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Insider’s Guide to Christchurch’s St Asaph Block

The exterior of Space Academy Christchurch.
Story Christchurch & Canterbury
Located on the South-East edge of Christchurch’s Central City, the St Asaph Street block exudes a cool grittiness that’s hard to imitate. While this one-way stretch runs right through the city and ends at Hagley Park, it’s the laid-back mixed-use zone between Fitzgerald Ave and Barbadoes Street that defines this street’s unique character. From music venues and community events to art spaces, low-key bars, and a great coffee roastery, here are 10 reasons why this St Asaph Street block should never be overlooked.

Ashburton Art Gallery & Heritage Centre

Works of art on a white wall.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
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The Ashburton Art Gallery & Heritage Centre is home to both the town's art gallery and museum.

Objectspace at Sir Miles Warren Gallery

The sloping ceiling inside Objectspace Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Galleries and museum key icon.

Objectspace is Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading gallery dedicated to design, craft and architecture.

Ngaio Marsh House

A colourful bookshelf by an old bed in the Ngaio Marsh House.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
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Ngaio Marsh House sits in a beautiful spot on the lower slopes of Christchurch’s Cashmere Hills.

The Custard Square Bookshop

Two women standing outside the bookshop caravan on a sunny day.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury

As a tram rattles down Worcester Boulevard, the driver loves to point out an adorable outdoor set-up known as The Custard Square Bookshop.

Telling Tales

Books on shelves and seating area at Telling Tales, Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury

Igniting the love of reading in children is a magical gift and one that Telling Tales know plenty about.

Dead Video

Dead Video sign.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
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If you’re wondering — did streaming kill the video star? — the answer is not quite, thanks to neat people like Evan at Dead Video.

Absolution Tattoo and Body Piercing

View of the counter at Absolution Tattoo and Body Piercing studio in Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
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A contemporary tattoo and body-piercing studio in the Arts Centre.

Fiksate

View of the gallery with woman working in the distance at Fiksate in Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
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Fiksate provides an unexpected hotspot for Christchurch’s love of urban art.

Canterbury Museum

Dinosaur skeleton on display at Canterbury Museum in downtown Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
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It’s exciting times for Canterbury Museum as a major five-year redevelopment is now underway at its Rolleston Avenue site. In the meantime, a pop-up a few blocks away serves as a temporary museum space.

The Court Theatre
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
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There is something for everyone at The Court with shows ranging from comedy to musical, mystery to children’s theatre, improv to Māori and Pasifika plays.

The Arts Centre

The exterior of a building at the Christchurch Arts Centre.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury Editor's Pick
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A much-loved heritage hub for all things creative and cultural, Christchurch’s Arts Centre is a real jewel in the city’s crown.

The Physics Room

Ivy on wall outside The Physics Room.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
Galleries and museum key icon.

The Physics Room is well worth a visit.

In Our Book: Here are the Best Bookshops in Christchurch Ōtautahi

A woman with a short brown bob reading an old book.
Story Christchurch & Canterbury
There is a certain kind of feeling you get when you enter a good bookshop, it’s warm and inviting, and a sense of cosiness and calm takes over. The scent of hundreds and thousands of pages waiting to be discovered and devoured is nostalgic, and it is easy to lose an hour or two browsing the aisles deliberating over your next read. In Ōtautahi Christchurch, we are blessed with a stellar number of bookstores, from a specialist children’s shop, booksellers that have been in the city for generations and second-hand shops that ensure literary gems reach the hands of new readers. So whether you are on the hunt for the latest bestseller, looking to build up your child’s library collection or happiest when spending an afternoon amongst stacks and rows of books, here’s your guide (in no particular order) to enjoying the best bookshops around the city.

CoCA

Footpath signboard pointing to CoCA, Centre of Contemporary Art in Christchurch.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
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CoCA is a slick and ultra-modern art gallery space in the centre of Christchurch.

Christchurch Art Gallery

Exterior curved glass building of the Christchurch Art Gallery.
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Locals and visitors alike have the pleasure of viewing some of the best art in New Zealand and the world here.

The National

Someone looking at unique jewellery pieces on display.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury
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The National has been at the forefront of the contemporary art scene in Christchurch for over a decade.

Scorpio Books

A woman reading a book behind a desk.
Place Christchurch & Canterbury

The city's best independent bookshop, come here for the latest and greatest novels and non-fiction.