Christchurch and Canterbury
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Christchurch and Canterbury - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Akaroa Museum
The focus of historic interest is the Akaroa Museum, which has a display of Māori pounamu (greenstone) as well as alternating exhibits on the area's multicultural past. The peninsula supported a significant Māori population, and the collections and displays tell some of the exciting stories of Kai Tahu, the people of the land. The building is currently being strengthened for earthquakes, but the museum is still open. The Old Courthouse, the old Custom House, and Langlois-Eteveneaux House, the two-room cottage of an early French settler, are also part of the museum.
71 Rue Lavaud at Rue Balguerie, Akaroa, Canterbury, 7520, New Zealand03-304–1013Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
2. Akaroa Walks
Take the village walk, where you amble along the narrow streets past old-fashioned little cottages and historic buildings that reflect the area's multicultural background. If you are feeling more ambitious try the country walks on routes ranging from two hours to all day. For hikers, there are also 20 km (12½ miles) of well-mapped tracks from summit to sea level. Start at the Akaroa i-SITE Information Centre and choose from a range of free brochures and maps to enhance your experience.
74a Rue Lavaud, Akaroa, Canterbury, 7520, New Zealand -
3. Okains Bay
The contrast of the rim of the old volcanic cone and the coves below is striking—and when you drop into one of the coves, you'll probably feel like you've found your own little corner of the world. One of the easiest bays to access is Okains Bay. Take the Summit Road at Hilltop if approaching from Christchurch or Ngaio Point Road behind Duvauchelle if approaching from Akaroa. It's about 24 km (15 miles) from Akaroa and takes about a half hour to drive. The small settlement lies at the bottom of Okains Bay Road, which ends at a beach sheltered by tall headlands.
Okains Bay, Akaroa, Canterbury, 7583, New Zealand -
4. Okains Bay Museum
This collection of buildings contains 20,000 Māori and 19th-century colonial artifacts, including waka (canoes) used in Waitangi Day celebrations and displays such as a smithy and print shop. There are also a wharenui (Māori meetinghouse), colonial homes, including a totara slab cottage, and a saddlery and harness shop. If you happen to be in the area on Waitangi Day (February 6), New Zealand's national day, the museum marks it in style.
1146 Okains Bay Rd., Okains Bay, Canterbury, 7583, New Zealand03-304–8611Sight Details
Rate Includes: NZ$10 -
5. State Highway 75
State Highway 75 leads from Christchurch out onto the peninsula, curving along the southern portion past Lake Ellesmere. There are interesting stops on your way out to Akaroa. The small town of Little River used to be the end of the line for a now-defunct railway that ran from Christchurch; the route is now a walkway and bicycle trail. The old, wooden train station houses a crafts gallery and information office, and a café is next door in the grocery store. Look out for SiloStay, where grain silos have been cleverly transformed into eco-accommodation units called Silococoons. When you reach Hilltop, pause for your first glimpse of Akaroa Harbour; on a sunny day it's magnificent. (At Hilltop the highway crosses the Summit Road, the other major route through the peninsula.)
State Hwy. 75, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8025, New Zealand -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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