"Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric.&quo...
"Do not fear to be eccentric in opinion, for every opinion now accepted was once eccentric." Bertrand Russell ***I am now living a hectic life down under***
Member since:24.09.2005
Reviews:50
This is an excellent and innovative museum, with displays of such varied topics that they will interest anyone of any age. To fully appreciate this museum you need to spend at least half a day here. I had a limited time in Christchurch, so only set aside two hours, which was nowhere near enough to see it all properly, and I found myself jogging round like Challenge Anneka in a speed-reading frenzy before it shut for the day to get everything in.
The museum is centrally located near the cathedral, on the tram route, and on the edge of the lovely botanic gardens, so it is well located on the general tourist trail, and admission is free with a box for donations. They do run free guided tours, but it really is a good place to look around on your own, with enough writing to give you the facts, but great visual, audio and moving displays too.
The topics covered include the history of the city and area, Maori culture, a reconstructed street of Old Christchurch with shop windows, doctors surgeries etc., a really hands-on environmental education display, natural history and fossils, costume and fashion, an Antarctic exploration display, photography, glasswork, and a whole science area for children, which costs a small fee, but looked really fun with a chance to try out and explore unusual things. I'm a bit of a twitcher, so my favourite section was definitely the comprehensive display of stuffed native birds, past and present.
There is a good museum shop with souvenirs and relevent books, and a cafe overlooking the botanical gardens.
I would definitely recommend this to all visitors to Christchurch, especially those with children as it will really insprire them into thinking museums are fun, and they will definitely pick up loads of interesting facts without even trying. If you don't have long, just pop in to enjoy one or two sections which interest you. The museum is laid out in a way that you can easily pick and chose, and I can assure you it's definitely worth it.
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