Reviews of International Antarctic Centre. (Museum) in Christchurch (Canterbury).
International Antarctic Centre
Corner Roy Place and, Orchard Road, Christchurch Airport, Christchurch 8052, New Zealand
Description
Information of International Antarctic Centre, Museum in Christchurch (Canterbury)
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Map
Open hours of International Antarctic Centre
Sunday
9am–4:30pm
Monday
9am–4:30pm
Tuesday
9am–4:30pm
Wednesday
9am–4:30pm
Thursday
9am–4:30pm
Friday
9am–4:30pm
Saturday
9am–4:30pm
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Reviews of International Antarctic Centre
M.
If u are visiting Christchurch this has to be on ur to do list when u have kids. Keep at least 3-4 hours aside. The penguin feeding shows, the storm session and 4D movie all have timings so if u want to see all. Even I enjoyed the whole experience along with my daughter.
N.
It was a great way to spend the day. Loved seeing the Huskys and watching the penguins have their feed. Next time I wouldn't visit during the school holidays as we were often pushed away from things before being able to finish reading as the kids wanted to use the items.
P.
Was everything we were lead to believe and more. The storm room was excellent. We even got to experience it with really huskies! And the 4D theater was very cool! Can't recommend highly enough!! All staff were great.
L.
Worth every penny spent here. Very interactive information on antartica. Blue penguins and huskies up close encounter. The 4D movies are amazing. Adult and children will like this place.
D.
Fantastic place, we did the VIP experience which gave us not only a amazing guide but also a great day. Thank you to the staff being super friendly and the wealth of knowledge all the staff was sharing.
C.
This should be on everyones place to visit! There is so much to see and do,and non stop entertainment for the whole family. Great value for money,and the staff are extremely friendly and helpful.
E.
An amazing place for a day trip, it's not your stereotypical boring museum it has so many activities including antarctic vehicle rides, a 4d cimema, a storm room with antarctic temperatures, a live penguin exhibit and when I went there it had huskies out the front you could pet. It's also very educational telling the story of how people got to Antarctica and the Antarctic bases so it's great for everyone and I would not regret going there
M.
Absolutely loved it!! Such an interactive place with lots of cool experiences! The Antarctic storm experience is a must and also the Haaglund ride was so much fun! If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see some huskies!
B.
A must do in Christchurch. There is so much for kids to do, a big interactive learning room, Hägglund rides are included in the price and are a bit of fun (although rather bumpy!) the snow storm is a neat experience. Make sure you see the penguin feeding as that is when they are most active. The 4D theatre is not that great, our kids didn’t enjoy it haha
L.
We arrived at 9am for the opening and we spent almost 3.30 in there. It was an amazing experience. The 4D theatre was a bit disappointing but the rest was very nice. People are great and helpful. It is a very famous attraction so I suggest that you go in the week, on a sunny day and as early as you can from 9am.
S.
Good fun! There are a lot of interactive activities around the exhibitions as well as play areas for kids. The four main events to take part of are the penguin feeding, 4D movie, Snow Storm experience (bring a hoodie) and the Hagglund ride. Recommended!
K.
To be honest, the price was a little high but the experience was fantastic!
Quite educational for not only the children but also the adults.
And first time seeing 4D! Wow!
Must visit, the Huskies are beautiful but do not pat them on the head it is against the rules.
Also you will get to meet some very beautiful Penguins.
The gift shop is great too!
W.
The International Antarctic Centre is a must visit in Christchurch. Its near the airport, so you can easily do it before flying back home. The Hagglund ride is really cool and the arctic storm experience is mind blowing. It does get really cold in there, so jackets are recommended. The huskies were a hit with the kids! Book through Bookme for discounted tickets
S.
Penguin enclosure was good and they look well cared for. The man driving the truck sounded like he was having a lot of fun, and the off-road track was fun. Some of the gallery pieces are a bit dated now. Needs a refresh!
P.
What an excellent way to find out about the work at Antarctica and experience the many different activities on offer here. Lovely staff. Very helpful in ensuring you know the times of everything on offer so you can plan your visit. Great cafe. Loved the husky dogs and penguins not to mention the ride experience!
l.
Joe & his beautiful doggies were the absolute highlight, closely followed by the gorgeous blue penguins. Such a special place. All the staff are pretty amazing & so informative. A must see if you're in Christchurch!
R.
This is a unique place and seems out of the world at times.
There are many experiences available which instantly transport one to Antarctica.
Loads of activities like penguin feeding, aquarium. polar weather simulator and Hagglund field trips are some of the unique ones which are only available here in the whole country.
The entry fees is nominal and the whole experience is well worth the money.
It is a great activity to spend a whole day and learn about Antarctica.
There is a café on site where one can take a well deserved break.
The location near the airport is easily accessible by road and ideal for a day trip on the day of one's flight in or out of Christchurch.
Ample parking is available, however it can get busy in holiday season.
Staff are nice and helpful.
Very highly recommended.
M.
We weren't too sure what to expect when we booked a spot at the Antarctica centre. It appeared quite expensive, but with 1 kid mad on penguins and another who loves Orcas, we thought we'd roll the dice.
Worth. Every. Cent.
The website recommends allowing 3 hours. We stayed most of the day.
The staff were great - knowledgeable, enthusiastic and had the system running like a well oiled machine under level 2 guidelines.
Highlights were the Artic Blast, 4D and snowmobile rides. The interactive displays were fun for adults too. Would highly recommend.
A.
Fabulous place learned alot about the continent and the problems it has. We'll worth a visit
D.
Just a little disappointing with the screening room. The wait to see one of the 15 or so movies took forever. Most geared towards kids. I would have like to have seen the shippingoperations. The preservation and more history in a better laid out floor plan.
All and all it was very nice and highly recommended..
L.
Excellent variety of experiences. A must see when visiting Otautahi. Needs plenty of time to really see everything there is to see.
J.
Good, interesting & fun place to spend 2-3 hours.
Much of it is aimed at kids, but there are interesting presentations for all ages.
Favourite bit was a ride in the Hagglund!
It's proximity to the airport makes it a good choice before you catch your plane out.
C.
Overall it is a unique chance to learn and experience the Antarctic. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Our children like most of the 4D movie and the storm experience. We also had a clear and informative session to view the blue eye penguin swimming and being fed.
However, compare the activities offered with the price we paid, it seems slightly overpriced. Also, for the day we visit, the 4D movie schedule was totally out where the same movie kept repeated to cater for tourist by groups which was quite disappointing.
n.
The place is expensive for what it is, but we did have an amazing time there. It would of be nice to have the schedules on the flyer cuz we wait till Saturday to go to see the huskies and when we arrive they were already gone. Amazing for the kids and the ride was really exciting
S.
This educational center is exceptional and well worth visiting, fantastic value. We spent at least three hours here, probably four, which is more than most 'museum' type places for us. The whole thing is very interactive and would be great for children: Antarctic storm experience, 4D movie, penguin feeding (rescued, unable to be released due to injuries but appear well looked after, big area for myself), huskie fund raising, Antarctic vehicle ride and more!
G.
Was a great morning out with the family.
Learnt plenty about the penguins, huskies, arctic explorers and the arctic itself.
Loved the rides in the ice mobiles over the obstacle course.
Watch out for that last step, it's a doozy !!!
M.
Took my 3 year old and we both had a great time. He absolutely loved the Hagglan ride! Great place to spend a half day.
S.
Fantastic place to take your kids. Lots of information and fun for the family. It literally showcases life and landscapes of Antartica. Don’t miss the Antarctic storm experience and also the Huggland Drive.
T.
Not worth the admission for adults, but little ones enjoyed the penguins.
J.
Great place that showcases what happens in the artic but safely! There is penguin feeding show here, interaction with real huskies and also this vehicle ride simulation that they use in the south Pole! Pretty cool and real experience of the terrain! There's also a 4D movie with water and wind spraying out at your throughout the movie and the best part is the simulation of the artic storm. That was REALLY cold and it was fun huddling together in the cold with loved ones. A family friendly experience. Remember to ask the ticket counter for voucher of $5 off! You can get them for adult tickets. Student ticket prices are cheaper too so if you have a student pass, bring that along!
S.
Great place to spend a lazy afternoon or a whole day. Managed to get a student discount so plus points. Started off with a Hagglund ride outside that tries to simulate how travelling in the Antarctic is. It's a jolty ride and not recommended for people with joint and muscular issues. Next came feeding the penguins which is done twice a day around 10am and 3pm so dont miss it. Be mindful that you can watch the show from both the lower deck showing underwater feeds and from the top deck too. The staff are extremely helpful and friendly which makes the experience fun. The place is also very informative with fossils, simulations, gizmos about life in Antarctica. Dont forget to watch the 4D movies. There is no set way to do the activities and the best way is to ask the friendly ladies at the front desk to customize your visit so you dont miss the scheduled programs. Almost forgot, the storm room is also a great experience and offers opportunities for cool pics.
J.
Ahhh.... Your imagination as a child will exode here. So much activities, so much to read and so much to see. Really good value for money too. The huskeys very gorgeous. Must do thing for adults and kids in Christchurch. The 4D movie was exciting, the wind simulator was so cool and the rides in the snow mobile was so exciting!!
F.
Loved it! Woryh the entry fee and additional fee for backstage tour. So informative and our 10 yr old son loved it too
E.
Husky encounter is just a small area, with four husky sleeping. Penguins are cute to see, spend most of my time watching them. Hagglund ride is cool, best activity in the centre. Storm experience is kind of bored. Gallery is similar to the one in Canterbury Musuem. There's two 4D show, but only allows to see one. Every activity has to follow the timetable given, you miss the schedule, you miss the activity, only one chance.
R.
The only two real fun things here are the penguins and the 4D movie. Price wise I found it to be over priced. Lots of parking lots. Staff were very friendly especially the gentleman who runs the 4D movie. If you are in Christchurch this place is worth it.
P.
Had a fantastic time loved the storm, really enjoyed the 4D Theatre and thoroughly enjoyed the Hagglund field trip outside. Petting the huskys was also a highlight and all the bits in between including the cute wee penguins.
A.
Amazing, must experience for all ages. Highly recommend the Hagglund ride and cold room. And becareful because you might just fall in love with a husky too!
E.
Amazing! Definitely worth a trip! Doesn't matter if you're young or old, there's something for everyone!
W.
It is a fun and educational experience. If you have kids or dream about one day making it to the Antarctic, this will be a lot of fun. There are penguins, a simulation if an Antarctic storm, fun off roading in a large tractor, and a 4d movie experience. It's a fun way to spend a couple hours.
T.
Must do attraction in Christchurch. One fee covered all activities. All staff are well trained and very informative. Very passionate about their areas of interest and made our visit truly memorable.
K.
What a fantastic centre. So much I formation on offer. The Hagglan ride was unexpected and so much fun. Penguin staff were very informative and knowledgable. Storm experience to -18 degrees was a great experience. Very interactive. Well worth the visit.
C.
Amazing place to learn more about Antarctica. The huskies are beautiful and you can pet them. The penguins encounter is the best part. You can observe they swimming, eating and building their nests.
M.
We had a good time and spent a good few hours here. We got the tickets on bookme and I think this a more realistic price, full price would have felt like we had over paid. Highlights were the huskys, the hägglund ride and the penguins. The 'storm' was a bit anticlimactic and the 4D cinema was ruined by people talking and trying to take pictures. For the cinema try and sit right in the middle of the rows.
There are lots of separate elements to look at and quite easy to do them in a very random order to make the timings fit.
K.
The International Antarctic Centre is a great place to come to if you are interested in learning about people living in Antarctica. There is an Antarctic storm simulator and is a truly exhilarating experience. The snow buggies are amazing, and you can ride around in one across a rough course. I recommend this to anyone travelling in the area.
S.
A very good place to visit, very informative about the climate, life and research on the continent of Antarctica. As we were told that the north shore of Antarctica is only 2000 km from New Zealand's south island, this is the right place for an Antarctic center. We were also told that the small penguins of Antarctica are only found in New Zealand because they can swim this short distance owing to their small size. This center also works as a rescue and care for small penguins. These penguins are so cute kids love watching them fed and swimming and walking with there cute small legs. There is a snow room there to acquaint people of the freezing temperatures of Antarctica. And exhibition of the fossils found and stuffed replicas of animals on Antarctica. Also the equipments used and the transportation used by scientists on Antarctica. A place worth visit in Christchurch.👌🏼👍🏻
M.
Family friendly outing. Our children (ages 2-12) enjoyed the visit. Penguins, Haggling ride on the off-road track, snow, etc. Recommend at least 2 hours for the visit. Cafe on site and excellent gift shop.
A.
Over all nice experience, however,
The movie I expected something real about Antarctica not a kids movie, the hugger ride couldn't hear the foriegn speaking guide for the noise and bad English, head phones needed. Stock in shop on short supply, waited ages to be served in the shop, snow storm was great, where were the bigger Penguins? That we see on TV a lot? Only to be told they are at Kelly Tarleton in Auckland REALY! it's an ice bird, come on Antarctic Center you should be able to do better than that.
V.
Amazing place to visit in Christchurch. Allow at least 2-3 hrs to enjoy. Best place for kids, first timers, and tourist. Don't miss the Hugland ride, Siberian husky, 4D extreme theatre, and penguin feeding. Can buy souvenirs, and enjoy the coffee or food in cafè. Entry fees apply, season pass also available.
J.
A brilliant experience, especially if you can time it to see the animal feeding. Worth the slightly high price if you give all the experiences a go.
T.
I had a great time here. It was educational and had a lot of interactive exhibits. You can take a hagglund ride outside through an obstacle course, learn about wildlife, the research and research centers, historical trips and discoveries and get bundled up for an artic storm just to lost some. You can see penguins and huskies too. We spent about 4 hours there and didn't see everything in detail.
K.
You can get so close to the penguins in their little sleeping nests. There were rescue huskies on the day we went and the Antarctic snow storm was a blast (sorry for the pub). We didn't opt for the 4d and ride but don't think we missed out on much. Would have loved to do the penguin backstage tour for only 25 but times didn't suit
S.
We went there only because it was the last day of the holiday, but what a great decision. Lots of great information, interactive exhibits and a nice little Cafe and gift store that's not too expensive. Highlights include the all terrain vehicle ride and the Antarctic storm experience.
C.
Very interesting with we informed staff. Great experiences such as the blizzard room where you get to see what it is like first hand. Worth a look.
P.
We first flew to Auckland but left NZL from Christchurch. Due to unexpected bad weather, we could not go anywhere in our last days. It rained dogs & cats. The air's too cold, temperature dropped so quick & the host of motel even gave us two extra portable heaters thankfully. On departure day, we spent our last hours at Int'l Antartic Center ( IAC) near Christchurch Airport. Without seeing IAC, our city visit's totally joyless. Its documentaries are well written, broadcasted & illustrated. A little fascinating place! We followed from room to room & almost forgot our flight! Christchurch cathedral after recent devastating earthquakes & this IAC remained fresh in my memory!
Some 4556KM is bird flying distance from Christchurch to Antarctica.
J.
Well worth it to understand everything you ever wanted to know about the Antarctic and the people who visit and research this amazing continent. Get there early (9am) and enjoy the 4D movies, penguin feeding and take the vehicle ride (Hogglander).
F.
It felt overrated to be honest. I heard a lot of good things about the Antarctic centre but it didn't live up to the hype for me. The 4D cinema seemed outdated for one, and generally it felt a bit bare. I suppose this is after having gone to another museum that had a lot of great information about early Antarctic employers, either the Christchurch museum or one in Dunedin, I forget which. Best thing on my opinion was the the storm experience. Overall, I wouldn't pay full price, but maybe worth it on a good discount
C.
Thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch including the very fun Hagglund ride. Had a smile on my face for hours after the Hagglund driver showed off his skills.
A.
The center is awesomeness to the max. Staff make what is exceptional into something even better. I have a disability and they looked after me when I needed it. Do everything and you will enjoy every moment you are there. Cafe is great as well!
R.
A family orientated experience which provide a basic introduction to the Antarctic. The storm room, penguins and huskies are complimented by some audio visual rooms and an Antarctic transport ride. Not the cheapest of places to visit but easy to get to with a free bus from the Christchurch museum and botanic gardens entrance.
J.
You gotta go on the Hagglunds ride its great. The simulation of an artic blizzard is fab and you get a parka to keep you warm, but it's sooo cold. What an experience. Great docos to watch as well. A good day out ✌️
J.
Good to visit before going to the airport since it is only 5 minutes walk to the terminal. You can take free shuttle in front of Canterbury Museum. The penguins are so cute.
P.
We had a great day at the centre - fun, informative experience - will visit again when we travel South AAA+++
M.
Not worth for the money you spend. Might be good if you have small kids. The only good thing that attracted us was the military kind of vehicle ride and the dolphin feeding. 4D shows were very low quality.
C.
Very interesting place with a lot of fun ! You will experience the Antarctic storm inside a room which temp drops and wind goes wild !! Over jacket and shoe cover were provided so don’t need to dress warm. Another highlight is the Hagglund ride ! experience the vehicle they use in Antarctic! There’s penguins there’s 4D film to watch. Make sure u spare at least 2hr in this place.
M.
The museum is showing a 4D movie about the Antarctic. A ride of 10 minutes with this Amtracks is included. The 3rd show is an icestorm in a room with -8° C.
k.
Such a cool place... pun totally not intended.
A tonne of stuff to take in with interactive displays.
The storm room is a neat addition. Gets pretty cold! -18 degrees!!!!
But it’s really bearable.
Penguins are cute, but I’ve a personal gripe with this sort of thing. That aside, it’s fun.
Fully recommend the visit.
s.
It is an amazing place....you feel like you are in Antarctica...the snowstorm, the little Penguins swimming ,the 4D show ...everything is superb...it is close to airport in Christchurch...one must visit this.
J.
We had a great time here. The exhibitions were highly interactive and informative, would be super fun for kids. We also purchased the VIP backstage tour which was probably my favourite alongside the Hagglund ride. The staff are so friendly and you can tell they care a lot for their colony of little penguins!
S.
Fantastic holiday programme especially with Jo and the Husky Heros! We'll be back next school holidays for sure
A.
The center is awesomeness to the max. Staff make what is exceptional into something even better. I have a disability and they looked after me when I needed it. Do everything and you will enjoy every moment you are there. Cafe is great as well!
鐘.
Nice place for kids to experience Antarctic environment. Get a close view on the blue penguins.
J.
Well worth it to understand everything you ever wanted to know about the Antarctic and the people who visit and research this amazing continent. Get there early (9am) and enjoy the 4D movies, penguin feeding and take the vehicle ride (Hogglander).
J.
Ahhh.... Your imagination as a child will exode here. So much activities, so much to read and so much to see. Really good value for money too. The huskeys very gorgeous. Must do thing for adults and kids in Christchurch. The 4D movie was exciting, the wind simulator was so cool and the rides in the snow mobile was so exciting!!
J.
Definitely we will back in another occasion
K.
What a fantastic centre. So much I formation on offer. The Hagglan ride was unexpected and so much fun. Penguin staff were very informative and knowledgable. Storm experience to -18 degrees was a great experience. Very interactive. Well worth the visit.
D.
Me my Husband and 2 toddlers had a great time here! Plenty to see and do, easily spent 3hrs here and could have stayed longer! Well worth a visit.
R.
The only two real fun things here are the penguins and the 4D movie. Price wise I found it to be over priced. Lots of parking lots. Staff were very friendly especially the gentleman who runs the 4D movie. If you are in Christchurch this place is worth it.
C.
Very interesting place with a lot of fun ! You will experience the Antarctic storm inside a room which temp drops and wind goes wild !! Over jacket and shoe cover were provided so don’t need to dress warm. Another highlight is the Hagglund …
B.
I had not anticipated how interesting that this place was going to be. There is a wide array of different simulations of the climate in Antartica, including a 4D movie experience. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the place is kept in good shape and is really clean. I definitely recommend coming here if you’re wanting to find out more about Antarctica in a fun and interesting way.
L.
A must-do attraction in Christchurch. Science. Education. You gotta try the Freeze Room to experience the wind chill!
C.
Great family stop and very interactive for kids. Be sure to do the Haaglund adventure ride!
J.
This was a great stop and the experience of the haggland, winter storm and 4d theatre was something to defiantly not miss out on. The only problem was the very high price especially for not many activities as intended. Some of the activities for the un-reasonable price weren't worth it.
A.
Such a great experience!! In one day you can see little penguins, try Antarctic storm, ride in Antarctic car, pet husky dogs, watch 4D movie...totally must do in Wellington. Family friendly.
A.
Great way to spend a couple of hours before you catch your flight. It is a short walk from the airport. Educational and fun. Ride a real all terrain Antarctic vehicle. Pet huskies. Watch penguins being fed. Good fun!!
M.
Well worth the relatively high entry price of $50, the kids loved watching the penguin feeding and the 4D cinema. The highlight was the hagglands ride for the adults. Would highly recommend a visit and if you can give yourself at least 2.5 hours to fit it all in.
R.
Great place to feel and experience the Antarctic life - storm, penguins, movies, exhibits and more.
j.
Really great experience and so much to learn. So much to explore, that one day is not long enough.
C.
Great place to visit with the family. Lots to learn and a bunch of entertaining interactive experiences for everybody to enjoy.
On the day we visited, we couldnt see the penguins being fed as there were too many people near the glass. The pram/wheel chair acces lift wasnt working either. Under 3 year olds cant go on the Antarctic vehicle. Snow dome was awesome and I had a very nice coffee at the cafe.
A.
Something a little different, where else can you go for a ride in Antarctic all terrain vehicle. (Very cool) pun intended. Good displays, very cute little penguins.
K.
This place is unreal!!! A must see on so many levels. So interactive! Lovely staff! The penguins had me captivated.
D.
Very interesting place on our way to the airport to drop off the car. Lots of information about past expeditions from Christchurch to the Antarctic, experience how cold an arctic blast is. See little blue penguins and huskys and travel in a vehicle that actually have used on the ice.
M.
We spent the day here with our kids on our trip to Christ Church and would recommend it to anyone in the area. The exhibits and experiences here are like nothing we have in the states. Our 7 & 8 year olds really got into the artic storm, exhibits and penguin feeding. The ride on the tracked vehicles was absolutely amazing. We would definitely come back here next time we visit Christ Church.
s.
Had an excellent visit in the Centre in which I could expose to the -8 degree climate, viewed the Antarctic through the 4D movie and most forgettable Hagglunds trip - special thanks to the Hagglunds operator who really took care of everybody in the trip - he is an excellent ambassador of New Zealand.
I will be more alert to global warming and environmental protection.
S.
Thoroughly enjoyed the experience at the International Antarctic Centre. So many things to see and do, the Hägglund ride and penguin feed/talk a highlight for us.
Highly recommended and allow 2-3 hours for your trip - it was perfect for us whilst we were waiting for our flight as there was also locker storage for our bags!
D.
Me my Husband and 2 toddlers had a great time here! Plenty to see and do, easily spent 3hrs here and could have stayed longer! Well worth a visit.
S.
Fantastic holiday programme especially with Jo and the Husky Heros! We'll be back next school holidays for sure
K.
Fun for all ages. Antartic storm and ride were hits. The penguin show was disappointing as the keeper did ensure everyone from different viewing windows could see what was happening.
A.
We really enjoyed it , my grandchildren had a great experience. We all loved the Huskies and the penguins.
R.
Interesting and informative exhibits. Good for family with kids.
J.
A great day on Sunday. The centre is at least worth visiting once. Some great activites for children and the huskies are friendly although don’t pay them on their heads.
A.
Deserves a visit. Lots of info on the Antartic environment and New Zealand Antartic Program. Visiting the centre is free, but you have to pay for the rides (Haggelund, 3D movie). If you have some hours to spend at the airport, use them to visit the centre. You can walk from the airport and the centre has lockers for leaving your luggage.
鐘.
Nice place for kids to experience Antarctic environment. Get a close view on the blue penguins.
A.
Great, friendly and helpful staff, quite a small centre, I was lucky to get a discount from Bookme as I do not think it is worth $59 per person at full price. The Hagglund ride is fun, and the lady who drove me was nice and fun. Great to be co pilot. Enjoyed speaking te Reo with Hohepa the Husky carer. Did forward my concerns about the small husky enclosure, and they have mentioned they are improving it soon, so will be good to see the changes. Otherwise loved spending time with them. The penguin feeding wasnt as fun as I thought, maybe since I've seen many feeding shows over the years at other aquariums which are bigger and better. But each to their own. It almost seems like you can get in to see the Huskies free, if that was the case maybe I would've just come out for that lol. Loved having animal love time with them.
W.
Good place. You can have the experience living in snow strom for 4 minute. So freezing.
R.
Great place to visit with young children. We have 7, 5 and 3 yo and there were things that they all enjoyed interacting with. Lots of science activities and the hagglund ride is great fun bump along going up the steep incline and the 4D movie has great wildlife video and blows wind and sprays water. Very fun, but be aware the seats do suddenly move which can be a surprise for younger kids. Highly recommended.
A.
I really enjoyed the exhibition. The ice storm was cold, penguins fun, huskies cuddly, Häggler ride thrilling, and translation mistakes cute. Better way of spending time than eating lunch.
H.
What a great place to be in chc! Enjoy it live it and having fun! Two thumbs up
N.
Amazing!! A must visit in Christchurch. Loved the Hagglund ride.
V.
Took my children here and we all enjoyed the International Atlantic Centre very much. Lots to see, do, explore and enjoy. Spent a good few hours here. Staff are friendly. Place is well-maintained. Totally worth the visit.
Highly recommended!
D.
Wonderful day spent here. Our 7 year old loved it.
G.
What an experience!
Highly recommend it to one and all. We bought the behind the scenes Penguin encounter and learnt a lot, plus we came to value the work that organizations like this do on the Conservation front. We expected to be there for about 2 hrs. and finished up about 4.5 hrs.
The movie experience was exhilarating and informative - don't miss it!
Unfortunately the café food choice was very limited, simply due to the limited number of tourists around, but apart from that an A1 Experience
S.
THIS IS A MUST DO IN CHRISTCHURCH!!! Between the Hägglund Field Trip, Husky Zone, Storm Dome, Penguin Rescue and 4D Theatre, we had an amazing experience there on a drizzly day!
The storm dome is very cool, it’s a simulation of what it’s like to be in an Antarctic storm and it got down to -18°C with windchill, even if you don’t want to go into the storm, you can go in the room when a storm isn’t happening and enjoy it.
When we were there in June 2021, there were three husky’s out, a 5 year old, an 8 month old puppy and a 10 week old puppy. They were all super cute and you could pat any of them.
The PENGUINS, I highly recommend going for the penguins feeding time as it’s very informative and you get to see most of the penguins. They have posters on the wall telling you which penguins is which and why they are at the Antarctic centre. There are multiple viewing platforms, above water and under the water which means there’s plenty of room during the feeding.
In my opinion after the penguins the best part was the Hägglund (All Terrain Vehicles) that are used in Antartica. You get to sit in them as they go over a course with lots of surprising obstacles that it effortlessly moves through.
If you have little kids I highly suggest the 4D theatre as there is multiple movies that play through with real snow, water and wind effects as well as moving seats. There is plenty of space to sit as a family.
Furthermore, we got the backstage pass which meant that we got to go into the penguins enclosure and under the pool to find out how it all works and more about the penguins. We also went into the Vet room and met another penguins not on display. Sue was very helpful, funny and informative.
On top of all that there are interactive exhibits about the different stations, a 15 minute movie plying on loop, an ice cave, a ice camp setup and lots more!
Overall it was a great experience and I would highly recommend it as there is something for everyone and the staff is very friendly.
D.
Fantastic experience. We live locally near Christchurch and only just got around to visiting this attraction. We should have done it before, great welcoming staff and first class displays. The 4D film experience was great.
P.
Great day out. Plenty of fun activities to fill a half day. Hagglund ride was probably the highlight but the penguin feeding was informative and interesting too.
K.
Lovely staff. Put luggage in a safe room while going through. Lots of fun things for kids and adults to do. Definitely perfect stop if have 3+ hours till fight or just arriving. Nice small walk from airport.
A.
Thoroughly enjoyed the Hagglund vehicle ride, which is a once in a lifetime experience, unless you're really planning to head to either the Artic or Antartctic to ride in the actual environment
P.
Interesting museum, plus lots of attractions like a Hägglund ride, Antarctic storm simulator, 4D theatre and penguins
C.
Love the Antarctic centre! I honestly prefer it as an adult than as a child because I can really appreciate the fun of the centre and also the price I paid D: Price is the main reason I've docked a star, while I can get a student discount atm, soon $50 is going to be a bit pricey however the fun of the day and the amount of stuff to do is worthwhile for sure! The husky's are gorgeous and I often see them being walked around the airport which is super cute! Awesome to see a nice refuge for Korora, little blue penguins, and the social media updates for best and worst penguins of the month never fail to put a smile on my face. The snow room, 4D theatre and especially the haglund ride are absolute highlights and is must not be missed attraction of Ōtautahi. I work in tourism and make sure to tell as many customer staying in CHCH to check out the centre!
K.
Great place minus18 storm and haggunds ride is cool
L.
Facinating, informative, educational.
Loved our day visit, the place wasn´t busy so we got to do it all.
Storm dome, very cold
Off road on a Hagglund was so much fun.
Huskies so calm and sweet.
4D theatre hilarious.
J.
Great place to visit. Penquins were so cute. Must do go in the snow storm its fun. Bit cold though lol. Also have a coffee bar and shop
r.
The centre and staff are amazing; well worth a visit.
The information brochures (obtained from our hotel) about the services are however, way out of date and you could benefit from replacing them.
There is no longer a free shuttle; we walked a pleasant 2km to where the brochure said the pick up point was, and waited. After enquiry in the Museum we learned the shuttle service was abandoned post Covid?
we then had to make other arrangements to get there in an unfamiliar city.
This however was the only negative comment we can make, the rest of the experience was awesome.
M.
Such fantastic information. I learned a lot about a place that is on my bucket list but it going to be difficult to check off.
D.
Great place for young and the young at heart. An adventure ride is a must. Love the huskies and penguins. 3D movies great fun. Can spend quite sometime there, including having a break for lunch, before continuing looking around.
J.
I loved it, the staff, the different activities, the information provided, the little blue penguins, I spent 3 hours and it didn't get boring! And it's not only for kids!
H.
Kids had a fantastic time and it was a lot more interesting for the adults than I expected.
J.
Definitely a must go! It’s really fun for both adults and kids. They have a lot of interactive things and informations you can read. They have cute penguins. You should definitely try going on a hägglund which was a lot of fun.
C.
Fantastic place to visit - lots to see and do with kids of all ages.
We'll definately visit again!
P.
Wow lovely spot went right around, photos on special $35 dollars with a booklet
K.
We've been here the day we flew back home. It's close by the Airport which was great. We spent about 3 hours there but you can stay there even longer. You learn here a lot about the Antartic.
j.
Loved the experience. I spent around 4 hours inside but I guess it could take around 2 hours if you don't want to go into too much detail. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable.
D.
Loved it. Did VIP backstage pass. Learnt alot from the penguin keeper. Well worth it.did the haglaand ride great fun.. movies were informative and staff helpful.
I.
Nice place for family and kids.Great place for a short visit,just near at the airport!😘
S.
I little bit Disney in Christchurch. Worth to visit. A lot of informations. Great Place 4 Kids.
C.
Highlights: Hägglund field trip, penguin feeding, snowstorm experience.
Arrived at 9.30am on a Sunday so we beat the crowd.
Hägglund field trip: Would suggest sitting right at the back for the bumps and thrills. However, we could not really hear the commentary as it is quite loud at the back.
Penguin feeding: The penguin feeding times are 10.30am and 3.30pm. Would recommend planning the visit around the penguin feeding time. The penguins all have very different and interesting personalities and was very enjoyable to observe.
Great for people of all ages as it is an experience and also educational.
Would also suggest trying to find a deal for the entry fee to make it a bit cheaper.
H.
Haaglund ride was great fun, fantastic place with enough to do for half a day. Next to airport, has shuttle to town.
M.
Great afternoon out. Loved seeing the Husky on the way in. Lucky to be there for feeding time.
C.
Cool place to get an overall view about why people are going down to Antarctica to research and how it is.
T.
Penguin feeding is at 10.30 am so dont miss that. There are no proper directions inside so u kinda just wander around and see for yourself. The Husky is super adorable and it was the highlight of my day. The Hagglund field trip was absolutely awesome too. The 4D theatre timings were very random. Overall it was a fun few hours.
A.
Definitely try to get the back stage pass! I got to go inside the penguin enclosure, learn a lot about them, and visit a penguin in the vet clinic! Great experience!
D.
Great experience. Sad we didn't see the penguins.
G.
Great way to burn off a morning or afternoon before flying out. Be sure to do the Hagland off road course and the Antarctic Storm.
G.
Loved this place. Filled in a few hours before departure. Great interactive shows and helpful friendly staff. Highly recommended.
A.
A range of activities for you to get to know what happens in the Antarctic
H.
Absolutely amazing, couldn't recommend high enough.
D.
Best time spent in Christchurch. Definitely recommend.
A.
This was a great place to visit, the ride on the specialist Antarctic vehicle was a bit of a thrill.
b.
Great time had by all.kagland ride.better than first time years ago.penquin feeding.feeding.film.displays.dogs wonderfull all great.even better on a wet day.lol
E.
This is such a cool place to visit before or after a flight. I loved their penguin program as well!
D.
Haggland ride was good. Inside bit disappointing. Couldnt see demos for all the people. Would have been better if there were screens up so the back halves could see. We didnt stay as could only hear
張.
the little blue penguins are so sweet , but the other things there are a little bit boring to me
J.
Great fun, so much for kids, they loved watching the penguins being fed and looking at them underwater was especially cool.
The Hagglund vehicles are pretty impressive and the kids loved the chance to go for a ride over a crazy obstacle course.
The cold storm room was fun, as were the 4D movies which keep changing. We saw Small Foot this time which again the kids loved.
Lots of interesting things to learn about for adults too.
J.
Unique experience, has to be done if you come to Christchurch. Just prepare yourself to availability of times if you want to see the penguins being fed etc very interesting story, expensive but try and find a deal on the various websites to help offset the cost
T.
It's got a lot of fun and interesting exhibitions. The location is within walking distance from the airport if you want to burn a few hours before a flight. The ice vehicles ride (I forget what they're called!) is super fun and exciting as well. Hold on tight!
T.
The International Antarctic Centre is located in the suburb of Harewood, Christchurch, New Zealand, close to Christchurch International Airport. It is one of the major tourist attractions of the city.
The Centre is home to the New Zealand, United States and Italian Antarctic Programmes and comprises administration offices, warehousing, an American/New Zealand clothing store, a post office and travel agency, the Antarctic Passenger Terminal and the Visitor Centre, now called 'The Antarctic Attraction'.
It is for this last item that the centre is best known, as it forms a significant tourist attraction. 'The Antarctic Attraction' consists of Antarctic exhibits, a café, and bar. The centre operates a Hagglund Ride around the centre's land. This is aimed mainly at children, however is an educational tool for all ages, to display the mobility of the Hagglund. The Hagglund is an Antarctic Vehicle that is still in operation. Among other attractions, there is an Antarctic snow storm room, an audiovisual display, and little blue penguins at the NZ Penguin Encounter. The centre is set up for taking in penguins from the wild that are in need of help, with one of those penguins nicknamed 'Morgan' getting media attention for refusing to swim.
J.
Great place to visit spent 3.5 hours
K.
Great way to gain an appreciation of what it's like in Antarctica. Put aside at least 2.5 hours to get around. Make sure you take warm clothes so you can experience the snow storm!
A.
What an amazing place.
Follow some of the times attractions but also wander behind.
You'll find you will still see amazing things without the crowds
Try your hand in the artic ocean. A good place for a little friendly competition on who can last the longest with their hand inside.
Enjoy there windstorm and 4d movie theatre.
D.
A fantastic experience, friendly staff and plenty of shows and interactive displays. Worthy 100%
A.
Wear pants if you're brave enough to go into the blizzard room. What a delightful place. I hope I get to come back someday. Just buy the penguin upgrade, it's worth it.
G.
The staff all really try to make each visit a special one. It has lots of things to do for all ages. My toddler absolutely loves it.
S.
Very nice place for knowing all about Antarctica...lots of informative stuff in there.
R.
Really Cool place to learn about the International Antarctic program, also go to 60° and eat something or get an espresso.
R.
A great attraction that we managed to spend 2 hours at. The ice tractor ride was a bit scary and kids hid in the igloo during the storm. A bit pricey, but you get way more for it than you do at other attractions for similar pricing. Definitely worth a visit if you're passing thou.
C.
The Antarctic Centre is a must when you visit Christchurch. Fantastic displays and history of this amazing part of our world. We loved the ride in the snow mobiles and the experience in the Snow room. and we spent a long time reading all the stories. Totally recommend a visit.
A.
Exciting experience , you should visit this centre before leave Christchurch 👍👍👍👍👍
N.
It had se pretty cool experiences, especially the storm simulation, it was very cool!
However some were a bit lacking in my opinion. For example, the Huskies are super cute and very calm, but it would have been more interesting or engaging if there was a bit more of an "exhibit" around them, even just something explaining sledding dogs and their job etc. Plus maybe something for each dog saying their name and a bit about them like they have for the penguins maybe.
To be honest the price seems very high for what it is. However we got tickets through bookme for about half price, which I would recommend doing as then it is definitely worth the money.
Y.
You can have exciting experience and there are blue penguin which is smallest penguin in the world.
it's a good place to take someone who from other country.
S.
Incredible!!! So much learning about Antarctica! Interactive, fun, exciting, jam-packed. I could easily have spent 5hrs here! Cool 4D movies :) i loved the wind storm room the best! Makes me want to visit the beautiful Antarctica in person :)
A.
Nice place, $49/adult. Good luge
D.
It's a great place. The rates are reasonable and they offer several attractions. The Hagglund Ride is great fun. The antarctic storm is also a unique experience. The Antarctic Gallery is very informative and interesting. The Little Blue Penguins are a delightful sight and the penguin feeding show is a must watch. The cafe at the entrance also has good food and beverages. They also have great shows. It takes around 3-5 good hours to do the whole thing with the shows, feeding and the different rides and experiences.
d.
Not a bad way to spend a couple of hours if you have young kids. The Hagglund ride was good and the 4D theatre was fun, although would have been better to get something more related to the Antarctic. $147 for 2 adults and a 5 year. Caution the nice young girls take photos of you and your family and when you leave approach with photos all printed up, then tell you they cost $70. $217 a bit steep but if you have a lazy couple of hundred to burn your kids will have a good day
A.
Cool place to spend a couple hours. Favourite part was the storm simulation room. $45NZD for students/seniors and $59 for adults. Family deals and kids prices also available. I would recommend that you attend at 2.30 or 3pm at the latest. We arrived at 3.15pm and were rushing to finish things but it still wasn't too bad. Penguin feeding has the last session at 3.30pm, storm room's last is 4.30pm, husky patting ends at 5pm, last 4D theatre session is 5pm. The centre closes at 5.30pm sharp. Get there a bit earlier than 3pm to go at a leisurely pace. They take photos of you at the start, made into a packet of 2 photos with information and postcards of your photos. You can buy the pack at the end for $39.95.
J.
You must go fabulous place lots of fun
K.
Was expecting a pretty budget experience and am happy to say it was far better than expected. The hagglund ride and storm room were awesome for the kids, penguins and 4d movie were also worthwhile.
S.
Fantastic place to visit to learn more about the Antarctic. Lots of interactive things to do.
M.
The physilities (however small) and staff were spot on top notch. It was the priece at $49 for adults that was disappointing and believe it needs to be cut to 22 or 24 for adults. While this was our first time yet will be our last. If the price were considerably dropped you will not only get repeat visitors, you will actually make 3 or 4 times what is required, plus get more repeat visitors and even more who would not consider going in the first place because of the price.
M.
Wonderful place to visit. We spent 3 hours there. The penguins are so cute - all rescued. The ice storm simulation was great wind chill -40 very cold.
D.
Loved it. A fantastic way to spend a few hours learning about the Antarctic. Awesome for kids. Time your visit for penguin feeding time (currently 10:30 and 3:30) to see all the cute rescue penguins being very active. Great for kids of all ages. Accessible, plenty of parking, almost walking distance from Christchurch airport.
K.
Great educational facility, fun and interactive
L.
Really cool to see all the types of penguins. Interesting information in all the exhibits. The storm simulator was fun. Cold but fun. Spent three hours there but needed more time. If it has interest to you, there are many things to see and do that will keep you occupied for most of the day.
B.
Awesome place to visit, spend the better part of the day here with my family. Great experience for the whole family young and old with so much to do, and memories for a life time.. highly recommend.
S.
Antartic experience is good but the cafe, not so much. My "hot" food came cold and my "iced" chocolate came warm. Was very disappointed in the cafe. Over priced for what it is.
T.
Had a great time here, with 2 boys aged 7 and 10. Loved the hagglund and the storm room. The penguin feeding was really informative and the 4d was good fun as well. Staff were great and gave a lot of good info.
D.
Amazing place to visit... Highly recommended
D.
It is a must visit place for Tourists. Real experience of Antqrctic
s.
A totally superb 2.5 hours with ten year old child. Neither of us bored, highly informative. Entertaining and thought provoking.
I.
An informative, interesting and interactive museum. There were many things to see and experience such as the 4D movie, riding the Hägglund bandwagons, seeing rescued penguins and petting huskies. But the huskies were kept in a very small place and they were in extremely short leashes and could not move around freely. I felt so sorry for the dogs and I truly hope they remove the dogs (even tough they are cute) especially since they are not used in expeditions anymore according to the exhibition.
G.
I think the price of entry is very steep and is a pretty hard ask for a family visit.
The exhibits etc are excellent. Particularly if you have an interest in Antarctic history. Lots to do and see and you need to give yourself a few hours to do it.
A 'need to see' place to visit I just think they need to also make it more affordable for people.
J.
Staff is very friendly and helpful. The activities are scheduled so they all follow each other: a bumpy häglund ride, petting the Huskies, a 4d movie, penguin feeding and snowstorm simulator. The exposition is also very detailed without being too much! Good job on this.
Allot a 2 - 3 hour in your day schedule for a full experience
Б.
A lot of interesting facts, but a bit too expensive. Great with kids or friends
H.
A wonderful place to spend time with kids, especially if you want a quiet day.
We had been here back in 2010, and it was lovely seeing the penguins strutting about.
J.
This is expensive but worth the money for all the interesting experiences it provides. Our family enjoyed a couple of hours here.
N.
Grate place to visit during the school holidays with families and kids
C.
Amazing centre. Lots to do and great exhibits - the Antarctic wind storm room is good fun as was the 4D cinema. A bit pricey but it's a wonderful few hours out and about learning about Antarctica
J.
Definitely we will back in another occasion
S.
Great staff, easy to follow and great for young and old. Wait times for attractions can be long, 4d movie wasnt worth the wait, felt like a regular movie with someone spitting on you. Huskies were adorable and very educational.
A.
Great fun. Awesome experience
S.
Real time window where we can experience what living on Antartica is like!
R.
A must visit tourist attraction, they got huskies and a hughland ride, and a storm room
D.
Storm was fun. Exhibits were good. Some of the exhbit videos look like they were made in 2003, especially the one about continental drift. Hagglund ride was so fun, so much adrenaline! Huskies were very cute and the trainer was very friendly and accommodating.
F.
Surprisingly entertained when we visited. Had no expectations really, as the plan was just to drive the wife and the visiting in-laws. I ended up enjoying most of the activities. The snow storm and the hagglund are highly recommended.
S.
We had a great time! We did the penguin encounter and found it very educational and fun! We spotted some beehives and spoke with Sue about that project! We think that any endeavor in an attempt to save our pollinators is awesome!! We need more places that will do that. Most attractions plant flowers anyway and they could be the kind that bees are attracted and still beautiful! Well done😀
R.
I have been here before and it's lots of fun for a group of people it's inside so if it's raining it's a good choice there are lots of thing to keep you busy during your visit from husky visits to an Ice room with an igloo and it's fun for the whole family definitely Recommend. Family Friendly.Cafe inside and Penguins as well.
L.
I was really in doubt about whether or not I should go to this place. It was a rainy day in Christchurch and I just wanted to do something indoors. Read the reviews but, as usual, there are people who loved it and people who really hated it. I never leave reviews but thought I should leave one for this place, to help fellow travelers that might get as indecisive as I did.
So here's the thing about this place: IT IS NOT WORTH THE PRICE OF ADMISSION. It's not that the place is not nice, it's just not worth 59 bucks. I had an okish time, but overall was a little disappointed with the attractions. The huskies are just a few dogs chained to the floor in an outdoor area where it smells of dog poo and pee - the guy who watched over him is nice and very kind, but talks a lot about the tragedies the dogs have endured before being rescued by them (all the huskies are rescued dogs) and even though the guy was very nice, the stories made me quite sad. The 4D movie is also nothing special, the penguin feeding show was also nothing extraordinary. The hägglund ride was the highlight of the day, but it lasts less than 15 minutes and you can only go once. So, to wrap it up, it would be worth it if the ticket costed up to 30 bucks, but 60... Definitely not worth it.
K.
What an awesome place! Quite expensive at first glance but so much to do. Lots to learn if you fancy that but we had 4 kids 5 and under who had a great time too. Spent close to 3 hours here. Little blue penguins were cool - great viewing spaces, patting huskys not something you get to do everyday, the blizzard was such an experience! 4d movie was cool although I have done better (although a bit scary for the kids), but the highlight was the hagglund ride, like a roller-coaster!!! Plus so much more. Highly recommended!
B.
Fantastic destination for a family day out. Haaglund ride is brilliant, Huskies are cute and the 4d cinema was fun! Seems expensive when you buy tickets but well worth the price for what is on offer.
R.
We loved this place and were totally surprised. Two young kids also loved it. You get a ride on some weird buggy thing, good 4d movie and plenty of other stuff to see and do. A must see for Christchurch.
V.
Much more of an adventure than I originally anticipated. The Hagglund ride was crazy! Especially sitting in the back of the back car. The storm room was also pretty cool. Everyone working there was really passionate about their jobs and I learned a lot of cool stuff. Great half day activity for kids or adults.
m.
Amazing any one thinking of going Christchurch go here it is very fun good for people all ages
W.
Spent a good couple of hours being entertained and educated by friendly knowledgeable staff, a fun day for young and old.
B.
This is truly a special experience. Antarctica's strong link with Christchurch is the reason this unique facility is here. The Hagglund ride, the amazing 4D theatre, chilling Antarctic storm and the little blue Penguins are hugely entertaining. However there is so much more to see, and read if one is to really appreciate the significance of Antarctica to this planet.
D.
Really fun afternoon. Various different things to do while your there. There is a haglund ride which was awesome
A.
great place to take the kids, interactive stuff, didn't have time to get board,kept them entertained.
S.
Extremely interesting place to visit, learnt a lot and enjoyed every moment. Experiencing the cold was amazing, certainly makes you realize what cold really is. 4D movie was so much fun and well made. Totally worth spending time here.
Z.
It's a nice place to check out, especially for the various hands-on experiences. They've got some Siberian Huskies that you can interact with, all-terrain carriers (they call them Hägglunds) that you can have a ride on to see how capable these things are, a wind chill experience room, and you can see some penguins too!
They've also got a bunch of informative displays and movies, but I personally wasn't too interested with those. If you're like me, you can probably go through the whole thing in less than 2 hours.
J.
Great learning experience for all ages. Love seeing the husky rescue group outside. It means a lot to see them for those of us that get off the ice flight and haven't been around animals that one can pet in a while
M.
I enjoyed my trip through the International Antarctic Experience which includes the Hagglund ride. It's not a cheap place to visit so keep several hundred dollars in your wallet or purse. This of course depends on who and how many people are going.
Nonetheless the experience is well worth it and it would be a great day out.
M.
This is a four star review just because of the price of 60$. I've got a good deal and paid 35$ - all the way worth it. There is an enormous amount of activities, information and media. 45 min documentaries, very informative texts, things to play around with - something thag the whole family, teenagers and seniors can enjoy. The 4d movies, the penguin feeding and the arctic storm as well as the test drive are nicely timed and a good contrast. We loved the huskies too! You can spend two up to five hours there - depending on your interest and patience. Definetly worth having a look at, but not a must do.
C.
Although this is a center aimed for children it is still interesting to adults.
The centre takes about 1 and a half hours to walk around, not including watching the 4D films.
The penguin feeding shows at 10,30am and 3,30pm are a must see, clearly the highlight of the exhibition.
However, some of the exhibitions appear dated, especially the photos of the Base camp. This is not a major issue, but still worth noting.
T.
Pretty chill place if you know what I mean. They have some neat exhibits and the penguin enclosure is amazing. Would've given this place five stars if the entrance price wasn't so high. If you're looking to kill some time you can easily spend 3 hours here!
R.
Despite the expensive ticket price, its worth a visit. Plenty to see and learn about the Antartic exploration.
B.
Nice place, but it needs to be updated with new technologies to look modern.
P.
See the blue penguins, try. Snow storm and history of Antarctic explore
V.
Want to have a taste of Antarctic storm, just pay a visit here. You can have lots of interesting activities. The driver of the free shuttle bus also gives you knowledge of the city when he is driving you to and from the Centre!
P.
One of the best places to visit in Christchurch. Very educational and fun! If you're thinking of visiting the Antarctic or just curious, this is the place to go. Loved the 4D theatre, and all the exhibits, including the husky dogs.
J.
Omg LOVE THE GUIDE MARIE (short Asian lady) WAS AWESOME, she made the whole experience great, constantly had us laughing, she needs a pay rise!!!! Will definitely come back to see her, she even gave us a hug. If you go make sure you go on a Thursday/Friday & find Marie, she’ll have you laughing 😂 10/10 will come back on Thursday or Friday to see her
s.
It's a different place compared to usual tourist places. Very well maintained and scheduled. Reach on time to enjoy all features especially the 4d theatre, storm room, haagland ride and penguins
B.
Timetable can be a bit confusing, if you get there early (9 or 10) and speak to the really lovely staff, they will explain the best use of your time and you will get to see the penguins being fed. The cafe there has a nice selection of food and drinks and the shop has some nice souvenirs to buy.
S.
really fun and unique place, 4d movies were cool but short, the penguins were very cute and the haggerlund ride was an experience. huskys outside looked a bit bored but seemed happy enough, and the snow storm experience was kind of a half par wind in a room really expected more but it is a unique attraction would highly recommend it
P.
Really nice exhibition and we loved seeing the blue penguins, love the fact they are only injured ones who have been rescued. The snow storm was good and the the 4d film was alright, my one issue is the price of the entry, why is it so expense? I really don't feel it was value for money, which is a shame as it tarnished the whole experience slightly.
E.
A bit disappointed...Kids had fun but found the tickets expensive compare to the experience...The Hagglund trip is fun though! If we go back we will definitely not pay full price and buy discounted tickets!
G.
Very informative. Heaps of interactive exhibitions. Highlight would have to be the Hägglund ride.
T.
Great place to experience the antarctic environment.
E.
We went there late in the day when we were stranded outside Christchurch after the terror attack and the staff were very friendly and helpful.
They offered an extended stay (past closing hours) for anyone stranded without being able to check in to hotels in the centre of town. Thank you for your consideration and concern!!
The information and experience itself was great and engaging, though the 4D experience was not quite what I was expecting!!
G.
We were a group of 8 people from 4 different countries. We are all sailors interested in adventure and in learning about Antarctica. The Antarctic experience exceeded our expectations with all of the interactive components. The amount of information on scientific research, weather, geology, history, th e international treaty and the living creatures is extensive and well curated. We were pleased to discover that the few penguins were rescue penguins that would not survive if released as opposed to healthy specimens on display like a zoo. Definitely worth the cost of the ticket and the time
J.
Located about a 3 minute drive away from Christchurch Airport, the Antarctic centre features the wildlife and goings-on in Antarctica. The storm experience and huggland ride were pretty cool main attractions. Warm service staff and very informative learning experience
L.
Was a little underwhelming but the penguins were cool to watch being feed. Had a little shop which was a little expensive but not too bad. There's a cage too but I didn't end up using it
D.
While visiting Christchurch please add this place to your list. It's an amazing experience. It's located outside of Christchurch international airport so you can visit during the start or end of your journey.
The ride experience to give us a feel of riding in Antarctica is pretty amazing. If you arrive in morning opening hours you can get a chance to witness penguin feeding. The Huskies are pretty calm and disciplined with the visitors around cuddling or touching them.
M.
Great place to learn about the Antarctic and have fun along the way. The Hagglund ride is a must, there's Penguins, Huskies and more! They also have luggage lockers if you're on your way to the airport, perfect!
M.
It was OK, but nothing spectacular. There were a few exhibits to see, but nothing really popped with excitement. For example, the blizzard was just standing around in the cold for a few minutes, and the penguins were just a small enclosure with a few animals in it. That said, the venue was nice and the staff were friendly, but I wouldn't bother coming out of your way to see it.
B.
Very interesting history of Antarctic exploration. Some videos (3d/4d - experience it). They care for blue penguins that can't be rehab'd for release (and they truly do care). Might be a bit pricey but your money goes to a good cause and, if you plan it right, they have a free shuttle from the Canterbury Museum; then you may walk across the road and into Christchurch Airport when you're done with the Center. They even locked up our luggage while we wandered around. No regrets.
J.
Lots of fun for the family. You can learn a lot about the the Antarctic area, the animals that live there, and how the scientists work and live. They have small penguin placards with info for the kids. You can put on a coat to go on the ice and experience a storm with freezing winds. The kids loved the hands on activities - there were a lot, but my 6 year old was bored in the areas without. The huskies and the haggalund ride were big hits with the kids. The ice cave is a neat inclusion. The movies are good, if you time it right you can see both. A good activity for a rainy day.
V.
This place is a must to visit for some who never experienced winter freeze! also being in Antarctic "tank" was also interesing. The rest is: museum, 3D movie, feeding penguins etc are just ok. The reception staff was not very welcoming, rude, photos expensive
D.
Absolutely loved it here. Penguin feeding is a must see. Kids loved it.
C.
Amazing. Huskies were my highlight. Thanks Joe!
K.
Great kids place anmust say adults to
X.
The centre offers unique experience and is an attraction every visitor must visit. The only thing imperfect is the pricing which has gone up a lot in the recent years (honestly, how many locals who visit once a year or two would like to pay the $149 per family casual price?).
J.
We learned so much! It was a museum we felt invigorated after being there, too. This may be owing to the mix of experiential activities involved! The staff is so upbeat and kind.
J.
Great time had here, especially the 4D cinema and the ride on the hagglund! Few of the displays seemed a bit dated/missing parts but apart from that worth the trip out to experience it!
B.
Its a decent museum with a lot of information and displays, but I felt like we were rushed around.
We had booked the full tour with the 4D theatre and the ride included, but they were all timed to closely that we had to push our way past crowds of people to get to them in time.
P.
"Great place to kill a few hours prior to flying out" will be most people's reason to visit and it is, but so much more as well. It is a great attraction that stands by itself as a place to see whist in town. It just happens to be by an airport as well!
A.
Pretty decent, just be warned that the full course of activities can take up to 3 hours to get through depending on when you arrive. Good for kids, huskies are lovely and the Hagglands are good fun. Exhibits are starting to look a bit dated, unfortunately.
S.
This is a great place for children. However, if you are an adult, In my view, you can just watch any of the numerous documentaries in Antarctica and get most of the information/education you get here. The Haaglund ride is OK but nothing outstanding. The 'antarctic cold room' is also pretty ho hum.
By all means, take children to this place but if older, maybe go do something else 😊
A.
Had a lot of fun with little one
J.
My daughter is still raving about this place and we visited months ago. She did the Husky experience where the kids hook them up to the sled and go for rides. She had the best time and wants to go back. Nice one.
M.
Very nice! Lot to see and to explore! BUT! On the outside of the building is a very small area were you can see and kuddel with husky dogs... the thing is that the dogs are on a 1-2 meter long lean :/ that's not very nice!
J.
Having visited anarctica myself this was quite a pleasant surprise to say the least! A highly accurate simulation of snow storms and a first hand experience in an all terrain vehicle make for an informative yet enjoyable visit.
S.
If you have young kids, join the Ambassador Club... free unlimited entries for a year for $70 and the kids are free. Great thing to do to get the kids out of the house on a grotty day in Christchurch!
y.
The best place for everyone.
There are real penguins and can experience storm in Antarctica.
Also we can watch 4D movie.
It takes about 16 minutes.
Anyway this is the best place to enjoy.
I want to give them more than five stars.
S.
Great way to learn and even experience some facets of life for the teams working in Antarctica. The vast history of the early explorers, interactive exhibits and helpful staff make this a must visit.
C.
Haglund ride is really good fun!
We went when it was half price entry for the Antarctic day.
The gift shop is really good. The range and quality of products is fantastic. Quality t-shirts, postcards, jumpers and soft toys.
Their are a few penguins and feeding times twice a day. 10.30am & 3pm
The 4d cinema experience is good to watch but try to sit near the middle as the edges dosent work for the 3d screen effect. Amelia was nice as handing out the glasses.
There is a car park here and the bus 125 stops right outside the centre.
S.
What an amazing experience :) Passionate tour guides and we loved every minute of it.... Cafe service was a little disappointing as staff were abrupt and very slow and coffee was cold...
The obstacle course was AMAZING and overall had an awesome time.
Thank you
S.
What a wonderful collection of displays of the Antarctic. Allow yourself at least 3 hours.
We enjoyed the rescued blue penguins. They come out at feeding time.
They have lockers outside that easily hold 2 carry-on suitcases and an extra bag or 2.
The restaurant coffee and food are great.
It's located right across the street from the airport, so it's a great way to spend time after you're required to leave your hotel and before you have to report for your flight.
A.
Most Enjoyable , my brother and I went 2 days as the Huskys were off the first day,but we loved the snow storm very cooool and watching the movie about the Antarctic in 4D was very interesting, and the thrill-ride on the Hagglund .Our second day was Awesome we got to pat the Huskys and take photos with them ,a big Thanks to Joe who looks after these beautiful dogs and what a Awesome job you do bro,also to the Wonderful Staff, who a very friendly and helpful and i notice work together as a team, Well done,
If you come to Christchurch for a holiday don't forget to come to the International Antarctic Center and take home some lovely memories.
F.
Nice place to visit. Lovely staff inside and lots of things to learn. Maybe a bit costly, but annual family pass is less expensive than two visits. Recommended
P.
Came to Christchurch on a raining day, I didn't know where to visit, so this place was the best choice because it is indoor.
I made the right decision. A great center to learn about Antarctica. Not just learning, a lot of fun as well.
I love the "feeding the little penguins", antartic storm, 4D movies "Ice Voyage" & "Happy Feet". The others were also good.
This is a right place for families, especially with kids, I bet they will have fun and learn a lot.
There is a cafe and a souvenir shop inside. The car park is free.
The ticket is a little bit pricey!
P.
Interesting, informative and fun. Plenty to see and do. Kids had a great time and the
grown ups found it really interesting, too. Staff were very helpful and accommodating.
A.
So much to see and do. Very interactive from the Wind storm that chills you at -18 degrees to the thrills of the Antarctic vehicle The Hagglund this is a great place for young and old alike. Also highly recommend the 4D movie
P.
Great place to visit. Next best thing thing, short of going to Antarctica. I am very lucky to have a job that takes me to Antarctica for 9 months at a time. The international Antarctic center is a great 2nd. Make sure you experience the wind and cold simulator!
N.
Got to experience - 18 degree wind chill with 40 km of wind (where gusts of wind can go up to 190 km ) saw the little blue penguin feeding. And finally a drive in the artic all purpose carrier on tracks that goes through water and rough terrain. Worth visiting
D.
Great place. Kids loved the storm experience
T.
Great day out ,enjoyed the fact of special price others would not have been possible . The 4D movies lots of fun ,huskys lovely ,the ride in snow trucks worth the experience but quite rough for my age .The kids loved it . Maybe a childrens playground would add to atrraction or inflatable snow world feature .The penguins cool as well.
B.
Great fun, very interactive, especially if you are going with children. It would be easy to spend most of the day here if you did.The Little Blue Penguins are amazing!
T.
An okay distraction for 1/4th of the day. Pretty small with not a ton to see but good info and fun exhibits for kids. It will kill time before a flight if that's what you need.
S.
Love it here the staff knew exactly what they were talking about and were very informative about antartica aswell as the things you can see there like going into the storm room which was made to feel like over there aswell so much fun highly recommended
L.
Enjoyed the Hagglund ride and the 4D penguin film experience, and happy we were there for the penguin feeding. Haven't been here for over 5 years, and was really pleased to find all these extras (and more) are now included in the admission cost.
Z.
Pretty expensive but interesting and fun. The blizzard room is a good experience and the 4D movie was good fun. There are Penguins and plenty of decent reading to be had!
s.
Overpriced entry fees, poorly organized schedule of events happening throughout the day, poor customer service, cute penguins though.
S.
Great fun for the family. Really liked the Hägglund ride... totally unexpected thrills! A tad expensive for the family but actually pretty good value. Something for everyone!
K.
A wealth of different experiences that is sure to appeal to everyone. From the adrenaline of the Haggland rides and the storm simulator to the cuteness of the Blue Penguins and the Husky petting I was blown away by how great the quality of our experience at the Center was. And its location near the airport was really convenient for a last minute adventure before our flight out of Christchurch.
D.
So impressed. We are traveling through the South Island with our Nissan mini bus and the check engine light came on on Sunday. Monday morning it was off, but we still took it in to make sure. We were in and out in 5 minutes- everything was okay. Super honest and kind. We were so grateful to them. Highly recommend them
G.
We really enjoyed our time here. Huskies were so lovely and the ride on the haggland was so much fun. Need at least 3 hours to experience it all.
N.
This place is amazing! A great set up, provides interesting history in novel ways. Getting to pat the beautiful huskies is an added bonus. Very well worth a visit.
D.
Awesome experience...loved the ride on the Hagglund all terrain carrier and the storm dome in particular. Such an amazing experience with the penguins and just an all-round educational experience...loved it!!
I.
Awesome awesome awesome! Had a blast, couldn't reccommend enough. You get to ride in their all terrain vehicles over an obstacle course included with entry and is so much fun!
C.
Its a great place to visit and has so many historical facts and information plus data right through to now. My problem with it is that it is very expensive and also the gift shop is selling things at exorbitant prices. Not a place an average Kiwi can afford to go to.
A.
I would recommend a visit, they have a lot of interactive displays and videos, as well as the penguin enclosure and the ice room (don't worry, if it all gets a bit much when the "Antarctic storm" blows up, you can just leave!) Tickets are fairly pricey but they do include a ride in the Hagglund, which is AWESOME
K.
Great family activity.
P.
Come if you have a curious nature. there's things to do and see but it's not a theme park as much as an interactive museum. The staff are great and the haglund ride and snow storm sim are a bit of fun. I did she see the penguins show but even without it was worth the money. I wouldn't like to stay longer but had a tight schedule.
T.
What a great place to spend a few hours, yes I did say a few hours because that's what it will take for you to see and do everything.
You can get there from the Bus Interchange by taking either the Purple Line bus or the Route 29 Bus to the Airport and the exhibition is just a short walk around the corner.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
B.
A must see. Backstage penguin pass is totally worth the extra. There's so much here!
L.
Loved this place. Had a great time. Awesome for families and individuals.
s.
Great fun for the whole family
F.
A fun and educating place. The Blizzard experience is really cool and of course the Häglund drive is also a thing you need to try. And they have also a Great Bistro inside where you can get a descent coffee or something to eat.
M.
I brought a group to the International Antarctic Centre in May 2019. The staff was very easy to work with in the planning stages, with prompt email replies and a group discount offered. Once we arrived, they quickly structured our visit with specific times for various viewings (observing the penguin feeding, the 4-D movie showing, the simulated winter storm, etc.) in a logical way that ensured everyone saw everything they could. The group loved the visit and talked about it for days. No trip to Chch is complete without a visit to the IAC.
R.
Love it! Enjoy the educational penguin feeding session, exhilarating huggland ride, pat a husky and thrilling Antartic storm in sub zero degrees. Go early so you have time to cover everything. Staff were very friendly and accomodative.
L.
Experience Antarctic. Storm, cold, scenes, 4D worth seeing.
Close to the Airport. Got there early and then proceeded to check in for our flight. Left luggage in car but they have lockers. Don't miss the ride!
W.
Wonderful way to learn about the work and also a wind machine its freezing!
A overload of stuff to learn about plus a shop and a Antarctic truck thing to ride in awesome!!! Highly recommended!!!!
B.
Amazing place with interesting exhibitions
If you visit it you will experience the feeling for the Antarctica 🇦🇶 The 4D cinema is a little bit weak but the Ice storm is absolutely incredible. The antarctic cruisers are super fun and amazing to drive around with.
The Antarctic Discovery Center is close to the airport so you can visit it before your flight They also have huskies. What else could you want
P.
Quite a good range of food, reasonable price considering the location.
S.
Great for locals and tourists. Needs additional attraction to keep it interesting. My first was 2010 and nothing has changed since then in 6 years. Last visited July 2016. Maintained but no improvement. .. needs more creative thinking
I.
Antarctic storm is a must-try. Hägglund Field Trip is fun as you can ride on a all-terrain amphibious Antarctic vehicle. Friendly staff. Close to airport, could be good to visit before flying-out.
t.
It is a surprisingly nice and interesting place to go and spent that 2-3 hours. To see some penguin, feel the ice cold antarctica breeze, get that terrain amphibious ride and if it is raining, this is a good indoor place to spend time
C.
The International Antarctic Centre is is excellent. You can ride in an Over-snow vehicle, see and pat Husky dogs ,get up close to Little Blue Penguins ,see films about the Antarctic and get to experience what it is like in a Blizzard. We recommend a visit to this place.
I.
I went with my school and it was really fun! we went and learnt about all the different types of penguins, got to see them swim and their eggs! we also went into the 4D thearte, that was really fun! oh and we also go to play with their huskies. :)
M.
The International Antarctic Centre is an interactive museum that offers visitors some great insight into our world’s iciest and most remote continent. It is located at the International Airport, not too far from the main departure point for many international and local science expeditions to Antarctica. Popular attractions include an indoor Antarctic Storm simulation room, Hägglund vehicle rides and the resident little blue penguins.
K.
My best experience in Christchurch came here. A very friendly and helpful staff especially the person who took us around the track. The simulated snowstorm was an incredible experience for me especially as coming from southern India I have never experienced temperatures below 23 degrees. Although I got a cold after it, it's a memory I'll cherish forever. The Penguins were an added bonus 😁
L.
This is a great place to visit! It has a Snow Cat Ride, a Deep Freeze Room, a Great 4D projection film, really fantastic! Got to do this!!
C.
A good place to learn more about Antarctic. Very very close to the airport! What moved me the most is that all their penguins are handicapped ones rescued from the wild who cannot live independently. They try best to treat them & take care of them.
E.
Awesome ride on the haguland and great information on climate change. I enjoyed the penguins and 4d theater ride on an ice breaker ship.
Staff very helpful and friendly 😊
J.
The International Antarctic Centre is is excellent. You can ride in an Over-snow vehicle, see and pat Husky dogs ,get up close to Little Blue Penguins ,see films about the Antarctic and get to experience what it is like in a Blizzard. We recommend a visit to this place.
a.
Everything is perfect! Except the Korean photographer there. I would give the place five stars but no star goes to the photographer. She is very rude! As a part of the tour, there is an opportunity for us to have a photo shoot which was taken by the professional photographer there. But we thought we would skip this part as we don’t really want to take the photo. So I kindly said to the Korean photographer “we are good, thank you.” And she just rolled her eyes over and walked away. We felt completely disrespected!totally ruined our day
N.
Good place to see some Huskys and to ride one of the Antarctic vehicles. The freezing room is cool too and you can have a look at some Pinguins but is just to expenisve ... You have to pay 60 Dollars and thats just to much.
C.
This place was great and conveniently located near the airport so great to visit if you have time to kill before your flight. They recommend 2.5-3hrs but we thought you could easily spend at least half a day here!
k.
Good fun, pls take 3 hrs or more to read and do it peacefully. Did a short 1.5hr trip, key highlights the blizzard room, penguin feeding and hugglund ride. Timed it well.
C.
Very interesting place to visit.
N.
Have you got a flight, or a friend who's got a flight coming up? Or maybe just an interest in Antarctica? This place is worth the visit. Huskies, a storm simulator which puts you in -20 C, and penguins. You'll love it. Great place for the sketchbook and watercolors.
R.
I love all things Antarctica based and not surprisingly I really enjoyed this.
I didn't realise until I arrived there that it is also main base for Italian and American Antarctica exhibitions so it's very much a working area as well. There is a mock windstorm which is cool. A lot about how Antarctica developed and of course the famous expeditions in its history.
I also really enjoyed bit where you got to spin earth round the sun and get a really good idea of why the seasons are what they are. Of course I knew the reasons but so much easier when you can see it.
If going definitely get the online discount in advance.
J.
I'd already heard it was overpriced and read some negative reviews, so overall the centre was probably better than expected. Hagglund ride was the best part even despite being a bit disorganised and with a grumpy driver. Some interesting displays and we spent most of the day there, make sure you use a voucher/offer though!
R.
Cute. Great for kids. Didn't have much time so saw backstage penguins and got to pay the huskies! Loved them! The staff was friendly too. 😁
C.
Excellent for all ages and abilities, affordable and great coffee.
J.
Awesome Place! Very factual and many fun attractions for the family. If you haven't been and you have 2-3 hours, great place to go.
N.
Quite an expensive day out for a family of four and once you've seen everything once there's not much reason to go back for a second visit
S.
Had an awesome work function there in 2018, met the husky dogs, went on the Hagglund Ride, 4D Movie, and in the ice room. Great service and delicious food.
B.
Fun day - especially for a rainy day! The cafe is really good too.
M.
Good place to visit with family for half-day tour. Penguin feeding and riding in Hägglund was really good fun. Bit expensive and 4D movie was only about splashing the face. :)
A.
They have penguins and you can ride on the hagglund that they use sometimes in Antarctica.
M.
It has many interesting features. I enjoyed most of all the Hagglund. The snow storm simulation is neat. Although very tourist oriented, as you'd expect.
V.
Worth going there once....Ride was good
E.
Choose the right time to go as got to see penguin feeding, went in the storm room but sadly didn't feel as cold as I had imagined, felt like waiting outside to go into a room but overall was pretty fun and the staff were helpful.
S.
Heaps of fun for the family. The kids haven't stopped talking about the huskies and the tank ride. The only reason it's not a 5 star is the price, but ti's still well worth it.
A.
Was great to see a wonderful center which was aimed at a wide sector of the community. Both the adults and the children enjoyed the visit. As locals I would certainly recommend this place to other visitors.
S.
A fantastic experience, really well put together and maintained, and the staff have a real passion for what they do.
Definitely get the hagglund ride if you can, and go and pet the Huskys and see the penguins being fed.
C.
3.5 stars. We liked this place but it was also a little disappointing but it's difficult to put a finger on why. Sorry this isn't too helpful but we just felt we didn't get our monies worth.The storm room and the off road vehicle experience were brilliant. The 4d shows however weren't great and the rest seems like an outdated museum.
T.
My highlight was listening to a lovely lady who is blue penguin carer. her way of presenting the information is absolutely superb. She is so knowledgeable, funny and is obviously very passionate about what she does. Thank you!
A.
Very informative and fun. The exhibits have a lot of good narration and exposition. Plus it's just a good time
R.
Great afternoon activity in Christchurch before your flight out. The centre was very informative and fun - even for us two adults. However, it would be great for kids as well. Definitely time it to watch the penguin feeding.
S.
Great fun, lots to see and do here. The highlights are the storm room that gets down to -18c and the haglund ride. Well worth a visit if you are in Christchurch
S.
I loved it... place was amazing and the staff were incredibly informative and knew so much that I have never heard from any other zoo or aquarium in any other country I've been to.
The thrill ride is ok except it's incredibly bumpy and personally wouldn't recommend it.
The people at the cafe are horrible. The guy that was standing at the counter rudely called me over. I asked if they had soy milk (because I'm lactose intolerant) and he said they did so I continued to order an iced coffee with soy milk and just to take the ice cream and stuff out of it. (Which is what I normally have to do) He looked at me and said "No I can't". So I continued to ask why not and he just told me that it wouldn't be an iced coffee. Like the coffee and milk makes it an iced coffee not the ice cream???
s.
I loved the 4-D movie and the Antarctic Experience! And the penguins!
P.
It might not look large at the first sight but we've spent 3 hours inside with no problem. The ride was very entertaining and our young one had eyes wide open in a mixture of excitement and fear. A great start to our first visit to Christchurch.
P.
They only had the blue penguins which was a bummer as we expected more species.
Their 'Huggland' vehicle ride with tank treads was really fun as it rode over the hills, tyres and water in an obstacle course. We had initially thought that it was to enter into an actual artic penguin enclosure but the turnout wasn't too bad but you can only ride it once.
They have 4D movie theaters that showed 2 different kinds of film which was fun and perfect for family's.
They had a lot of information here and there explaining what it's like in the artic, what's in a plane that goes to the artic and even a documentary in a little enclosed area showcasing the artic.
K.
Great ride in the snow tractor. Winter storm really cool
S.
Antarctic storm and 4D movies are good.
Penguins are off colour. Good place to spend 3-4 hours here. Is very near to the Christchurch airport. Price is a bit too high. Cafe is present onsite but with minimal food variety. Many informative charts and props are present giving information about Antarctica.
C.
Great fun! Family-friendly and educational. Check penguin feeding times in advance so you don't miss out.
R.
awesome for growing up children
R.
The centre is set up for family entertainment with detailed information on the antarctic being a little bit of a secondary matter. In my view the entry price is a little high with respect to the activities present and I suspect the cost of the experience in the antarctic vehicle is a significant contribution to this. There are sufficient activities to keep children entertained for 3-4 hours minimum. The free bus service from the Christchurch museum is useful but it is a pity the last bus back into Chistchurch is at 1600 when the centre closes at 1730. There is a bus service available nearby to return after 1600 for $4.
T.
This was an amazing place to go and visit with lots to learn about the Antarctic and the countries involved with operations there there is also penguins which are really sweet, a storm simulation which is really good. Would highly recommend a visit if you get the opportunity!
W.
The Antarctic Museum is one of the best and most enjoyable museums in the world. From a wind chill simulator to playing with rescue huskies to riding an all-terrain vehicle to seeing sleeping penguins to finally, a 4D immersive theater, this museum is a must- do in Christchurch.
M.
Very interesting center. We were only upset to find out that huskies are there all day, on 1m rope and the rest of the day in kennels, think not really good for them, quite torture.
D.
We went there with my nephew who is 4 years and had a really good time. It’s not cheap for adults.. but it’s one of things to do in Christchurch if you have kids
R.
Loved the penguin feeding. The keeper did a great job with her narration. Very interesting and entertaining. The Hagglund ride is good fun.
J.
Throughly enjoyed our visit. Great staff and very well run and very interesting place.
M.
Nice day for the family, get a great family price of Grab-one. Been there twice and the second time was the best. They changed it up lot. Really recommend it.
B.
Very informative. They’ve incorporated a lot of different aspects to keep younger people entertained but not set them up particularly well IMO....lots of waiting and queues. Staff are friendly. Overpriced.
J.
Great place to visit. We almost decided against it due to a busy day planned, boy were we definitely glad we came here. The artic room alone was worth the experience.
A.
I expected and next time wish to see bigger pinguins, sronger storm, more than 1 ride and more activities. I feel sad for the pinguins as they were in a corner as far away from people as they could get. Please give the pinguins some space!!!
Overall it was a cool experience
Enjoyed it : )
S.
Expensive but good range of interactive exhibits. One lady at front desk was particularly abrupt and aloof. She needs to work on her people skills when dealing with the public
S.
This is a really good museum, loads of cool stuff to look at and experience, well worth the visit, expect to spend at least 4 hours +. good for all ages.
A.
Great trip! The Hagglund ride was fun and the exhibits, 3d movies and the storm room were well done and informative.
M.
Good but a little bit disappointing. Expensive for family visit. Some fun experiences. I thought they would have Antarctic penguins, not just common little Blues
M.
Great place to take the kids and definitely worth a visit. A bit expensive though so I would say this is a worthwhile once off experience especially if you are into things Antarctic but probably not something you would do twice.
T.
Surprisingly good, loved the riding in the snow tractor, seeing the dogs, the penguins and the Antarctic simulator getting cold! Didny really do any of the regular museum exhibits but that's ok
M.
I visited this place three times and enjoyed all of them.
It is close to the airport.
You can see the penguins eat, experience 4D show and ride the Haaglund.
Definitely worth your money.
P.
Mainly designed to educate kids about Antarctic and it's wildlife. Some interesting stuff for adults too including a ride in a tracked vehicle (Heggulund ?) and experiencing an Antarctic Blizzard.
S.
Really Cool place, very interactive, worth a visit on a rainy day, the cafe at the end needs some improvement on it's food side. Heating up pies etc just not right...
E.
Very cool. Definitely try out the -18 degrees Celsius room and go see the penguins! The supporting materials and videos are engaging and informative too.
T.
First off, it's a bit pricier than my husband and I thought it should be, but that said, we thoroughly enjoyed the center. To be honest, the Haglund ride was THE best part after the penguins. You get bounced around A LOT (and hard), so if you have any physical issues, do not take this ride.
The center itself was interesting and informative, but does not take long to go through unless you spend a bunch of time staring at the penguins. It is a one time venture, not something you would do every time you visit ChCh.
S.
Awesome venue, intersting attractions, huskies, what more could you want.
M.
Nicely made with good ideas throughout but the best is the ride in the end. Don't miss it! The Antarctic storm was quite weak in my opinion, but check it out yourself.
J.
A story fun day with awesome activities. A little dated but reasonably priced - a must do if you have some spare time and love penguins !!
R.
Helpful friendly staff. Today we were there to search for the Penguins but were treated to a visit with yhe Huskies as well. 🐾🐾👍
J.
Great day out with the kids. Lots of hands on activities for the kids. Cafe was well priced with great tasty pies and milk shakes.
E.
Tons of interactive exhibits/experiences: you can ride a Hägglund over an obstacle course, pet Siberian huskies, "experience" an Antarctic windstorm, sit through one of those 4D cinematic experiences with the moving seats and sprays of water/wind, and watch little penguins get fed.
I.
Fascinating place. Really interesting and well thought out displays. Excellent. Good couple of hours well spent. Free bus from outside the museum helps too.