Hitch Hiking Christchurch

It is quite easy hitching out of Christchurch although you may need to take a bus to get to the good hitching spots.
If you're heading north to Kaikoura and Picton, Main North Road (SH 74) before it joins up with State Highway 1 is a good bet. Take bus 1 or 4 to Redwood from Colombo Street north of Cathedral Square. You should be able to get to Picton in a day as long as you set out fairly early in the day.
It can take a bit longer to get across to the West Coast, mainly because the traffic is much lighter. Take bus 8 from Oxford Terrace near the City Mall to Yaldhurst and get off at the corner of Yaldhurst and Russley Roads. Walk west along Yaldhurst Road (State Highway 73) and find a good spot to wait for a lift.
If you're heading south to Dunedin, Invercargill or Queenstown you'll want to get on State Highway 1. Catch bus 25 from Oxford Terrace near the City Mall to Templeton. Get off in Templeton and wait for a ride on SH1.
BUG Ride is BUG's own web-based ride sharing service, it allows travellers to both offer lifts and search for rides throughout New Zealand and the Pacific.