It was a chilly and rainy day when we visited the Botanic Garden…read more The visitor center was our starting point, a bright and modern building with a well designed exhibits about the garden, history and more. A gift shop, busy cafe and clean bathrooms were also inside but most importantly warm. The conservatory was closed but the rest of the expansive garden was open and a helpful map displayed the highlights and walking path to explore during the autumn season. The paths were a combination of asphalt and gravel. While the gardens were in its autumnal colors we couldn't fully escape the sounds of the city with helicopters flying overhead to and from the nearby hospital. We ended our walk at the Peacock Fountain and caught the tail end of its water show. While we did not get to see many blooms, it was still a beautiful place to explore and would come back again on another visit to Christchurch.

Amazing with so many lovely flowers.. Rose garden is an absolute must…read more Enjoy the eatery's with excellent food ( sandwiches - Ruben almost like New York). Free entry but parking on weekends is difficult

Played Hagley for the first time last weekend with my husband. We walked onto the course around 1pm…read moreand for $35/pp we were able to pay green fees, rent clubs, balls, and tees and get on the course. This is an 18-hole course which offers the option to play 12-holes or 18. There isn't much space donated to the golf club as it is sandwhiched between public open space and the rugby fields, so the course layout is a bit funky. I definitely recommend studying the holes on the scorecard before setting off to play as sometimes the next hole is not easy to spot. Some of the holes are double holes (ie., hole 2 and hole 17, etc) but they have set up different colored pins on the green. The entirety of the course is a Par 4, though I think some of the holes need to be re-evaluated for a Par 5 or Par 3. There are no water hazards and few sand traps, which was great for me. This is a great course to knock the dust off the clubs, however, I would caution beginners because it is very easy to hit a ball onto a neighboring hole, the road, or even where people are laying out or walking their dogs. The clubhouse offers few drinks (no alcohol) and light snacks as well as essential golf items (gloves, balls, tees, ball markers, etc). EFTPOS is accepted. If the clubhouse is closed, there is a dropbox to pay the greens fees if you have your own clubs.

Convenient and easy to get on most days. Hagley was built in 1873 as Christchurch's first golf…read morecourse. It features 12 sprawling (and sometimes overlapping) holes with minimal bunkers, no water hazards, but lots of wooded areas and challenging tree positions. It's a par 72 (over the course of 18 holes), with well-maintained and groomed fairways/greens and plays 5814 metres from the white tees. Green fees are $15 for 12, $20 for 18, but Tuesdays are $10, so it's quite the bargain. Rental clubs are available for guests/tourists. For thirsty players, this is a BYOB establishment as there is no alcohol/beer sold on site...so bring a cooler.

Despite only having an hour, I was able to make good use of my time at the International Antarctic…read moreCentre. Although the staff recommend at least 2 hours, they were able to suggest the most important exhibits to check out in my limited time. The Antarctic Storm simulator was "refreshingly" chilly. I liked seeing & learning about the huskies. And, I found the 4D cinema enjoyable & a little funny. There's a lot of information covering all aspects of the Antarctic from geography to ecology to the way of life. The main disappointment was not being able to appreciate the penguins. It seems they were all asleep, so at best we could peek at them in their burrows. If I had more time I would have ridden on a Hägglund and maybe considered a guided tour. Because of the price, I don't think it's worth for me to go back again, so I'd suggest making the most of your visit.

The International Antarctic Centre was the highlight of my visit to Christchurch. It's conveniently…read morelocated right across from the Christchurch International Airport, with plenty of free parking on site. I booked my ticket at a discount through Bookme (similar to Groupon in the USA and Klook in Asia) for $52 NZD (regular price is $74 NZD). The deal required a 9am entry, which actually worked out perfectly since the center was much less crowded. The exhibits offer a great mix of history and hands-on experiences about Antarctic research, clothing, vehicles, and the different international stations. A few interactive highlights are absolutely worth doing: Storm Simulator Room: The room starts at 8°C (46°F), and then powerful fans simulate a blizzard, dropping the temperature to -18°C (0°F). Jackets are provided, so it's cold but manageable--and very fun. Penguin Exhibit: You can watch little blue penguins swimming and playing in their habitat. Husky Dog Encounter: Staff introduce several breeds of huskies historically used in Antarctica that you can also pet. Hägglund Ride: Included with admission, this all-terrain vehicle ride takes you on an outdoor obstacle course over steep hills, uneven angles, and even across a 1-1.5 ft gap to show how the tracks handle extreme terrain. It's a bit bumpy but incredibly fun. There's also free Wi-Fi, a café, and a water fountain located inside the café if you need to refill your bottle. Highly recommend visiting--it's educational, memorable, and one of the best experiences in Christchurch.

Didn't skate myself but it's a large rink (they play ice hockey here) and there's a DJ who does…read moreoccasional dance competitions to entertain the kids. Café is pretty tired, though, and the 'arcade machines' mentioned on the website are actually just three of those grabber games. Would be much better with some proper arcade games or something like an air hockey table to entertain those who aren't skating or kids who are waiting for their parents to finish their coffee.

Seemed ancient. Dressing rooms upstairs. Cold and damp. Sightlines are ok but ice tends to be…read moreslushy. Boards are dead. Dangerous without glass all the way around. Got a filter coffee in cafe and it was filled up half way and then watered down with steamed water. I didn't order a decaf!!!