International Antarctic Centre, NZ

The brochure advertises it as the coolest place in town and it literally and figuratively is!

Generally we don’t gravitate to the colder climates or experiences but if we missed this we certainly would have been missing out.

This was a amazing experience which was an interactive way to learn more about the Antarctic and the research that is still happening there today as well as the history to date.

If you are visiting Christchurch this is a must do!

There is a lot to see and do and we would recommend a good half day to experience it all.

There is a lot packed in this attraction.

The Storm room: This is phenomenal and a simulated experience of the type of weather at the Antarctica. You are provided with jackets and a shoe cover for comfort and you step inside the storm room with real ice on the floor to set the scene to experience an Antarctic storm. The room is a cool -8 degrees with wind gusts of -18 degrees thanks to a wind machine. I wore thongs which I would not recommend as the cold just goes straight through the shoe covers which are rubber and designed more to protect your shoes from the snow rather than your feet from the cold. Needless to say I had cold tootsy toes when it was done. I found out when entering that they actually recommend not wearing any open toed shoes for this experience.

Little Blue Penguins: They are so cute. I am not a fan of animals in captivity but here all the penguins are rescued and then when healthy enough released which is so great as their numbers are declining in the wild and they are on the conservation ‘risk’ list so a program like this is fantastic to support the numbers. Some may be so affected or have a disability that once assessed by the vets are not released for their own safety. These penguins are New Zealand’s smallest penguins only growing to 43 cm with a life span of only about 6 years. The penguin’s encounter here is the first in NZ as it is a combined indoor/outdoor viewing area. The enclosure can host 26 penguins at one time so you get a good look at the little ones. There is 2 feeding times- one in the morning at 10:30 and another on in the afternoon at 3:30. The feeding is done by a worker.

HD Theatre: You feel like you are closely experiencing the breathtaking scenery of the Antarctic. The movie is 17 minutes long but you can enter and exit during the film should you need to, although we found it captivating and the 17 minutes went quite fast. You see Antarctica at sunrise and sunset and fly over it. It is a great virtual experience on a huge screen.

Huskys: You can pat a Husky up close and personal. They are very mellow and relaxed and some even love a tummy rub. Beware of all the fur that you will get! The Husky’s here are from the Husky Rescue NZ.

Information: As you go through the centre there is a whole host of information and exhibitions sharing knowledge about the Antarctic. For example, did you know Antarctica is the coldest, driest and windiest place on earth. It is the 5th largest continent, with 98% of its surface covered in ice.

Hagglund ride: This certainly captivated and exhilarated us. They take you on an ‘expedition’ of the type of terrain that would be in the Antarctic through a man-made specially designed course. It is 15 minutes of pure fun…. but hang on as it can get a bit hair raising at times. This is why children under 5 are not permitted and children must be accompanied by an adult. This ride is included in the price of the ticket.

4D Theatre: We disappointingly missed the movie time and it was a very long wait to the next movie so made the decision to miss this part, but it looked amazing with mists on your face, wobbling seats and all the 4D experience.

The centre is open from 9 am -5:30 pm EVERYDAY

There is a free shuttle bus (the Penguin Express) to and from Christchurch to take you to the centre at scheduled times. The centre is located at the airport and therefore they do have a luggage storage area should you pop over before flying or when you land.

It is wheelchair accessible (for most of the place- it would be tricky in the storm room).

There is a cafe on site.

The centre is educational, informative, interactive. A ticket for a family (2 adults + 3 children) is $149 which is all inclusive ….including the Hagglund ride.

Upon entry there is a photographer who takes your photo on a green screen and then you can view (& purchase) upon finishing the centre. We are suckers for these and so purchased them which was a touch pricey at $50.