Hi,

Ihope someone can help me. There are TWO Antarctic Centers that are in NZ. One is in Christchurch the other in Auckland. Any opinions on which one is better. Anybody been to them?

Thanks,
Pat

Don't know about the one in Auckland. The US Anarctic Program is staged out of the Christchurch airport. There is a coming and going of personnel and equipment to the US's McMurdo station during the season (Oct - Feb, summer in Antarctica). The KIWI's Palmer station is also serviced out of Christchurch, so I am told.
So the Christchurch location for the Antarctic center would seem most logical. There is also, BTW, an antarctic exhibit at the museum adjacent to the Botanical Gardens in CHC.
The Center's exhibits are self guided. There is a room that you can go into and they simulate a blizzard (coats provided). You can also take a ride on a Haaglund, the vehicle of choice in Antarctica. We toured the Christchurch center with my son, who works in Antarctica, so we got a special first hand running commentary from him. He said that the center was a pretty accurate depiction, except one can't duplicate the cold.

I've been to the Antarctic Center at CHC airport (follow the blue footsteps from the passenger terminal). It depends what you are looking for, but I found it a complete waste of time. It's an educational experience for kids: a pond of injured penguins, a room where you can experience a 30-below storm, and various exhibits about geography, flora, and fauna. There are no artifacts from Antarctic exploration, nor anything of adult scientific interest.

OTOH, the exhibit at the Canterbury Museum mentioned by BillJ is excellent, and free (the CHC place is 30 NZD per person). Enter the museum and head upstairs: there's a lot of actual artifacts from Antarctic exploration (recovered huts, tractors, instruments) as well as some historic things (e.g., one of the Sno-Cats used by the Fuchs-Hillary crossing).

Don't miss the other exhibits: it's also a good museum for the history and natural history of the area, and a pleasant walk from downtown.

While I'm here, let me add a recommendation for a couple of museums in Auckland (I'm afraid I didn't have time to visit the Antarctic one there).

The Auckland Museum in "The Domain" is excellent. Especially the Polynesian items downstairs: I came away with a new understanding and respect for the achievements of these peoples.

There's also a good military exhibit: both the evil of war and interesting historical items (e.g., the only Mitsubishi Zero I've seen).

You can walk downhill from The Domain past the old wooden cathedral (which was rolled across the street from its original site to its present location beside the modern cathedral -- unfortunately, its roof was damaged by the storms in July and you can no longer go inside) and the foodie delights of Parnell.

At the waterfront is the Maritime Museum. Again, it was the Polynesian items that impressed me. I spent a couple of very enjoyable hours in the company of a Maori docent who taught me a lot about how the Polynesian people managed their extraordinary journeys.

I have been to both of the Antarctic museums in Christchurch and I think that both are worthwhile. The Antarctic Center (by the airport) is a modern, hands-on museum which I did not find devoid of adult scientific interest. I think that experiencing the cold of Antarctica in the simulation room was a much more effective way to learn about the weather in Antarctica than just reading a description or a weather report posted in a museum.
On the other hand, I enjoyed the Antarctica exhibit in the Canterbury Musuem as well. It seemed to be focused more on the historic aspects of the exploration of Antarctica, but that, too, is interesting to me. It was fascinating to see what gear the early explorers wore compared to what they wear today.
If you have time, I would recommend visiting both museums.