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Shopping

J. Ballantyne & Co

A department store with welcoming service and quality merchandise is what Ballantyne prides itself on. With several locations across the city, this department store is one of the biggest in terms of assortment and size. For anything hat you need from house hold everyday items to personal hygiene and beauty products, this store is a convenient and affordable place to shop.

City guide

Overview & visitor information

J. Ballantyne & Co

A department store with welcoming service and quality merchandise is what Ballantyne prides itself on. With several locations across the city, this department store is one of the biggest in terms of assortment and size. For anything hat you need from house hold everyday items to personal hygiene and beauty products, this store is a convenient and affordable place to shop.

Location: 130 Cashel Street, Christchurch 8011 Phone: (03) 379 7400

More shopping spots in Christchurch

Keep exploring Christchurch.

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Vault

Market

Fulfilling a promise to preserve New Zealand’s heritage, culture and historic past, the Vault has a fine collection of handmade New Zealand handicrafts, unique gifts and decorative home ware. The wooden interior filled with yellow lights compliments the shop and is inviting to the passersby. Indulge in a few high priced delicacies to cherish your New Zealand vacation for years to come.

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Riccarton Rotary Market

Market

Experience the hustle bustle in New Zealand’s largest outdoor market organized on every Sunday of the month. From 9am to 2pm, over 300 vendors set up stalls in the Riccarton Park and sell their best produce of the week. From fresh fruits and vegetables to low priced clothing and accessories to second hand appliances, you name it and the market has it. Not only do shoppers make purchases, they laze around in the park and join friends and family for lunches and snacks at the market.

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Regency Duty-Free Shop

Market

Regency Duty free has the biggest range of duty free products at the Christchurch airport and other city stores through out the city. Hundreds of duty free products are on display including alcohol, collectable cigarettes and other souvenirs that travelers pack up to take home. Antiques, building monuments and the handicrafts of Christchurch are the most valuable souvenirs to gather from the Garden City.

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Wild Places

Another of the finest gift shops in town, Wild Places is full of New Zealand delights like handicrafts, kites, handmade toys and books. The gifts are moderately priced for all tourists to take their picks, however some specialty items may have a heavy price tag attached. Buy for friends and family back home to give a memorable finish to your holiday.

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Untouched World

Modest dress

A classy and upbeat apparel store, the Untouched World is full of glamour and stylish clothes especially top of the line woolen and sports gear. The outlet prides itself for being a green organization and one that believes in sustainable development. The philosophy of being fashionable without harming the planet is depicted in the high quality clothing and the awards and recognitions that the store has won over the years.

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Wild South Adventure Clothing

Modest dress

The Wild South Clothing culture is hard to go unnoticed. Raw fashion and wild beauty are the pillars that the store stands on and the collection of clothing lines are proof enough for this philosophy. Dedicated to developing clothes that best suit the New Zealanders, Wild South is a much wanted apparel king in the country and offers stylish and fashionable clothes for the hip crowd. A good place to buy expensive but quality clothing.

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Map World

A haven for travelers and adventurous people, the Map World is full of accessories and necessities that travelers should have to find their way across New Zealand and Christchurch. At this high end store you will find everything from binoculars, compasses, sports watches and rental equipment to all kinds of high tech regular and digital maps. With the high tourist influx in the country, the Map World is an asset for backpackers who wish to explore the city on their terms.

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Decodence

Market

Decodence is an art deco shop on High Street in Christchurch. Most of the visitors here either have a special interest in art and decorative items or just enter the shop for the sake of exploring. Either way, decadence doesn’t fail to impress the shopper. With dozens and dozens of artifacts displayed in the shop, anyone with doubts for New Zealand’s creativity is hit in the face. From vases, clocks and pottery items to painted jewelry boxes, all is showcased at Decodence.

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Inform (National) Jewelry

Modest dress

One of the leading jewelry designers in Christchurch, Koji Miyazaki, runs this lavish store on High Street. The contemporary jewelry available here is tasteful, unique and has the most stylish cuts and designs in all of New Zealand. Inform carries the credibility of its owner who has held various displays in the Art Center as well to promote the country’s image as a fashion hub. Visit the store to take in the posh aura and fame of the designer. Location: 158 High Street Phone: 03/366-3893

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W. Holliday & Sons

No other New Zealander has better knowledge of antiquity and vintage histories than Barry Holliday, running a grandfathered business of Edwardian and Victorian furniture. Barry himself has mastered the art of antique style and design with his extensive European tours and his arts education. Therefore, one step in the Holliday’s shop and you find exquisite pieces of furniture that Barry has handpicked throughout his multiple cultural tours abroad.

More places in Christchurch

Keep exploring Christchurch.

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Yaldhurst Museum

Museum

Alfred Thornhill Cooper and Marion Cooper are to be credited for this amazing collection of vintage cars in the Yaldhurst Museum. Opened on 26th December 1968, the museum has a collection 400 cars ranging from passenger to school buses to the rare models that had not more than 5 units manufactured! If you are an automobile fanatic, the Yaldhurst Museum will be your favorite attraction in all of Christchurch. Currently it is run by Grant Cooper, great grandson of the founder and is established in an 1876 colonial homestead.

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Arts gallery

Gallery

Opened in 2003, the Arts Gallery is a dominant NZ$ 47 building that has set standards for all others in the South Island. Eluding an aesthetic charm, the exterior complements the various high quality art displays inside that range from early European work to the contemporary video work done by New Zealanders. The gallery holds some of the best and larger than life paintings of New Zealand’s renowned artists and has a lot to hold the viewers attention with colors, textures and bold strokes.

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Arts Center

Building

A gothic stone building, Arts gallery is a show ground for a number of subjects operational in Christchurch such as the crafts market, the produce market and daily exhibitions from over 40 artists in various outlets. The center is famous for quality handicrafts, leather and wood goods and a visit to Ernest Rutherford's den is rated high on the interesting things to do in the Arts Center. Admission is free for all.

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Botanic Gardens

Garden

With the planting of an English oak tree in 1863, this Botanic Garden was given shape in New Zealand. Today it holds one of the most exotic and rare collection of plant species from within the country as well as abroad. Just the thought of 30 hectare of greenery circled by the Avon River is pleasing and one wants spend a good amount of time exploring this place full of the country’s botanic history. The highlights of the garden are the 120 years old trees that represent one of the sacred horticultural sites of the world. Together with the Hagley Park, New Zealand holds the key to the world second largest inner city park that is one of the most visited as well.

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Canterbury Museum

Museum

A thorough exploration of the Canterbury Museum is a must. With elaborate sections dedicated to the displays of Maori, Antarctic, Colonial and Natural history sections, the museum is an attraction to kids as well as adults and offers very interesting material to look at from vintage cars to historic personalities to the entire iced world of the Antarctic. Timing: Winter times: 9am to 5pm & Summer times: 9am to 5 30pm. Location: Rolleston Avenue Phone: 03/366-5000

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Southern Encounter Aquarium & Kiwi House

House

Formerly known as the Aquarium of Discovery, the Southern Encounter Aquarium is a walk through of tanks of aquarium with rare fishes and sea creatures. Documentaries and films are aired for viewers to educate them about sea and bird life. The attraction offers various things to do including watching feeding time at the aquarium, see fly-tying demonstrations, getting your hands wet in touch tank and observation of nocturnal brown kiwis.

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International Antarctic Centre

Town

Experience the Antarctic way of life in Christchurch at the International Antarctic center. Fulfill your dream of getting on a snow mobile and racing across snow land here at the center which is fully acclimatized to the polar weather conditions. Inside you will find penguins, leopard seals, snow caves and a depiction of how life is at the Antarctic. The 4D cinema will take you on a thrilling icy adventure of one of its kind. The Antarctic Hagglund Ride is a new addition which gives a 15minutes tour of the place and is very famous with children.

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Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

Park

The most extensive collection of kiwi birds is found at the Willowbank reserve in Christchurch. On a much smaller scale than the Onara, the Williowbank breeds most of the local animal population of the country especially kiwis. Extended tours for kiwi life and breeding are arranged for tourists who are allowed to play, feed and pet the birds as well. Multiple school programs and skits are also arranged to depict the cultural practices of the Maori tribe.

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Christchurch Cathedral

Churches

This most prominent landmark of Christchurch was completed in 1904 into a dominating grey stone building with a magnificent clock tower. The cathedral holds great historic significance for the city which is visible in its intricate architecture and the creative art work done inside its wall. Tourists find the cathedral a site of major attraction and most of them attend the daily services arranged here. Because of this importance the area around the building is called the Cathedral Square and serves as a starting point for many tours. Location: Cathedral Square Phone: +64 3 366 0046

More restaurants in Christchurch

Keep exploring Christchurch.

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Canterbury Tales

Canterbury Tales is known to serve its diners with the best of everything. From pleasant atmospheres to great food and award winning edible pieces of art, the restaurant is a model of perfection from every angle. With a meal for over NZ$ 50, diners get an opportunity to try various blends of spices on the ever changing menu and to taste the best of New Zealand from the best providers.

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Pedro’s

Tastefully decorated on traditional Spanish crockery are New Zealand’s most divine Spanish dishes prepared under the watchful eye of Pedro Carazo. For 30 years, Pedro has maintained his restaurant as a comfortable retreat for diners who enjoy the chatter in the air and the delicious food together with the owner’s hospitality. Sea food is the specialty here topped with lots of seasonings and garlic.

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Pescatore

An attentive service, an ambient place and a superb menu are what Pescatore prides itself on to attract valuable customers who are regulars at the restaurant. Pescatore offers a 10 course menu with the most elaborate food settings and tastes unmatchable in all of Christchurch along with an expensive wine lists.

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Rotherams

Let yourself be spoiled by the most hospitable service, tasteful food and a very impressive wine list, all from the gifted chef and owner of Rotherams. Visited by most locals on very special occasions, this gem of a restaurant offers nothing second best from its well selected ingredients to the artful presentation of its meals and the memorably romantic time diners spend here.

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Bodhi Tree

The only Burmese restaurant in all of New Zealand, Bodhi Tree creates quite a stir in the locals and tourists for its spicy and unique dishes that are seasoned with exotic herbs bound to tingle your taste buds. Meals are served in small servings that ooze specialty and dare you to order more and more. Because of its demand, there is always a crowd waiting to be seated at the Bodhi Tree so remember to make reservations to enjoy these traditions from Burma.

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Flying Burrito Brothers

The spiciest food in all of Christchurch with the biggest selection of tequila in all of New Zealand is housed inside this small den. Mexican herbs and spices are generously used in the meals that will quite certainly make one ooze out smoke! Though the interior is too extravagant, Flying Burrito Brothers has a very loyal clientele that stops by every now and then for a drink and a hot spicy meal on an adventurous day. Main course meals may go up to NZ$40.

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JDV

Taste a fine blend of New Zealand’s specialties at the JDV where the chef is notoriously known for his favorite spice and herb blends. Be ready to be surprised by the unexpected flavor mixes that taste all too good to be true. The aura here is as eccentric as the chef’s combinations but the place will welcome you warmly and ensure that you have a good time.

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Portofino

A savvy mix of excellent service, reasonable good quality food and presentable staff, Portofino has a huge client base that is ever hungry for its tasty Italian servings. With an established restaurant in Auckland, Portofino has been much awaited in Christchurch by locals because from an extravagant wine display to good interior, the restaurant oozes class and warrants a perfect dinner on a table of two.

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Simo's

Simo’s Moroccan born chef, Mohammad Abbari, has his own way of making diners enjoy their food, ‘savored slowly and with immense pleasure’ he puts in. The rich dishes served at Simo’s are worth the time to be savored slowly so that one feels the melting of all herbs and spices for the chef’s creativity to unravel. Pick a free day to visit Simo’s and make an event out of your dinner time

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Tutto Benne

A new eatery by an established chain, the Tutto Benne has an elaborate menu of pizzas, pastas, risottos and traditional favorites of Italian lovers. Located in the heart of Merivale, the restaurant is small but extends great service and value meals for NZ$ 20. Try one of the 15 types of pizzas or the mouth watering veal and end your meal with some delicious tiramisu to top off the evening.