Home > Directory > Accessible Things to do in Canterbury
Visiting Canterbury or maybe you live here? Aspire’s team have picked some popular accessible things to do in Canterbury which wheelchair users have accessed and recommended before.
The Christchurch City Council has an Accessibility map that shows you accessible toilets, hearing loops, mobility parking and mobility scooter hire locations in Christchurch. You can also use their Find a Walk tool to find walks that are wheelchair accessible. To do this, click on the Wheelchair column twice until the Wheelchair Accessible walks are at the top of the list.
Aspire Canterbury is a Disability Information Service and are always available to answer your questions, provide support or have a chat. If you have any questions about finding accessible things to do in Canterbury, or anything at all, you can always contact us using the details on our Contact Us page or through our Facebook page. Please remember, we are a community resource and hub, we have been providing information, solutions and support for approximately 40 years. If you are uncertain about anything at all, contact us, chances are we may be able to help or connect you to a service that can help.
Aspire or any named companies or their employees cannot be held liable for any claims, losses, damages or expenses inclusive of legal costs that may be incurred or in conjunction with participation in the activities. Please call the venue to make enquiries to suit your needs.
Canterbury Museum
All public spaces are wheelchair accessible. There is a ramp in the Living Canterbury gallery. Wheelchairs are available from the foyer. To book a wheelchair, please contact them. Wheelchair friendly toilets.
The Museum is not generally noisy except during peak times in school holidays or in highly interactive areas like Discovery.
Rolleston Avenue, Central Christchurch on the East end of Hagley Park.
Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu
The Gallery has wheelchair access and accessible toilets. They also have two wheelchairs available for visitors to borrow. A lift takes you to the upstairs galleries and down to the underground car park. The auditorium has wheelchair seating.
There are sometimes tours with a sign-language interpreter, please contact them for more information.
Cnr of Worcester Boulevard & Montreal Street, Christchurch.
Christchurch Gondola
The base station is wheelchair accessible and one wheelchair is available for guests to borrow from reception. The gondola cabins are wheelchair accessible for manual wheelchairs no wider than 600mm due to the cabin doorway width. An elevator is available at the summit station for access to the café & observatory and functions space levels. Please note that the Time Tunnel is not wheelchair accessible. Disabled friendly toilets.
10 Bridle Path Road. Heathcote Valley, Christchurch
Orana Wildlife Park
Wheelchair friendly toilets. Limited wheelchairs for hire - please call prior to arrival.
793 McLeans Island Road, Christchurch
Willowbank
They have one wheelchair available for hire. Wheelchair friendly toilets. Two accessible car parks close to the main building. The paths and park are very wheelchair friendly.
60 Hussey Road, Harewood, Christchurch.
International Antarctic Centre
Wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair lifts to access their meeting rooms on the mezzanine floor and in the attraction to gain access to the Penguin viewing area. Travelling in the Hagglund requires that you are able to board and disembark unassisted. There are three accessible parking spaces available at the entrance.
38 Orchard Road, Christchurch
Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa
Good Wheelchair access around the complex. Wheelchair ramp access to one pool and aqua chair/lifts available on many of the pools. Accessible changing rooms are available.
Cnr of Jacks Pass Road and Amuri Avenue. Hanmer Springs.
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Four disability car parks in the Riccarton Road car park and five disability car parks in the Armagh St car park. There are accessible toilets at the front of the Gardens towards the back of the Museum building and in the Visitor Centre.
Three mobility scooters for use within the Gardens and Hagley Park during Visitor Centre opening hours at no charge. Bookings can be made prior to your visit through the Visitor Centre, phone (03) 941 7590.
There is a manual wheelchair available at the Kiosk, just over the footbridge from the Armagh Street carpark, which can be used to help anyone with limited mobility to get from their car to the Visitors Centre, where there are mobility scooters.
A Liberty Swing is located in the play area in the Botanic Gardens. To use the Liberty Swing, collect a key from the Visitor Centre.
Rolleston Avenue, City Centre
Christchurch Tram
Some trams are able to accommodate manual wheelchairs on board using the wheelchair hoist located in Cathedral Junction (please note that motorised wheelchairs are too heavy for the hoist to lift). They recommend phoning ahead on the day on 03 366 7830 to check whether wheelchair accessible trams are operating and what time they will be departing from Cathedral Junction.
Cathedral Junction, Christchurch Central
Quake City
Quake City is accessible by visitors with disabilities and mobility issues. The exhibition is at ground level with easy access for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Seating is scattered throughout the exhibition if you need to give your legs a rest.
There is enough space between exhibits to move around in a wheelchair. A wheelchair is available from the foyer. To book the wheelchair, please email us.
Most videos in Quake City have captions.
299 Durham Street North, Christchurch Central
Air Force Museum
The Air Force Museum has accessible parking spaces and bathrooms, a free wheelchair and walking frame to use while you visit. There is a lift to access the 2nd level. They are happy to fit education programmes and tours to individual needs or requirements if you contact them in advance.
45 Harvard Avenue, Wigram
He Puna Taimoana
He Puna Taimoana has a number of accessible features. These include ramp access into the active fitness pool and hoists for the other hot pools. There is a water wheelchair available. There are handrails installed to support entry into every pool and accessible change rooms and toilets.
If you let them know in advance of your visit, they can make sure to provide all the support you need.
195 Marine Parade, New Brighton
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