Wonderful Indoor Winter Activities in Christchurch

We are heading into the winter months, so what is there to do in Christchurch with your family (or without) when the days are shorter and the weather cooler?

Turns out, the answer is plenty!

Movies

EntX movies

Whether you are a local or visiting the city, movies are always a classic for cooler (or wetter days) and the city has some great options. If you are in the central city, head to the mega theatre at EntX (right opposite the Bus Exchange so you can grab a bus right outside the motel and head right into the city without having to find a park). The bottom floor is full of great eateries, so plan to grab lunch or dinner with your movie. See some pics and find out more about this great complex here. 

And of course there are other options for movies too – Northlands Mall, Riccarton Mall, Palms Shopping Centre, Alice’s, The Colombo, The Tannery and Sumner all have options to choose from.

If you are visiting NZ in the winter months, it is worth downloading the Flicks app  for your phone and then you can see all the cinemas and movies currently running, plus book online.

Turanga/Imagination Station

turanga library chch

Christchurch’s new public library is a place to not only make sure you visit, but also somewhere you can return to over and over again with your kids. If they love Lego, they will love the Imagination Station area that will keep them occupied for hours. Plus there’s a giant electronic gaming wall, computers, 3D printing facilities, music recording studios – and of course, books! And onsite are a couple of cafes to keep everyone going while they are full immersed.

Swimming and Gymming

Chch swimming pools

The city has plenty of options to take the kids swimming including the brand new, rebuilt Taiora QEII pool. Currently under construction is the new Metro Sports Facility in the central city which will have full size pool options, but you can also choose from Jellie Park (just down the road from us at Airport Gateway), Pioneer Stadium which has both gym and pool facilities, and the Graham Condon Pool and recreation complex in Papanui (near Northlands Mall).

Bouldering aka Indoor Rock Climbing

One of the popular indoor activities for locals and visitors alike, is indoor rock climbing and these days the two best places in town to get your bouldering skills on are the YMCA and Uprise aka the Bouldering Gym in Woolston.

bouldering at Uprise gym chch

At the Y you can choose between Clip n Climb and their Climbing Wall – either way its a lot of fun and a great way to spend your time.

You can even book the space for a birthday party. Make sure you book ahead.

Trampolining

mega air trampolining

Trampolining is a great way to get the blood pumping and tire out the kids while having lots of fun and Christchurch now has a couple of options to choose from.

Check out Mega Air trampolining arena in Carmen Road and Flip Out Christchurch in Maces Road.

Shopping

The city is full of great places to shop, from the suburban malls (which are all linked by the Orbiter bus route in case you want to visit a few) and the many new shopping locations and brand stores that are springing up within the Christchurch CBD.

The malls closest to us at Airport Gateway are Riccarton’s Westfield Mall in Riccarton Road, and Northlands Mall on Papanui Road (as you head towards the Main North Road).

merivale shopping centre chch

For more boutique options, check out the Tannery in Woolston – worth a visit and you can do lunch and a movie while you are there; Merivale – not just the Mall but up to about 50 shops within easy reach of the mall itself including lots of fashion and a great recycled boutique; Sumner – a pretty seaside suburb with great cafes and bars and an eclectic range of shops to enjoy browsing.

the tannery chch

 

 

Summer Things to Do in Christchurch

The summer weather is definitely happening – hot days are becoming more frequent and those beautiful Christchurch blue skies are making everyone smile.

With the temperatures rising, it is always good to know where to go and how to make the most of the warmer weather.

City Council Swimming Pools

Chch swimming pools

From November 17th 2018, the first of the City Council swimming pools and paddling pools will be open for the season with the rest not far behind. You can take the family along to your choice of pools from Halswell to New Brighton!

Three of the Christchurch City Council’s five outdoor pools and all eight paddling pools will reopen on Saturday, 17 November, with the first pool party set for Sunday, 25 November at Te Hāpua Halswell.

Along with Waltham Pool and Lyttelton’s Norman Kirk Memorial Pool, Te Hāpua Halswell is ready to kick off the pre-summer fun, followed by the opening of Templeton Pool on 1 December.

The outdoor pools at Jellie Park (just a 10 minute drive from the Motel) will open on Monday, 3 December following an upgrade.

Both Waltham Pool and Te Hāpua Halswell will host “Tots and Toddlers” events on Sunday, 9 December and Saturday, 9 February, respectively.

Waltham will also celebrate the season with the “Big Xmas Party” on Sunday, 23 December.

Jellie Park will hold school holiday fun days on Saturday, 15 December, and Saturday, 19 January before wrapping up with an “Autumn Pool Party” on Saturday, 2 March.

Lyttelton will host a special “Summer Chill Out” on Sunday, 13 January.

From the Botanic Gardens to New Brighton, the city’s paddling pools are also spruced up and ready for action.

Eight Council-controlled paddling pools in Abberley Park, Avebury Park, Edgar MacIntosh Park, Spencer Park and Woodham Park, along with the very popular Botanic Gardens, Scarborough Park and New Brighton foreshore sites will be open till the end of March 2019.

Beaches

Sumner Beach Christchurch

If you prefer your water to come with plenty of sand to relax on and build sand castles and mud pies with, you will want to make note of the city’s best beaches too.

Waimairi Beach, Sumner Beach and Taylor’s Mistake are three of the most popular options and easiest to get to, while over on Banks Peninsula (head through the Lyttelton Tunnel), you can discover Cass Bay, Purau, Corsair Bay, Governor’s Bay and if you have a little more time, you can catch the ferry or drive around to Diamond Harbour.

You might even want to make the most of the good weather and visit Quail Island for something a little different. Check out the Black Cat site to see when their summer trips are on.

Water Adventures

paddleboarding Lyttelton

If you are a bit more adventurous around water, you might want to take some surfing lessons at Sumner.

sumner surf lessons

Or head to the Estuary for some windsurfing or Lyttelton and the bays for paddleboarding options.

windsurfing on the Estuary