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Canterbury Museum

Rolleston Ave, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand
64 3 366 5000
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Ranked #11 of 127 attractions in Christchurch
Type: History Museums
Description: Travel back in time through numerous exhibits of the Canterbury regions cultural and natural history.
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215 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    113
    85
    15
    2
    0
Date Rating
Mackay
Senior Contributor
21 reviews 21 reviews
13 attraction reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 12 June 2013 NEW

We hadn't planned on coming here however considering it was so close to the botanic gardens we thought we'd pop in. Well it ended up being the highlight of our Christchurch visit. So much to see and the earthquake exhibit was informative and a little emotional to watch the videos of people's experiences. Kids loved the street and costume displays...well... More

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See 5 more reviews by Mel L for Christchurch
Mittagong, Australia
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 6 June 2013

We loved this museum for its extensive depiction of most things Kiwi. Their Antarctic display is very good, as were their wildlife and primitive village overviews. And its free!

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See 2 more reviews by RonKite for Christchurch
Woodend, North Canterbury, N.Z
1 review
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 4 June 2013

Great place to take the Grandchildren aged 5 and 21/2 on a rainy day. There is plenty for them to have a look at and touch

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Dunedin, New Zealand
Top Contributor
56 reviews 56 reviews
9 attraction reviews
Reviews in 21 cities Reviews in 21 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 2 June 2013

Exhibits to interest the whole family, irrespective of age or interests. Even residents of Bluff catered for with the acquisition of the paua house. If the hands on virtual game-show of Te Papa is not for you, then this museum will be.

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See 10 more reviews by samandhenry for Christchurch
Haverfordwest, United Kingdom
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 29 May 2013

Great way to kill a few hours, I went back twice just to make sure I saw everything! Full of history of NZ, Maori tribes, as well as sciencey bits including NZ's contribution to research in Antarctica. Visited in April 2010, not June 2012!

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See 2 more reviews by Sasha R for Christchurch
Auckland Region, New Zealand
Senior Contributor
22 reviews 22 reviews
15 attraction reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 May 2013

Christchurch Street was a hit with the bicycle and the horse that children can actually hop on. Antarctic display was really interesting and informative. Kids interactive area was great.

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See 4 more reviews by C_E_N_11 for Christchurch
Lismore, Australia
Contributor
17 reviews 17 reviews
4 attraction reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 22 May 2013

We had a great afternoon having lunch in the cafe and wandering through the many and varied exhibits. A great way to take in some of the history of the region and of the exploration of Antarctica.

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Wellington, New Zealand
Contributor
18 reviews 18 reviews
3 attraction reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
18 helpful votes 18 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 20 May 2013

A wide variety of displays. Something for everyone. I would rate this as one of the best medium size museums in NZ.

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See 2 more reviews by john683 for Christchurch
Christchurch, New Zealand
Senior Contributor
23 reviews 23 reviews
4 attraction reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 19 May 2013

I recently revisited the Museum while showing a couple of young UK tourists around. We all enjoyed it and I found it easy to give my visitors a quick history of New Zealand and Canterbury. Of course the iconic Paua House was a highlight, as were the birds and the Maori history.

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Wellington, New Zealand
Top Contributor
70 reviews 70 reviews
33 attraction reviews
Reviews in 28 cities Reviews in 28 cities
31 helpful votes 31 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 14 May 2013

I was a bit wary of what a provincial museum might offer but was pleasantly surprised. This is a good place to spend a few hours – a good wet weather option when you are in Christchurch. It is also free entry (donations only). I liked the old Christchurch street, the Antarctic exhibition, and the gallery of historical costumes. It... More

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See 6 more reviews by CantonaForever for Christchurch

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