The Antarctic Attraction
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The Antarctic Attraction
The Antarctic Attraction is a fun, exciting and hands-on experience for the whole family. It includes the indoor Snow & Ice Experience, the Penguin Encounter - a viewing area featuring Little Blue penguins and an adventure ride in the Hagglund.
The Antarctic Attraction at the International Antarctic Centre, located next to Christchurch International Airport allows you to experience Antarctica in a fun, exciting all weather environment.
Experience real Antarctic conditions with Audiovisual and Touch Screen technology and feel 'genuine' Antarctic wind chill or slide down a snow slope in the Snow & Ice Experience.
The New Zealand Penguin Encounter is New Zealand's first combined indoor/outdoor penguin viewing area with capacity to hold up to 26 rescued Little Blue penguins in a Banks Peninsula natural themed environment that can be accessed on two levels.
While you're enjoying the attraction, take the chance to enjoy the great Antarctic Haggland Ride. The International Antarctic Centre, twice winner of the prestigious NZ Tourism Awards for Best Attraction also offers exclusive Antarctic Product in the Antarctic Shop and delicious meals in the Cafe and Bar.
Meeting rooms available. Spacious function area for themed events.
Set aside 2-3 hours for your visit and make time to have a meal in the Antarctic Café & Bar.
The attraction is open seven days a week from 9am.
Details
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Organisation |
The International Antarctic CentreCommercial organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ Canterbury ▷ Christchurch |
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Theme Parks
Zoos and Aquariums
Reviews
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4.5/5
Since going to Antarctica was not an option this is a real cool way to get at sense of the cold south.
There are many cool things to do for both adults and kids - seeing the penguins up close is cool and petting the huskies was a highlight for our daughter. It's very informative and highly recommendable - especially on a rainy day in Christchurch. We spent 3 hours here in the beginning of February.
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4.0/5
Nice place to spend a rainy day in Christchurch.
We hadn't thought about Antarctica a lot beforehand. This centre gives you quite a good idea and offers a lot of fun activities for the whole family.
LG![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(192,15,112)" /><path d="m 150 612 Q 81 219 -312 150 Q 81 81 150 -312 Q 219 81 612 150 Q 219 219 150 612 z" fill="rgb(253,92,229)" /><path d="m 150 481 Q 114 186 -181 150 Q 114 114 150 -181 Q 186 114 481 150 Q 186 186 150 481 z" fill="rgb(2,163,26)" /><path d="m 150 168 Q 258 42 132 150 Q 258 258 150 132 Q 42 258 168 150 Q 42 42 150 168 z" fill="rgb(63,240,143)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
Very informative and gave you a real taste of the conditions these explorers worked in.
PB![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(101,37,98)" /><path d="m 150 698 Q 264 36 -398 150 Q 264 264 150 -398 Q 36 264 698 150 Q 36 36 150 698 z" fill="rgb(37,49,141)" /><path d="m 150 446 Q 226 74 -146 150 Q 226 226 150 -146 Q 74 226 446 150 Q 74 74 150 446 z" fill="rgb(218,206,114)" /><path d="m 150 272 Q 59 241 28 150 Q 59 59 150 28 Q 241 59 272 150 Q 241 241 150 272 z" fill="rgb(154,218,157)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Very interesting museum with so many activities on the Antarctic.
People there are very kind.
D![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(19,15,220)" /><path d="m 150 705 Q 207 93 -405 150 Q 207 207 150 -405 Q 93 207 705 150 Q 93 93 150 705 z" fill="rgb(179,168,84)" /><path d="m 150 474 Q 113 187 -174 150 Q 113 113 150 -174 Q 187 113 474 150 Q 187 187 150 474 z" fill="rgb(76,87,171)" /><path d="m 150 143 Q 94 206 157 150 Q 94 94 150 157 Q 206 94 143 150 Q 206 206 150 143 z" fill="rgb(236,240,35)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Go for it , spend about 3hrs to enjoy varies activities you can only experience in Antarctic here.
Don't miss the 10.30am or 3.30pm blue penguins feeding time where you can have close encounters with them, 4D extreme Theatre is a must too , very beautiful amazing !
MT![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(33,226,202)" /><path d="m 150 581 Q 108 192 -281 150 Q 108 108 150 -281 Q 192 108 581 150 Q 192 192 150 581 z" fill="rgb(112,7,131)" /><path d="m 150 391 Q 164 136 -91 150 Q 164 164 150 -91 Q 136 164 391 150 Q 136 136 150 391 z" fill="rgb(143,248,124)" /><path d="m 150 196 Q 68 232 104 150 Q 68 68 150 104 Q 232 68 196 150 Q 232 232 150 196 z" fill="rgb(222,29,53)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Fantastic show - drive on the ice tractor depicts just what it is like to drive on ice in Antarctica.
The 4D movie of the ship travelling to the South Pole is so realistic, you even get showered with spray coming over the bow of the ship. Seats move with the ships movement over the waves.
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5.0/5
Very detailed information provided.
Great activities such as the cooling room which got down to -18 degrees.
LS![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(73,13,15)" /><path d="m 150 748 Q 86 214 -448 150 Q 86 86 150 -448 Q 214 86 748 150 Q 214 214 150 748 z" fill="rgb(135,52,42)" /><path d="m 150 441 Q 226 74 -141 150 Q 226 226 150 -141 Q 74 226 441 150 Q 74 74 150 441 z" fill="rgb(120,203,213)" /><path d="m 150 296 Q 297 3 4 150 Q 297 297 150 4 Q 3 297 296 150 Q 3 3 150 296 z" fill="rgb(182,242,240)" /></svg>)
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4.0/5
Great attraction - three hours well spent - don't go for the short visit unless you really don't have time for the whole thing.
My only complaint - the snowstorm was a bit tame...
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3.5/5
Kind of a museum about the Antarctic and everything around.
Rides in a snow mobile and standing in an arctic storm - quite expensive!
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5.0/5
This was a really interesting place about Antarctica.
They even had a snow storm room where you can see what real cold is like. Definitely worth visiting. Christchurch is a beautiful city and we had a great night out at the bars in Riccarton
pe![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(191,44,97)" /><path d="m 150 664 Q 286 14 -364 150 Q 286 286 150 -364 Q 14 286 664 150 Q 14 14 150 664 z" fill="rgb(233,97,180)" /><path d="m 150 466 Q 47 253 -166 150 Q 47 47 150 -166 Q 253 47 466 150 Q 253 253 150 466 z" fill="rgb(22,158,75)" /><path d="m 150 180 Q 138 162 120 150 Q 138 138 150 120 Q 162 138 180 150 Q 162 162 150 180 z" fill="rgb(64,211,158)" /></svg>)
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3.5/5
Very good for a 1/2 day experience but would have been diffiult to fill a whole day.
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3.5/5
Quite expensive but interesting.
Young children got quite bored. Hagland ride was included in the price.
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2.5/5
Not at all brown away with this experience.
The highlight was the Hagland ride.
We took a 6 year, who expected to see more Penguins. The storm was too noisy and scared her the 4D movie was not really suitable for under 10's, the screaming from all the kids was not a good experience.
It was OK, but the price didn't feel right. $160 for three of us ?
NB![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(55,249,9)" /><path d="m 150 564 Q 192 108 -264 150 Q 192 192 150 -264 Q 108 192 564 150 Q 108 108 150 564 z" fill="rgb(125,181,46)" /><path d="m 150 325 Q 173 127 -25 150 Q 173 173 150 -25 Q 127 173 325 150 Q 127 127 150 325 z" fill="rgb(130,74,209)" /><path d="m 150 107 Q 102 198 193 150 Q 102 102 150 193 Q 198 102 107 150 Q 198 198 150 107 z" fill="rgb(200,6,246)" /></svg>)
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2.5/5
A fun activity for the kids, but way overpriced and they haven't added or changed much since we were there about 5 years ago!
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(219,240,88)" /><path d="m 150 541 Q 270 30 -241 150 Q 270 270 150 -241 Q 30 270 541 150 Q 30 30 150 541 z" fill="rgb(58,254,188)" /><path d="m 150 324 Q 197 103 -24 150 Q 197 197 150 -24 Q 103 197 324 150 Q 103 103 150 324 z" fill="rgb(197,1,67)" /><path d="m 150 118 Q 102 198 182 150 Q 102 102 150 182 Q 198 102 118 150 Q 198 198 150 118 z" fill="rgb(36,15,167)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(1,185,243)" /><path d="m 150 567 Q 160 140 -267 150 Q 160 160 150 -267 Q 140 160 567 150 Q 140 140 150 567 z" fill="rgb(199,225,225)" /><path d="m 150 350 Q 276 24 -50 150 Q 276 276 150 -50 Q 24 276 350 150 Q 24 24 150 350 z" fill="rgb(56,30,30)" /><path d="m 150 313 Q 171 129 -13 150 Q 171 171 150 -13 Q 129 171 313 150 Q 129 129 150 313 z" fill="rgb(254,70,12)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(4,167,102)" /><path d="m 150 523 Q 102 198 -223 150 Q 102 102 150 -223 Q 198 102 523 150 Q 198 198 150 523 z" fill="rgb(108,188,252)" /><path d="m 150 410 Q 55 245 -110 150 Q 55 55 150 -110 Q 245 55 410 150 Q 245 245 150 410 z" fill="rgb(147,67,3)" /><path d="m 150 132 Q 259 41 168 150 Q 259 259 150 168 Q 41 259 132 150 Q 41 41 150 132 z" fill="rgb(251,88,153)" /></svg>)
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![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(113,238,81)" /><path d="m 150 697 Q 277 23 -397 150 Q 277 277 150 -397 Q 23 277 697 150 Q 23 23 150 697 z" fill="rgb(148,216,133)" /><path d="m 150 421 Q 185 115 -121 150 Q 185 185 150 -121 Q 115 185 421 150 Q 115 115 150 421 z" fill="rgb(107,39,122)" /><path d="m 150 179 Q 218 82 121 150 Q 218 218 150 121 Q 82 218 179 150 Q 82 82 150 179 z" fill="rgb(142,17,174)" /></svg>)
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![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(227,52,233)" /><path d="m 150 592 Q 173 127 -292 150 Q 173 173 150 -292 Q 127 173 592 150 Q 127 127 150 592 z" fill="rgb(237,85,58)" /><path d="m 150 343 Q 102 198 -43 150 Q 102 102 150 -43 Q 198 102 343 150 Q 198 198 150 343 z" fill="rgb(18,170,197)" /><path d="m 150 332 Q 233 67 -32 150 Q 233 233 150 -32 Q 67 233 332 150 Q 67 67 150 332 z" fill="rgb(28,203,22)" /></svg>)
![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(11,177,219)" /><path d="m 150 743 Q 221 79 -443 150 Q 221 221 150 -443 Q 79 221 743 150 Q 79 79 150 743 z" fill="rgb(40,110,203)" /><path d="m 150 495 Q 192 108 -195 150 Q 192 192 150 -195 Q 108 192 495 150 Q 108 108 150 495 z" fill="rgb(215,145,52)" /><path d="m 150 204 Q 267 33 96 150 Q 267 267 150 96 Q 33 267 204 150 Q 33 33 150 204 z" fill="rgb(244,78,36)" /></svg>)
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4.5/5
Since going to Antarctica was not an option this is a real cool way to get at sense of the cold south.
There are many cool things to do for both adults and kids - seeing the penguins up close is cool and petting the huskies was a highlight for our daughter. It's very informative and highly recommendable - especially on a rainy day in Christchurch. We spent 3 hours here in the beginning of February.
-
4.0/5
Nice place to spend a rainy day in Christchurch.
We hadn't thought about Antarctica a lot beforehand. This centre gives you quite a good idea and offers a lot of fun activities for the whole family.
LG -
-
4.0/5
Very informative and gave you a real taste of the conditions these explorers worked in.
PB -
4.5/5
Very interesting museum with so many activities on the Antarctic.
People there are very kind.
D -
5.0/5
Go for it , spend about 3hrs to enjoy varies activities you can only experience in Antarctic here.
Don't miss the 10.30am or 3.30pm blue penguins feeding time where you can have close encounters with them, 4D extreme Theatre is a must too , very beautiful amazing !
MT -
4.0/5
Great attraction - three hours well spent - don't go for the short visit unless you really don't have time for the whole thing.
My only complaint - the snowstorm was a bit tame...
-
4.5/5
Fantastic show - drive on the ice tractor depicts just what it is like to drive on ice in Antarctica.
The 4D movie of the ship travelling to the South Pole is so realistic, you even get showered with spray coming over the bow of the ship. Seats move with the ships movement over the waves.
-
5.0/5
Very detailed information provided.
Great activities such as the cooling room which got down to -18 degrees.
LS -
3.5/5
Kind of a museum about the Antarctic and everything around.
Rides in a snow mobile and standing in an arctic storm - quite expensive!
-
2.5/5
A fun activity for the kids, but way overpriced and they haven't added or changed much since we were there about 5 years ago!
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2.5/5
Not at all brown away with this experience.
The highlight was the Hagland ride.
We took a 6 year, who expected to see more Penguins. The storm was too noisy and scared her the 4D movie was not really suitable for under 10's, the screaming from all the kids was not a good experience.
It was OK, but the price didn't feel right. $160 for three of us ?
NB -
2.5/5
We were disappointed in this for the price we paid.
Haggling ride was good, and storm room not too bad, but the rest was ordinary.
PK![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(248,79,117)" /><path d="m 150 631 Q 130 170 -331 150 Q 130 130 150 -331 Q 170 130 631 150 Q 170 170 150 631 z" fill="rgb(232,199,15)" /><path d="m 150 542 Q 182 118 -242 150 Q 182 182 150 -242 Q 118 182 542 150 Q 118 118 150 542 z" fill="rgb(23,56,240)" /><path d="m 150 295 Q 225 75 5 150 Q 225 225 150 5 Q 75 225 295 150 Q 75 75 150 295 z" fill="rgb(7,176,138)" /></svg>)
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3.5/5
Quite expensive but interesting.
Young children got quite bored. Hagland ride was included in the price.
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5.0/5
This was a really interesting place about Antarctica.
They even had a snow storm room where you can see what real cold is like. Definitely worth visiting. Christchurch is a beautiful city and we had a great night out at the bars in Riccarton
pe -
3.5/5
Very good for a 1/2 day experience but would have been diffiult to fill a whole day.
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4.0/5
Is pricey but unique.
Was expecting more from the snow storm - am used to Wellington winds so 40km ph felt like a breeze. Penguins were cute. Kids loved the haggling ride, especially my 3 yo. The Luggage lockers were really handy.
Ki![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(22,89,155)" /><path d="m 150 688 Q 85 215 -388 150 Q 85 85 150 -388 Q 215 85 688 150 Q 215 215 150 688 z" fill="rgb(52,4,18)" /><path d="m 150 304 Q 187 113 -4 150 Q 187 187 150 -4 Q 113 187 304 150 Q 113 113 150 304 z" fill="rgb(203,251,237)" /><path d="m 150 248 Q 282 18 52 150 Q 282 282 150 52 Q 18 282 248 150 Q 18 18 150 248 z" fill="rgb(233,166,100)" /></svg>)
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5.0/5
Great fun way to learn about the Antarctic.
You even get to experience a blizzard, well worth a visit.
pa![](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg width="300" height="300" viewBox="0 0 300 300" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><rect id="bg" width="300" height="300" fill="rgb(51,11,180)" /><path d="m 150 717 Q 198 102 -417 150 Q 198 198 150 -417 Q 102 198 717 150 Q 102 102 150 717 z" fill="rgb(1,138,241)" /><path d="m 150 414 Q 78 222 -114 150 Q 78 78 150 -114 Q 222 78 414 150 Q 222 222 150 414 z" fill="rgb(254,117,14)" /><path d="m 150 297 Q 281 19 3 150 Q 281 281 150 3 Q 19 281 297 150 Q 19 19 150 297 z" fill="rgb(204,244,75)" /></svg>)
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