Christchurch Things to Do Tips by fishandchips

The visit to the movie theatre died off several years ago as Videos etc came out and people could watch movies in the own home. There used to be around 6 separate movie theatres in and around the Cathedral Square alone. Now there is only one (Regent) with the Holy Grail bar keeping the big screen from the Avon movie theatre that was located in the same building.

A new style of theatre experience kicked off a hand full of years ago in the small and very cramped Hoyts theatres with a 'pack 'em in and show as many movies as possible in one day' approach. Hoyts nearly got killed off by a new player in Readings who provided an experience with a large comfortable seat with lots of leg room. Hoyts finally changed their ways and have now installed seating with their customers in mind. If you can stand the crowds you can get a cheap deal on a Tuesday otherwise it's around $15 to see a movie at Hoyts - when you add in popcorn etc it's a $50 outing unless you bring your own food. For some movies though it's a must do, experiencing a movie on the big screen!!

Leave a Comment

At Southern Encounter you can get your hands wet in the touch tank, see Kiwi's, have a chat with Max the Octopus and gaze upon Tuatara and Turtles.

The kiwihouse has a reversed light cycle (as the kiwi are nocturnal birds) so they are out when you are and you can see the endangered North Island Brown kiwi. If you time it right you can see a diver feeding the giant eels at around 11am. The other marine species are fed at 3pm.

Southern Encounter is located beside the visitor centre in Cathedral Square so easy to find. The cost is $15 for adults and $5 for kids with cheaper deals for families. It is open between 9am & 4:30pm every day except Xmas.

Leave a Comment

Victoria Lake can be found in North Hagley Park and is used by many including a model yacht club. The lake was created in 1897 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria's reign. It was originally a swamp of over 1 acre in area (part of which can be seen nearby) and converted into the current lake.

The lake has seen a few changes over the years including New Zealand International Exhibition in 1906-07 which included the building of a Maori pa built next to the lake.

If approached from the car park area (accessed via Armagh St bridge) there is a picnic area with wooden table. It can be a nice area for a rest and watch either the ducks on the lake or the golfers at the nearby golf course.

Leave a Comment

Christchurch has a multitude of festivals. Ranging from the International buskers festival to the Christchurch Arts festival there is often something special going on in Christchurch.

The festival list includes - Buskers in January, Global Extravaganza in February, Flowers in march, Jazz & Blues in April, Music in July, Film Festival in August, Cultural festival in August and Writers in September. There is also the Festival of Romance which is part of the flowers.

Currently the Cathedral Square is adorned with giant flowers, a mini tent city and UFO building all in the name of art.

Leave a Comment

The botanic gardens has a number of specialty areas in its demense. The famous rose garden is a real picture when the roses are in bloom - come late in the year to see this.

The various buildings including Cunningham House and the Fern House provide some plant specific environments (temperature and light controlled for the items) to give you the best possible displays of the plants within.

There is also a Mountain plant area as well as a small lake hidden in the middle with more marshy items around it.

Leave a Comment

Address: Cristchurch, NZ
Directions: 5 minutes by walk from the center

The Christchurch Botanic Gardens is a beautiful place to wander around during the day. It has a wealth of plants to enjoys and many tracks taking you through a great variety of landscapes. This includes Alpine, Succulents, and Tropical.

Of the more famous is the Rose garden which is set up in a big circle. A very large number of varieties which make a spectacular spot to take some photo's. In January and February most of the roses are in full bloom.

There is an okay tea rooms in the middle for when you want to stop for a bite to eat and a pool for the kids (if you have them).

The gates to the gardens close 1/2 an hour after sunset so don't get caught out.

Leave a Comment

Address: Christchurch, NZ
Directions: A 5 minute walk west from the centre of Christchurch

The Gothic Revival Christ Church Cathedral is the centre of Christchurch's Anglican (Church of England) community and where the big ceremonies are held. It comprises main church, 64.5 metre tower and visitor centre (on the left side of the photo). To date it has had 12 deans with the current man, the Very Rev Peter Buck. There are 3938 pipes in the Cathedrals organ.

The cathedral is one of the South Island's most visited attractions with a reported 300,000 plus visitors per year.

Construction started in 1864, just 14 years after the first settlers arrived (then stomped over the hill), and was completed in 1904. It was consecrated in October 1881 making it 125 years old. The church is now Christchurch's most important landmark. The cathedral is open for prayer during the weekdays and Holy Communion is celebrated daily.

It is certainly worth a look and a climb up the 134 steps to have a view over Christchurch is a must.

Leave a Comment

Address: Cathedral Square
Directions: Right in the middle of Christchurch

The Arts Centre was originally home to Canterbury University from 1873 to 1975. The buildings are set in lovely Gothic architecture and it presents a rabbits' warren of over 40 shops selling New Zealand-made arts and crafts plus food stalls. There's some pretty bizarre stuff, but overall the standard is high. There are excellent buys in leather, wool, wood, and crafts - mostly from locally sourced raw material - made by local artists.

The Court Theatre (check listings for some very good plays) is housed in the original Engineering Building and Hydraulics Lab, the Academy Cinema is in the old Boys' High Gym, and the Southern Ballet now occupies the Electrical Engineering Lab and the Mechanical Engineering Lab.

Rutherford's Den is here in its original state. Born in Spring Grove in rural Nelson on August 30th 1871, he was the world's first successful alchemist (he converted nitrogen into oxygen). Or put another way, he was first to split the atom. A tiny bit of trivia - in 1893 he boarded with Mary Newton, who, as secretary of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, was a leader in the movement which culminated in 1893 when New Zealand became the first country in the world to grant women the vote. It was also the first election for which Rutherford was old enough to appear on the electoral roll.

There are also several good places to eat at the Arts Centre including Dux de Lux, Le Cafe, the Boulevard Cafe and Annie's Wine Bar & Restaurant.

Leave a Comment

Address: Worcester Blv
Website: www.artscentre.org.nz

Riccarton Bush is Canterbury's sole remnant of the original kahikatea floodplain forest. The 600-year-old kahikatea trees you can see here are the latest generation of a forest that was established on this site 3000 or so years ago. They have survived through two cultural periods, Maori then European, that saw widespread fires sweep the Plains and native vegetation give way to pastoralism and cropping.

A walk around here will let you see many native NZ trees including pokaka, mahoe, cabbage tree, lacebark, Coprosma robusta, mapou, kohuhu, hinau, lancewood and kowhai. The Riccarton Bush Nursery at 21 Kauri Street sometimes has seedlings which you can purchase & start your own native forest..........

Leave a Comment

Address: 16 Kahu Rd

The museum is quite good though small and can be found at the end of Worcester Boulevard - just follow the tram tracks toward Hagley Park. Entry is free and among the main exhibits is a 19th Century street, Egpytian Mummy, Antarctic display, (a good intro before going out to the International Antarctic Centre near the Airport), Natural History Discovery Centre and excellent Maori section.

The museum is about to begin redevelopment with completion expected in late this year (2006).

Leave a Comment

Phone: +64 3 366 5000
Address: Rolleston Ave
Directions: Near the Botanic Gardens.
Website: http://www.nzmuseums.co.nz/