Christchurch Travel Forum

Hi,

I am planning a trip to New Zealand sometime Nov this year.

I have 2 questions which I hope you can help me out

1) What time does the weekend market opens at the Art Center?
2) What time does the food stall opens?

Thanks a lot

The weekend market and the foodstalls are open every Saturday and Sunday from about 10am to 4pm.

More info about the Arts Centre here:

www.artscentre.org.nz

Thanks. Trying hard to fit in the weekend market to my schedule :)

It would be great if you suceeded. I always regret when I have visitors who are not here on the weekend, so we could have lunch from the food stalls and sit in the courtyards for enjoying it.

However, if you cannot be here on the weekend - the beautiful shops with arts and crafts inside the Arts Centre are always open, you can watch artists at work, and there are also some cafés and restaurants. However, you will not get food for the little money you pay at the foodstalls, and at the market you can really make good deals. If you are lucky you also find nice things during the week at the market on Cathedral Square - but it is not as uniquely NZ as the weekend market at the Arts Centre.

You should also visit Canterbury Museum just across the street. The latest exhibit is a replica of the famous Paua House from Bluff, with all the original Paua shells on the walls. It is faaaaaantastic. And if you want to feel like Harry Potter visit the Provincial Chambers, just five walking minutes away on the Avon.

Thanks. Have included your suggestions in my itinerary. Any other places I should not miss? I am thinking of Willowbank Reserve.

Yesssssssss - the Willowbank! It is my favourite wildlife park in NZ. You get to see all animals - mostly birds - at close range, walk through a kea aviary, and get to see and hear kiwi half a metre from you, only a low fence between you and the kiwi. Make sure to be there in the morning. The kiwi start foraging at 10.30am, and they block access to their burrows at this time, so you can be sure they will be around.

The most important thing to me is a trip to the top of Mt. Cavendish (gondola) from where you have fantastic 360 degree views of Lyttelton Harbour, the city, the plains, the sea and the Southern Alps. Plus an inner-city walk and the things we have already talked about. I have a 1 to 10 things to do list on my Christchurch intro page. As you have limited time you will miss out on some great things but gondola, city walk, Arts Centre are possible.

Ah - another idea for the Willowbank would be to go there in the late afternoon and then stay for the Maori cultural performance. In this case, however, you will most probably miss the kiwi. But I am rather sure they also offer kiwi night tours...