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Step Back In Time At Heritage Destinations Across Canterbury And Beyond

No Time Machines Needed

At These Heritage Destinations

Imagine a world where time travel existed. We could watch history unfold, relive our favourite memories or catch a glimpse of the future.

Time machines might not be a real thing, but we guarantee these Central South Island destinations will make you feel like you just stepped out of one.

Starting from Ōtautahi Christchurch, take a trip back in time for a history lesson like never before, from replica gold mining towns to New Zealand’s largest collection of Category 1 heritage buildings.

North Quad at The Arts Centre

The Arts Centre, Christchurch

The Arts Centre is home to the country’s largest collection of Category 1 heritage buildings, each with its own story to tell. It was Christchurch’s first university, and now it’s full of galleries, museums, boutique retailers and eateries. Let the iconic landmark transport you back 150 years as you walk among its gothic revival architecture.

2 Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch

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Street with old store frontages and tram tracks in Ferrymead.

Ferrymead Heritage Park, Christchurch

From the smell of a coal range to the sound of a tram rattling past you, discover what life was like for some of Christchurch’s earliest European residents at Ferrymead Heritage Park. It’s as close as you can get to a functioning early-1900s Edwardian township complete with restored cottages and businesses reflecting the era. The park is also home to New Zealand’s first public railway which opened in 1863.

50 Ferrymead Park Drive, Christchurch

Akaroa Couple Walking in Town

Akaroa, Banks Peninsula

With a rich tapestry of French and Māori culture, exploring the streets of Akaroa is like being in a real-life postcard. The picturesque Banks Peninsula town is nestled in the heart of an ancient volcano overlooking sparkling turquoise waters. Take a guided walk among the town’s French architecture and discover how history shaped Akaroa into the destination it is today.

90-minute drive from Christchurch

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West Coast Shantytown Village Shops
Credit: Alicia Ulrich

Shantytown Heritage Park, West Coast

This replica town lives on the site of gold rush and sawmilling history. Surrounded by a regenerative native rainforest, Shantytown is a recreated 1900s pioneer town born out of the region’s gold rushes of the 1860s. Ride on a vintage steam train, browse through the village shops or get lucky and pan for your own gold like a true West Coast local of the 19th century.

316 Rutherglen Road, Paroa

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View of Denniston Coal mine with unused tracks and coal buckets. Hillside in the background.

Denniston, West Coast

Sitting 518 metres above sea level on a steep incline railway, Denniston’s magnificent coastal views are just as incredible as its history. It was the country’s largest producing coal mine for a century, and one of the most difficult and isolated towns to live in for miners and their families. Discover how Denniston’s residents lived life on the edge, and why the high-quality coal was worth the extreme living conditions.

30-minute drive from Westport

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