CENTRE OF CONTEMPORARY ART
- Christchurch
The Canterbury Society of Arts was established in 1880 while the gallery itself was built in 1967-1968 to a design by Minson, Henning-Hansen & Dines.
The centre provides a substantial exhibition space. There is an active exhibition programme and art works are available for hire.
Location: 66 Gloucester Street, Christchurch.
Price: exhibits may charge.
Hours: 10am - 4pm daily.
Photo courtesy of Nicholas Burrowes, Flickr
CIVIC OFFICES, (formerly Miller's Building)
- Christchurch
The Civic Offices building is of a Bauhaus inspired design and quite modern for its time, dating back to 1935. The building was known for being the first building in Christchurch to have an elevator.
Location: Tuam Street (Between Columbo and Manchester Streets), Christchurch.
Hours: Not open to the public
Price: free.
Web: http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Heritage/Places/Buildings/CivicOffices/
CHRISTCHURCH BOTANIC GARDENS
- Christchurch
The Christchurch Botanic Gardens delivers nearly 400 acres of english lawn and woodland showing an extensive array of native and exotic plantings, as well as several conservatories. For the children the gardens offer a children's playground equipped with play equipment and a paddling pond. Visit the website for detailed information.
Location: North Hagley Park, Christchurch.
Hours: 24 | Conservatories 10am – 4pm, daily.
Price: free
Web: http://www.ccc.govt.nz/cityleisure/parkswalkways/christchurchbotanicgardens/index.aspx
Photo courtesy of Flickr - Roger T Wong
ST MICHAELS & ALL ANGELS - Christchurch
St Michaels & All Angels Church is the mother church of Canterbury. Designed in High Victorian Gothic and expressed in timber. The church was built in 1872, while the expressive belltower designed by Mountfort dates from 1861.
Location: 86-90 Oxford Terrace, Christchurch.
Hours: 9am till 12pm Daily.
Price: Free, donations accepted.
Photo courtesy of Francis Vallance, Flickr
RAPAKI TRACK - Christchurch
Tthe Rapaki Track was once a Maori trail which provides a direct route for walkers and mountain bikers to reach Summit Rd from the Christchurch suburb of Hillsborough.
The walk will take about an hour and is considered an easy walk. To the east of the top of the track is Witch Hill reserve, which consists of a war memorial.
Location: Rapaki Rd, Christchurch.
Hours: 24
Price: free
Web: http://www.summitroadsociety.org.nz/index.htm - Summit Rd Info
http://tracks.org.nz/track/show/476 - Rapaki Track Info
Photo courtesy of www.english.school.nz
ACADEMY CINEMA - Christchurch
The Academy Cinema is a former high school gymnasium turned Christchurch's art cinema. Here you'll find daily showings of national & international art films.
Visit the link below for whats on and show times.
Location: Worcester Boulevard (The Arts Centre), Christchurch.
Hours: vary on show time, visit the site for details.
Price: vary on show time, visit the site for details.
Photo courtesy of Academy Cinemas
VINEYARDS
There are a selection of vineyards throughout Christchurch & surrounds
where you can taste their selections of wines.
Always an enjoyable day out, spend your day relaxing in the Canterbury climate whilst sipping many a delectable option of wine, just be sure to either choose a tour guide or find an alternative option to driving.
The best way to find winery tour service providers is to visit the local information centre.
CHRISTCHURCH ART GALLERY - Christchurch
The Christchurch Art Gallery houses a collection with a Canterbury focus. It consists of regularly changing exhibitions of international and New Zealand historical and contemporary art. The gallery opened in 2003 and its design is the result of a competition won by the Buchan Group. There is a cafe & wine bar onsite (Alchemy),
which serves brunch, lunch and dinner to a high standard.
Location: Worcester Street, Christchurch.
Hours: 10am – 5pm, Monday to Friday, 10am – 4pm, Saturday and Sunday.
Price: free, exhibits may charge
Photo courtesy of YUVIS studio
OUR CITY - FORMER CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
- Christchurch
Situated in a Queen Anne style building, designed by S Hurst Seager, and built in 1887, the building now houses "Our City" where environmental and urban development issues can be presented and debated.
Location: Worcester Street (Next to the river) Christchurch.
Price: free.
Hours: 10am - 4pm Mon - Fri.
Photo courtesy of www.ccc.govt.nz
THE ARTS CENTRE OF CHRISTCHURCH
- Christchurch
The Christchurch Arts Centre is one of Christchurch's most significant historic and cultural attractions and a must visit. The Arts Centre was once the site of Canterbury University, and consists of over 30 distinctive historic stone buildings which house more than thirty art galleries, craft studios and shops. Home also to Rutherford's Den where the physicist intiated out some of his first experiments.
Location: Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch.
Hours: 10am – 4pm daily.
Price: free, exhibits may charge
Photo courtesy of www.beckerleytravel.com
CANTERBURY MUSEUM - Christchurch
Styled as a Victorian Gothic Building (1869 -77) by Benjamin Mountfort, the museum is home to a fine regional museum which covers Canterbury history, archeology, natural and Maori history, and includes a section celebrating Christchurch's relation with Antarctica. The museum also has a Discovery Centre for 3 - 13 year olds.
Visit the website for detailed information.
Location: Rolleston Avenue, near the Arts Centre, Christchurch.
Hours: 7 days, 9am - 5pm (April - September) | 9am - 5.30pm (October - March)
Prices: Free, donations accepted.
Photo courtesy of www.pwnz.com
Christchurch is the South Island’s largest city (pop: 350,000), and considered the ‘garden city’ with over 700 parks, and home to two significant annual flower festivals.
Canterbury is very popular internationally for its 10 main ski areas for both skiers and snowboarders, all of which are within easy distance from Christchurch.
Situated at the foot of the Southern Alps, Mt Hutt (with a height of 2086m) is the largest and most developed ski field in the region, claiming New Zealand’s longest ski season. For the small family friendly option Porters ski field situated close to Christchurch offers runs suitable for everyone from beginners to extreme skiers and snowboard riders.
The area where Christchurch sits (Otautahi), was a low-lying swampy region which historically attracted Māori to readily available foods like eel, whitebait (inanga), fish, swamp foul & pigeon. The town of Kaiapoi, one of New Zealand's largest Māori settlements, was a major trading centre for West Coast greenstone. jade (pounamu).
In 1850 the first group of European settlers, Sealers and whalers, arrived in Lyttelton harbour, from here Christchurch grew to become a ‘city by royal charter’ in 1856.
Christchurch is known for its vibrant arts scene which celebrates music, fine art, dance, theatre and cinema. Drawing on the best of New Zealand and international artists, Christchurch Art Gallery delivers exciting and constantly changing exhibitions and is involved with various projects throughout the city.
Renowned for its imaginative displays, Canterbury Museum is home to some of the best cultural & historical collections in the South Pacific. The Christchurch Arts Festival, held every two years, offers an array of visual, performing and applied arts, while the annual World Buskers Festival offers a colourful 10-day kaleidoscope of top street performers.
"Christchurch is known for its vibrant arts scene which celebrates music, fine art, dance, theatre and cinema. "
Mid Canterbury Sights
Christchurch, Ashburston, Lincoln
Rolleston, Darfield, Leston, Methven, Akaroa
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