Akaroa Heads Lighthouse

Cemetery Point, Beach Road, Akaroa

The lighthouse was moved to its present location in 1980 after one hundred years of service. It remains fully operational.

Open: Saturday and Sunday. Tours by arrangement with the Lighthouse Preservation Society.

Outside viewing during daylight hours

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Akaroa Museum

Corner Rue Lavaud and Rue Balguerie, Akaroa

The Museum focuses particularly on the history of Akaroa and Banks Peninsula. It incorporates the Langlois-Eteveneaux House, one of the oldest in the South Island, Court House, and the Custom House (1852) at Daly Wharf.

Open: Summer 10am - 4.30pm Winter 10.30am - 4.00pm

Phone/Fax: (03) 304 1013
Email: akamus@xtra.co.nz

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Britomart Memorial

Greens Point, Beach Road, Akaroa

The Union Jack was hoisted here, 11 July 1840. The British ship, Britomart, harboured here just five days before the arrival of the French settlers.

Outside viewing at any reasonable time

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French Cemetery

L'Aube Hill, Akaroa

This was the first consecrated burial ground in Canterbury. The willows that shade the site are reputed to have grown from cuttings taken from the trees around Napoleon's Saint Helena island grave.

A short path leads to the cemetery from the top of Rue Brittan.

Outside viewing during daylight hours

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Holy Trinity Anglican Church

Corner Winchester and Canterbury Streets, Lyttelton

Canterbury's oldest stone church.

Open: for group visits - contact Andrea King tel (03) 328 8838
Please give as much notice as possible

Donations appreciated for church maintenance.

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Lyttelton Gaol Site, rose garden and Upham Memorial Clock

Oxford Street, Lyttelton

The Canterbury colony's first gaol was built in the 1850s. It was replaced by a concrete cell block structure designed by B W Mountfort and built in 1873.

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Lyttelton Graving Dock

Godley Quay, Lyttelton

This is the only dry dock in the South Island. It was built in 1883 and is still in regular use with its original red-brick pump house and pumps in working order. At the time it was built it was considered a great feat of engineering.

The dock can be viewed from the road above on Brittan Tce.

Tel: (03) 28 8198 or 28 7850 Lyttelton Port Company

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Lyttelton Museum

Gladstone Quay, Lyttelton

The Museum is housed in the former George V Seafarer's Institute (1911). It contains colonial and maritime displays, including a gallery devoted to the relationship between Lyttelton and the Antarctic.

Open: Tuesday - Thursday 2.00-4.00 pm; Saturday & Sunday 2.00-4.00 pm
At other times for group bookings by arrangement with Curator, Baden Norris.

Phone (03) 328 8972

Admission by donation

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Okains Bay Museum

Situated in fomer co-operative cheese factory, Okains Bay

The museum is sited in the buildings of an 1894 co-operative cheese factory. The museum contains Maori and early colonial artefacts. It also includes some relocated colonial buildings.

Open: Daily 10.00 am - 5.00 pm.

Entry fee applies

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Onuku Church (The Kaik)

Onuku Road, The Kaik, Akaroa

This tiny Maori church was opened in 1878 and restored in 1940 for the centenary of Akaroa. The carved panels on the porch date from this time. Opposite the Church is a meeting house. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed at Onuku and this is commemorated by a plaque.

Open during daylight hours.

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Orton Bradley Park

Charteris Bay

This farm park is located in Charteris Bay. The park contains historic farm buildings including an early mill house with a waterwheel dating from the 1880s, a stone cottage which may date from the 1840s and a collection of farm machinery.

Open: Guided tours available by arrangement with park manager.

Tel: (03) 329 4730

Entry fee applies

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Purau House

Purau Bay (not far from Diamond Harbour)

Built in 1853 by Robert Rhodes, it was the first stone house in Canterbury. It has been owned by the Gardiner family since 1874.
The owners of the property allows visits by groups of a minimum of 30.

Open: for group visits only. Afternoon tea is provided and a small charge is made to help cover the costs of maintenance.
The gardens and orchard are available for corporate functions and weddings

Tel: (03) 329 4707 Traci or Chris Gardiner

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Quail Island

centre of Lyttelton Harbour

Quail Island, in the centre of Lyttelton Harbour, was first taken up for farming in 1851. A hut dating from this period still remains. The island became a quarantine station in 1885. Animals for the Scott, Shackelton and Byrd expeditions to the Antarctic were held here.

Between 1907 and 1925 the island was used as a leper colony. Buildings from both periods remain.
The island is a public reserve administered by the Department of Conservation. An Interpretation Centre is located in the former manager's residence.

For information on boat timetables (from Lyttelton) tel: (03) 328 8368, or contact the Lyttelton Information Centre tel: (03) 328 9093.

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Ripapa Island

Lyttelton Harbour

Ripapa Island is the site of an early nineteenth century pa. It was occupied by Ngai Tahu until around 1832 when the chief Te Whakarukeruke left to help defend Kaiapoi against Te Rauparaha. Ripapa was overrun by Te Rauparaha in the aftermath of the fall of Kaiapoi and was not occupied again.

In 1872/3 quarantine buildings were erected on the island and in 1880 these became a prison. In 1885 construction of Fort Jervois began, the most complete "Russian scare" fort in New Zealand.

Read more about Ripapa Island

For information on boat timetables (from Lyttelton) phone (03) 328 8368 or contact the Lyttelton Information Centre (03) 328 9093.

Access is closed to private boats.

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St Joseph's Catholic Church

Winchester Street (opposite Holy Trinity) Lyttelton

Built 1865 - oldest original stone Catholic church in the South Island

For church visits, tel: (03) 328 8208 - please give plenty of notice.

Donations appreciated.

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St Patrick's Church (Catholic)

Rue Lavaud, Akaroa

The church was designed by B.W. Mountfort and built in 1864/65. The tower was added in 1893.

Open during daylight hours

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St Peter's Church (Anglican)

Rue Balguerie, Akaroa

The church was built in 1863 and extended in 1877.

Open during daylight hours.

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St Luke's Church

Little Akaloa-Okains Bay Road, Little Akaloa

A fine Arts and Crafts Church built in 1906. It was largely the work of local settler John Menzies of Menzies Bay and is particularly distinctive for its use of Maori designs and carvings of native flowers.

Open during daylight hours.

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Timeball Station

2 Reserve Terrace, Lyttelton

Like a Scottish castle dominating the scenic port of Lyttelton, the Timeball Station is one of the few of its kind left in the world.

From 1876 to 1934 a ball dropped from its mast on its stone tower, signalling the time to ships in Lyttelton Harbour. Use of the timeball was discontinued in 1934 when it was replaced by radio signals, though flag signals continued until 1941.

The rare timeball mechanism is still in operation today and the time ball drops daily at 1pm.

Open: 1 November-30 April: daily 10.00am - 5.00pm;
1 May - 31 October: Wednesday-Sunday 10.00 am-5.00 pm

Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday

Find out more about the Timeball Station

tel: (03) 328-7311
fax: (03) 328-9116
email: timeball@historic.org.nz

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Thornycroft Torpedo Boat Museum and Historic Reserve

Magazine Bay, Lyttelton Harbour

The museum, located in an 1874 powder magazine, house features the remains of Thornycroft Torpedo Boat No 60.(1880s).

Open: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday 1.00-3.00pm. Car parking available at the Yacht Club car park on Charlotte Jane Quay.

Entry charge

Find out more about the Torpedo Boat Museum

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Union Church 1865 (former Presbyterian church)

Corner Dublin and Winchester Street, Lyttelton

The Union Chapel is on the site of the old Wesleyan church, and retains its original organ and pulpit.

Open: Contact Rev. Wilma Loader for the key tel: (03) 328 8565 or Pat Laird (organist) tel: (03) 328 8432.

Donations appreciated for the church restoration fund.

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