Sights in Christchurch
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Arts Centre
The former Canterbury College site (later Canterbury University), with its enclave of Gothic Revival buildings, is now the excellent Arts Centre, where arts and craft outlets share the premises with cinemas, a live theatre, restaurants and cafes. Visit the workshop and gallery of Te Toi Mana for traditional and contemporary Maori carving and design. Visually Maori also showcases interesting Maori art.
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Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens comprise 30 riverside hectares planted with 10,000-plus specimens of indigenous and introduced plants. There are conservatories and thematic gardens to explore, lawns to sprawl on, and a cafe at the Botanic Gardens visitors centre. Get the kids active in the playground adjacent to the cafe. Guided walks depart daily from the Canterbury Museum, or you can ride around the gardens in the electric ‘Caterpillar’ train. Hop-on, hop-off tickets are valid for two days and include a commentary.
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International Antarctic Centre
The International Antarctic Centre is part of a huge complex built for the administration of the NZ, US and Italian Antarctic programs. See penguins and learn about the icy continent via historical, geological and zoological exhibits, including videos of life on Scott Base. There’s also an aquarium of creatures gathered under the ice in McMurdo Sound, and an ‘Antarctic Storm’ chamber where you get a first-hand taste of minus 18°C wind chill (check at reception for ‘storm’ forecasts). Admission includes unlimited rides on the Hägglund outdoor adventure course. An optional extra is the Penguin Backstage Pass (adult/child $20/15) taking visitors behind the scenes…
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Canterbury Museum
The absorbing Canterbury Museum has a wonderful collection of items of significance to NZ. Highlights include the Maori gallery, with some stunning pounamu (greenstone) pieces on display; the coracle in the Antarctic Hall used by a group shipwrecked on Disappointment Island in 1907; and a wide array of stuffed bird life from the Pacific and beyond. Don’t miss the statuesque Emperor penguin. Guided tours (donations appreciated) run from 3.30pm to 4.30pm on Tuesday and Thursday. Kids will enjoy the interactive displays at Discovery (admission $2).
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Orana Wildlife Park
Orana Wildlife Park has an excellent walk-through native bird aviary, a nocturnal kiwi house and a reptile exhibit featuring the wrinkly tuatara. Most of the grounds are devoted to Africana, including lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, lemurs, oryx and cheetahs, and Asia is well represented with an array of Sumatran tigers. Guided walks start from the native bird feed at 10.45am and around the African lion enclosure at 2.30pm. The Orana Wildlife Park shuttle departs Cathedral Sq at 10am and 1pm daily.
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Ko Tane
Ko Tane at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve features traditional dancing, a wildlife tour and buffet dinner. You could forego the wildlife tour and/or dinner for a cheaper night out – the performance is $48/24 per adult/child. Another option is to incorporate a paddle in a traditional waka (Maori canoe) with Katoro Waka Heritage Tours, also based at Willowbank.
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Christchurch Art Gallery
Set in an eye-catching metal-and-glass construction built in 2003, the city’s art gallery has an engrossing permanent collection divided into historical, 20th-century and contemporary galleries, plus temporary exhibitions featuring NZ artists. Guided tours provide an excellent overview, or you can hire an audio guide ($5) for a self-guided tour.
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Mona Vale
Closed until further notice
This is a charming Elizabethan-style homestead on 5.5 hectares of landscaped gardens, ponds and fountains. Dine in the cafe inside the riverside homestead, wander the gorgeous grounds, or take a half-hour Avon River punt. Tasty picnic hampers (per couple $27 to $65) need to be ordered by noon the day prior. Mona Vale is just north-west of Hagley Park by bus 9.
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Science Alive!
Closed until further notice
Inside the city’s old train station, Science Alive! is crammed with ever-changing interactive exhibits, from optical illusions to things that children can push, pull and climb. Kids will love the climbing wall and NZ’s highest vertical slide. If the sprogs get bored with reality, movie make-believe is right next door.
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Southern Encounter Aquarium & Kiwi House
Southern Encounter Aquarium & Kiwi House, is beside the i-SITE and has eels, seahorses, turtles and other marine life with specific feeding times. Don’t expect too much from the kiwi enclosure, as the endangered birds are hypersensitive to sound and light.
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Tamaki Maori Village
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Sign of the Takahe
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Pioneer Women's Memorial
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Cave Rock
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Christchurch Cathedral
Travel warning: The Christchurch Cathedral was severely damaged in a deadly earthquake that struck Christchurch on 22 February 2011. It is closed indefinitely.
This cathedral was consecrated in 1881 and has an impressive rose window, wooden-ribbed ceiling and tile work emblazoned with the distinctive Fylfot Cross. Climb halfway up the Gothic church’s 63m-high spire. Guided 45-minute tours are by donation. Self-guided audio tours cost $10.
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