10 Pin Bowling and other Christchurch, New Zealand Sports Travel Tips

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10 Pin bowling is a fun way to spend part of a day and Christchurch has several options. One of these is Bowlorama in Iverson Tce off Moorhouse Ave. It has 24 lanes and costs around $13 for a game with a lot of speacials when including food & drink or for multiple games.

We had a kids birthday party here recently and they all had a huge amount of fun. For the smaller kids there is a ramp to bowl the balls from which means that everyone can participate.

The centre is fully computerised so you don't have to do anything except bowl your ball when it's your turn. Your name etc is taken by the assistant who loads it into the system. A big screen above your lane displays your name, shows whose turn it is to bowl and all of the scoring. Very easy!!


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Football or Soccer is New Zealand's biggest sport by number of players. In my home town of Christchurch there is a large variety of options from 5 year olds through to over 45's mens grades. I'm currently playing in an over 35's grade (old but not old enough to want to play with the grand-dads LOL) for the Halswell Hawks. It's more about the beer though we never play to come 2nd!!


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Westpac Arena is one of the country's largest indoor sports and entertainment venues.
Originally the Westpac Centre, it was built in 1998 and has hosted many international sporting events (including World Cup Netball), rock concerts and exhibitions.

The Arena has also been host to a lot of sporting events including various Tennis Matches, Ice Shows, Disabled Games, Karate Championships, Murderball (aka Wheelchair Rugby) and Gymnastics Competitions. It's also known as 'The Woolshed' by Canterbury Rams basketball fans.

Over the last few years the likes of Bryan Adams, Neil Diamond, Velvet Revolver, R.E.M. and Muse have played here.

It's only ten minutes from the central city and is located beside Addington Raceway (for horces who are keen on either trotting or pacing).


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The crew at Sri Chinmoy manage runs all over the world and include Christchurch in their locations. They stage around 8 runs per year with an ultra marathon (100K) in November each year. The location of the events varies between Hagley Park, Sumner and the Avon River Loop.

The runs are fun and you get breakfast (Pancakes with Apple sauce and Chai Latte or Hot Chocolate) at the conclusion. Prizes are given out for the top three places in each distance being run with separate mens and womens divisions plus children. There are also spot prizes drawn at random.

The cost of the 10K for Angie was $18 but you're best to check out the web site below for full details as each distance has a different fee.


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Website: http://www.coolrunning.co.nz/races/srichinmoy/

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This French game is alive and well in the middle of Christchurch. At the old RSA Bowling Club Petanque is now played on the old bowling green converted into the required shingle pit of a Petanque rink. It's similar to bowls in that you are trying to get your ball as close to the cochonnet (a small wodden ball) as possible. It's a lot of fun, especially after a couple of beers, and can be played by anyone who can throw a small metal ball. Petanque is apparently similar to Bocce which has its roots in an ancient Roman game.

Cost is negotiable with an annual fee of $60 though the club will allow casual games if arranged in advance. Check out their website for more info and contact phone numbers.

Equipment: You don't really need anything as your local club has all of the necessary bits and pieces. At the RSABC all of the gear is there.

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Theme: Sports Watching

Lancaster Park has been the focal point of many big sporting occasions for more than 125 years. Everything from Rugby to Cricket to Athletics and League has been played here though it's Cricket and Rubgy that are the big events. This list actually includes Tennis, Swimming, Softball, Baseball, Trotting (horses), Football (Soccer to some of you), Marching and Hockey.

The ground was opened in 1880 and named the next year after Benjamin Lancaster of Bournemouth England, whom previously owned the land. It has been the sene of many major events including Davis Cup Tennis, World Cup Cricket, World Cup Rugby and even a major religious rally in 1975 (JW's & end of the world stuff - all was ok the next day though).

Currently the park is under reconstruction as part of planning for the 2011 Rugby World Cup so there is limited seating. The new stand will increase capacity to over 50K so lots of spots to sit and watch your favourite game.


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Address: Stevens St, Christchurch
Directions: South East of the central city

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There are three main Christchurch City Council sport complexs - those being QE2, Centennial and Pioneer.

QE2 is in New Brighton and is the biggest of the complexs including a good gym and excellent swimming facility. Being the site of the 1974 Commonwealth Games it has many other facilities including a running track.

Centennial is located in the centre of Christchurch on Armagh St and has a 25 metre pool plus a small gym. It's a handy place to use if you are staying in the middle of Christchurch.

Pioneer is my local place and it has a 25 metre lane pool, wave pool, gym, squash courts and a nice cafe for an after workout coffee. Pioneer also runs many yoga & pilates etc classes.

Opening hours vary at each place with most being open until 9pm in Summer for pool use and up to 7pm for the gyms.

Check out the CCC Leisure Centre Website for full info on prices and opening times.

Equipment: If you haven't brought it with you then you can hire everything you need for swimming. Wear what you feel most comfortable in the gym - there is very little lycra in these places so a very relaxed atmosphere.

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Theme: Sports Watching

The Crusaders are the most successful of all Super 12 Rugby teams. They have many stars of the famous All Blacks and play an open form of the game running the ball as much as possible. The NPC team also has many stars so you can get your Rugby fix from March through to October when the seasons running.

Equipment: Make sure you bring warm clothes as most rugby is played at night-time and in winter it can get a bit chilly. The best stands to be in over winter are the number 2 and 3 stand as they are covered and on level 2 or higher in the Paul Kelly stand. If it's raining the DB stand (at the Port Hills end of the park) isn't too bad as it keeps the very cold Southerly off your back however it's out in the open!! The level one seating in the Paul Kelly stand is the most open to the elements as the wind can hit you from all directions. It's where the teams run on & off the ground so if you get low down & in the middle of the stand you get a good close up of your favourite player.

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Address: Jade Stadium (aka Lancaster Park)
Directions: If you are coming from Central City go down High St, down Madras (One way street toward the traffic) and left onto Moorhouse Ave. You can see the ground now and are looking at the Paul Kelly stand.

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If you like cricket then this is a must do activity. Lancaster Park (now referred to as Jade Stadium) is the centre of cricket in Christchurch with the Village Green out by QEII stadium in Brighton and Hagley Oval in the middle of the city the other main venues. Lancaster Park is a small ground so you are not too far away from the action. Jade Stadium itself is to be upgraded to be prepared for the 2011 World Rugby Cup so it should only get better as time goes on. Opnion here is that cricket should move to a new home with most looking to the Village Green as the new home of Canterbury Cricket.

Equipment: This will depend on what type of game you are coming for (one dayer or test match which is played over 5 days) and how bad the Aucklanders have been (recent pitch invasions by our northern cousins have resulted in some crazy rules around what you can and can't bring to the ground). Make sure you have a sun hat of some sort and sunscreen. A bag of food is good and your drink will need to be non-alcoholic.

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Address: at Hagley Park Oval
Directions: right across from CHCH Hospital
Website: http://www.nzcricket.co.nz/display.aspx?pri=20&sec

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Each year the City of Christchurch Marathon is run over a very fast, flat route through Christchurch. The run takes place on the first Saturday in October and includes a 10Km & Halk Marathon option. The course starts outside the Town Hall and winds its way around the Avon River toward New Brighton before crossing over a bridge at Avonside Rd and back into town, off toward the Airport and back again.

Equipment: The run is in the middle of Winter so you will need to check the weather for a potentially chilly start. A thermal top may be in order if a cold Southerly is blowing otherwise is the usual shoes, socks & shorts.

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Address: Centre of Town
Directions: Starts at the Town Hall