Arts Centre Guided Walking Tours

Wednesday to Sunday

Times: Various

Wednesday

11.00AM – 12.30AM

1.00PM – 2.30PM
Thursday

11.00AM – 12.30PM

1.00PM – 2.30PM
Friday

11.00AM – 12.30PM

1.00PM – 2.30PM
Saturday

11.00AM – 12.30PM

1.00PM – 2.30PM
Sunday

11.00AM – 12.30PM

1.00PM – 2.30PM

Summer hours: 11am - 12.30pm & 1pm - 2.30pm

Pricing

Adult $30.00

Ages 12-18 years $15.00

Under 12 years old
Not suitable for under 12 years

Venue: Clock Tower, 2 Worcester Boulevard

Buy tickets now

Enjoy a 90-minute guided walking tour of The Arts Centre - NZ's largest collection of Category 1 listed heritage buildings across a whole central city block.

Entertaining and informative, this tour will give you a deep appreciation of the past, present and future of Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre. Go behind-the-scenes, discover some hidden gems of The Arts Centre and spaces not accessible to the public, as well as have some unique photo opportunities.

The tour starts at the Clock Tower (next to Quad Eatery Café) where Lord Ernest Rutherford studied while at Canterbury College (now the University of Canterbury). Lord Rutherford won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1908 and is considered the father of nuclear physics. Take a seat in the beautifully restored Victorian-era lecture theatre and visit the den where he did his early experiments.

From Rutherford’s Den, your tour will thread its way through all the Gothic Revival buildings onsite including the stunning Great Hall with the stained-glass window. Climb the spiral staircase of the Observatory Tower, complete with the original Townsend Teece antique telescope that is once again in use by the University of Canterbury. You will also be treated to a wonderful view of the city and The Arts Centre.