10 Indoor Activities for Young Adults in Christchurch
Craig Mackinlay
| Last Updated: December 2022 - Go to the Canterbury Museum.
- Get competitive at Timezone Riccarton.
- Enjoy a trip to NZ Museum of Toys and Collectibles.
- Have fun at Zone Bowling.
- Watch a bunch of movies at Hoyts EntX.
- Soak up some art and culture at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū.
- Enjoy indoor rock climbing at Clip ‘n Climb.
- Play and jump at Mega Air Trampoline Arena.
- Show your creative side at Paint ‘n’ Sip.
- Enjoy indoor golf at X-Golf.
If you’re searching for the best indoor activities you can enjoy in Christchurch, look no further. In this article, we listed down fun activities you can do when the weather’s not ideal for outdoor adventures.
We also listed down important information for each activity so everything you need to know is in one place. Let’s get down to it!
1. Go to the Canterbury Museum.
Image from New Zealand
| WEBSITE | https://www.canterburymuseum.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 11 Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 3 366 5000 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday-Sunday (9 AM-5PM) |
| COST | FREE but donations are appreciated |
If you’re feeling bored and on the lookout for fun activities you can do indoors, the Canterbury Museum is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon or two. You’ll be engaged by the various exhibits and natural and human history collections they have.
Some ongoing exhibitions are the following:
- Quake City
- Christchurch Street
- Early European
- Fred and Myrtle’s Paua Shell House
- Iwi Tawhito – whenua hou
- Mountfort Gallery
- Ngā Taonga tuku iho o Ngā Tūpuna
- Victorian Museum
Aside from the different exhibitions, you can also relax at the in-house cafe and have a bite to eat. They also have a Museum Store where you can buy trinkets and souvenirs.
So set your alarm clocks so you’ll get there early. There are so many things to see there so make the most of the day.
2. Get competitive at Timezone Riccarton.
| WEBSITE | https://www.timezonegames.com/en-nz/locations/timezone-riccarton?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb-location |
| ADDRESS | Rotherham Street, Riccarton, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 3 668 1242 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Sunday -9AM–10PM Monday -9AM–10PM Tuesday -9AM–10PM Wednesday- 9AM–10PM Thursday- 9AM–11PM Friday- 9AM–11PM Saturday- 9AM–11PM |
| COST | Arcade Credit – Load any amount into the card Time Play 30 minutes – $20 60 minutes- $26 Extra time play – $10/ 30 minutes |
If you’re looking for a fun time that won’t break the bank, you can hit the arcade with your friends and family. They have so many options to choose from, so it’s a great place to spend a rainy afternoon.
They have different arcade games like NBA Hoops. Tekken 6, Air Hockey FX, Mario Kart, The Walking Dead, and so many more. They also offer bowling, laser tag, bumper cars, and glow golf.
You can opt for either arcade credit where you can load any amount into your card or you can also go for timed play where you have to pay a set amount for 30 or 60 minutes.
Timezone is also a great place to host birthday parties, corporate events, and other special occasions.
3. Enjoy a trip to NZ Museum of Toys and Collectibles.
Image from New Zealand
| WEBSITE | http://www.nzmuseumoftoys.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 36 Manchester Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 3 366 7785 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday-Saturday (9AM-5PM); Sunday (10AM-4PM) |
| COST | Adult- $15 Child (15 and under) – $5 Student (with ID) / Senior – $10 |
Get the chance to see a wide range of toys, old and new, and countless memorabilia at the NZ Museum of Toys and Collectibles. This museum will delight little ones and evoke nostalgia for the older folks.
The museum is a display of years of collecting and acquisition of a broad range of toys like Harry Potter, Star Wars, Matchbox, Hot Wheels, Tonka, Lego, V8 Supercars, Tonka, Coke memorabilia, military dioramas, and different kinds of dolls and stuffed toys.
4. Have fun at Zone Bowling.
| WEBSITE | https://www.zonebowling.com/en-nz/venues/christchurch/zone-bowling-garden-city?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb-location |
| ADDRESS | 15-21 Iversen Terrace, Waltham, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 3 668 3267 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday 10AM–10PM Tuesday 10AM–10PM Wednesday 10AM–10PM Thursday 10AM–11PM Friday 10AM–12AM Saturday 9AM–12AM Sunday 9AM–10PM |
| COST | Adults- $16.90 per person per game Kids- $14.50 Fun deals here |
Get competitive and enjoy a few rounds at Zone Bowling. They have 18 ten pin bowling lanes that you can use.
We like the vibrant atmosphere here, it makes playing so much more fun. Plus, if you’re looking for some friendly competition or just want to meet friends who also love bowling, they have bowling leagues here that you can join.
You can sign up here. Pretty neat, right?
At the same time, they also have a Timezone arcade, laser tag, and places to buy food and drinks when you get hungry and thirsty!
They also can host birthday parties and corporate functions if you need it. They’re a great all-around place for fun and adventure that’s indoors.
5. Watch a bunch of movies at Hoyts EntX.
| WEBSITE | https://www.hoyts.co.nz/cinemas/entx-christchurch |
| ADDRESS | 617 Colombo Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 3 742 7140 |
| COST | Depends on the movie |
You can never go wrong with a good old fashioned movie marathon. At Hoyts EntX, you’ll enjoy surround sound technology, plush armchair seats, and a nice food court.
You can check out the film schedules here. Booking the tickets is also a very intuitive process.
It’s a great cinema to just kick back, relax, and enjoy the newest films in the industry.
Note: If you want to recreate the cinema experience at home, here are some articles that might help:
6. Soak up some art and culture at Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū.
| WEBSITE | https://christchurchartgallery.org.nz/ |
| ADDRESS | 312 Montreal Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 3 941 7300 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday-Sunday (10AM-5PM) |
| COST | FREE |
Another great place to go to in Christchurch is the public art gallery. It has a substantial collection of art and different exhibitions worth checking out.
Not only is this fun, but it is also educational to go here. You and your friends will have loads to talk about, for sure.
Some exhibitions they have currently include the following:
- Perilous: Unheard Stories from the Collection
- Brett Graham: Tai Moana Tai Tangata
- Barbara Tuck: Delirium Crossing
- James Oram: By Spectral Hands
The good thing is that they constantly change the exhibitions offered so there’s always something new to see.
7. Enjoy indoor rock climbing at Clip ‘n Climb.
| WEBSITE | https://ymcachch.org.nz/clipnclimb/ |
| ADDRESS | 239 Waltham Road, Sydenham, Christchurch 8023, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 3 377 3000 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday Closed Tuesday Closed Wednesday 5–6PM Thursday 5–6PM Friday 5–6PM Saturday 10AM–5PM Sunday 10AM–5PM |
| COST | Adult (+18 years)- $21 Tertiary Student (with ID)- $20 School Students (5 -17 years)- $18 Pre-schoolers (1- 4 years) – $15 |
If you like indoor climbing or want to try it for the first time, Clip ‘n Climb is one of the best places to do so. It’s really popular with families, schools, youth groups, sports teams, and other groups.
They have 38 different climbs to choose from. They also have automatic belay devices on every climb that you just need to clip onto your harness.
When you’re done, you just have to let go and let it gently lower you back on the ground. It’s safe, simple, and easy.
All sessions start on the hour with a 15-minute preparation period for getting on harnesses and going through the safety briefing. You then get 45 minutes of climbing time.
Adrenaline junkies should definitely try the Vertical Drop and Leap of Faith. Ask them if these are available when you go.
Don’t forget to wear comfy and loose clothing as well as closed shoes when climbing for best results.
By the way, you can check out other climbing centers in Christchurch in this article.
8. Play and jump at Mega Air Trampoline Arena.
Image from Book Me
| WEBSITE | https://www.megaair.co.nz/ |
| ADDRESS | 106A Carmen Road, Hei Hei, Christchurch 8042, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 3 344 2446 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday 10AM–6PM Tuesday 10AM–6PM Wednesday 10AM–6PM Thursday 10AM–9PM Friday 10AM–7PM Saturday 10AM–6PM Sunday 10AM–6PM |
| COST | $10 for 1 hour |
If you’re looking for an activity that’s active and fun, you can try going to Mega Air, a trampoline park in Christchurch. You can play dodgeball on the trampolines, jump and do flips, or dive into the foam pit.
Sessions are typically an hour to two hours long, so there’s plenty of time to jump to your heart’s content. It can be a fun alternative to your usual gym and yoga routine.
9. Show your creative side at Paint ‘n’ Sip.
| WEBSITE | https://paintnsip.co.nz/ |
| ADDRESS | 1 Hereford Street, Christchurch Central City, Christchurch 8013, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 3 351 0879 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday-Sunday (10AM-10PM) |
| COST | Range: $35 -$80 |
If you’re looking for quiet and relaxing activity, you can try unleashing your creative side by going to Paint ‘n’ Sip in Christchurch. Check out their calendar for the different classes available.
No prior experience or artistic skills needed, you can go there to just relax and have fun. It’s also a great way to express yourself artistically.
Each session takes about two hours. You can order a drink and settle in before it’s time to start painting.
They’ll provide everything you need for the session, so you don’t need to worry about anything. They will also guide you through every step of the featured painting.
At the end of the night, you’ll have your masterpiece that you can take home with you.
10. Enjoy indoor golf at X-Golf.
| WEBSITE | http://xgolf.co.nz/avonhead/ |
| ADDRESS | 120 Withells Road, Avonhead, Christchurch 8042, New Zealand |
| CONTACT DETAILS | +64 3 358 8610 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday 10AM–10PM Tuesday 10AM–10PM Wednesday 10AM–10PM Thursday 10AM–11PM Friday 10AM–11PM Saturday 10AM–11PM Sunday 10AM–10PM |
| COST | Starts at $25 for single player, 30 minutes Full price list here. |
Just because the weather isn’t ideal, doesn’t mean you can’t golf. X-Golf Avonhead is an indoor golf and entertainment venue worth checking out in Christchurch.
They give the best golfing experience for players of all levels with their 5 simulators. You’ll get access to digital courses, a driving range, and even practice modes and fun modes for mini golf.
They also offer golf lessons where they offer advice and analyze your swing and game. For the pros, they have a weekly competition as well where teams of three compete against each other with weekly and finals prizes.
That’s it for our favorite indoor activities in Christchurch. Did we miss out on any activity you would want to recommend?
Make sure to let us know!
By the way, check out the following related articles:
