Photos

Customer reviews

March 31, 2021

Fantastic trip up the port hills. Really good views and well worth the money. Also have a time tunnel experience to see that was interesting.

Malsgal - Tauranga, New Zealand

March 31, 2021

We took a city bus out to the gondola and it was an easy ride outside of Christchurch. There was no queuing and we walked directly onto a gondola once we had our tickets. There is a restaurant and gift/souvenir shop at the top of the gondola, both with great prices. The views were fantastic - with views out to the Banks Peninsula, Littleton Harbour and over Christchurch city. Definitely worth a trip up the gondola.

CollRr - Auckland, New Zealand

March 22, 2021

Great trip to the Gondola and the ride to the top was wonderful. The information and the views were outstanding. The restaurant was clean and the food was delicious, with a good selection

Debbie J - Masterton, New Zealand

December 3, 2020

The Christchurch Gondola is worth doing if you have some spare time. You get a 360 degree view over the city of Christchurch and Lyttleton Harbour. It's a 1,000 metre lift and at the peak you will be 500 metres above sea level. Apart from the spectacular views, there's a nice coffee shop at the peak. We enjoyed the trip, it's uncannily quiet.

Jeffry b - Essendon, Australia

The Base Station of the Gondola is nestled in Heathcote Valley where you will find plenty of parking for cars and coaches. The Summit Station – including the Time Tunnel, shop and café – is at the top of Mt Cavendish. The Gondola trip up to the summit takes approximately 10 minutes, we can stop the ride for guests requiring assistance, including wheelchairs (up to a maximum of 600mm in width). The cableway spans 862 horizontal metres and our Gondola cabins are very stable and comfortable, offering spectacular 360° views.

Daily Photos

Highlights

RED ROCK CAFE

For customers wishing to enjoy a private lunch with a view, our Gondola Restaurant is available for group bookings during our Gondola opening hours (please note a minimum of 20 people applies. Evening bookings are unavailable). Please contact us for further details.

Functions at the Gondola

The stunning views of Christchurch city, the ocean, Southern Alps and Lyttelton Harbour make a wedding, dinner, conference or meeting at the top of Christchurch’s Mt Cavendish incomparable. View our unique Gondola function venue for more information.

Shop at The Top

You can buy souvenirs, gifts, greeting cards and much more for a reasonable price at our Gondola Shop. We also have everyday bargain sales where you can buy quality products for a cheaper price.

Getting there

The Gondola is just a 15-minute drive from central Christchurch, and a large carpark is available at the Gondola Base Station for customers to use free of charge.

Transport to the Gondola is available on public bus number 28, departing from the City Exchange on Lichfield Street behind The Crossing Complex. The City Bus Exchange is located between Lichfield and Tuam Streets behind Ballantynes and Cashel Mall.

Please note that the Gondola Shuttle is currently closed with a planned re-opening later in 2021.

Time Tunnel Experience

At the summit, experience the Time Tunnel ride, a dramatic reconstruction of the history of the region.

Christchurch Gondola

The 360° Views Are Unique

Book Now