Riccarton House and Bush

Riccarton House and Bush Review

The Deans, a Scottish family, beat even the Canterbury Association settlers to this region. Riccarton Bush, their home, is now run by a trust. You can view the small wooden cottage (built 1843) that was their first house. The larger Victorian/Edwardian wooden house, built between 1856 and 1900, was damaged in the earthquakes but plans to reopen in March 2012. The large drawing room at the front of the house will once again be a restaurant, open for lunch and morning and afternoon teas (10 to 4). Guided one-hour tours will be given at 2 pm every day but Saturday. You can also amble, or take a guided tour, through the last remnant of the original native floodplain forest still standing in Christchurch, with its 600-year-old kahikatea trees. The Christchurch Farmers Market is held in the grounds of Riccarton House each Saturday morning from 9 to 12. And the ex-Arts Centre Artisans Market is held there each Sunday from 11 to 3pm.