The tiny house is just a short drive (5km) to the Oxford township. Enjoy a walk up Mount Oxford, local horse trek at Kowhai School of Riding or Rubicon, kayak on the Ashley River or have a jet boat ride on the Waimakariri River. There are lovely boutique shops, cafes & a wine/pizza bar. Pick up some great local products at the Oxford Farmers Market (9am-12) every Sunday morning. Oxford has an Art Gallery with new exhibitions each month showcasing New Zealand's Artists and a museum.
Walks & Tramping
Experience the beauty, native flora and birds in the Oxford foothills and Puketeraki Range, Mt Oxford, Glentui, Mt Richardson, Ashley Gorge, the Ryde Falls, Ashley Gorge Loop track & waterfall track. Some areas suitable for wheelchairs. www.visitwaimakariri.co.nz www.doc.govt.nz
Click here for a map showing numerous walks including Mears Track, Oxford Rural Walk, Eyre Walk, Oak Walk, Mountain View Walk, Millennium Lookout & Lookout Walk.
Oxford Farmers Market - Sunday mornings. Main St.
Oxford Craft Market - first Sunday (morning) of the month except January.
Arts in Oxford - 68 Main St. 03 312 1639. Beautiful Art Gallery with new exhibitions each month show casing New Zealand's Artists and giftware.
Oxford Museum - 70 Main St. www.oxfordmuseum.nz
Oxford Area School Observatory - special events, night classes for adults and group visits. www.cstarsoas.org.nz
Waimakariri Golf Course - 18 holes. Thongcaster Road, (03) 312 4339
Oxford Speedway - Carleton Road, off South Eyre Road.
Oxford Tennis Courts - A key can be picked up from the Oxford Service Centre
Oxford Community Swimming Pool - Burnett St. Outdoor heated pool in summer. www.waimakariri.govt.nz
Ashley Gorge River - 8km from Oxford township. Ideal for kayaking, fishing and picnic areas.
Kowhai School of Riding - Horse Treks for beginners or advanced riders http://www.kowhai.co.nz/
Mountain bike riding on the Wharfdale track.
Main Street Bakery & Cafe - (The Sheffield Pie Shop's Oxford Cafe). Open for breakfast and lunch. Great coffee and delicious pies!
Café 51 - Award Winning NZ cuisine. Open for breakfast & lunch. www.cafe51.co.nz
Black Beech Bar - Craft beers, wine, gourmet pizzas, platters & desserts. Open till late. www.blackbeechbar.com
Oxford Diner - 50's style diner with a NZ twist. A must see! Breakfast and lunch.
Indian Hut - Indian food to dine in or take away. Lunch and dinner
Village Foods Bakery, Takeaway and Café (03) 312 4893. For burgers, fish & chips, pies, sushi, sandwiches etc.
Oxford Workingmen's Club and Bistro -High St, (03) 312 4411. Bistro open Friday, Saturday & Sunday evenings. Takeaways. TAB. Pool Tables, Pokies. Bottle store for members (of any Working Men's Club in NZ). www.oxfordclub.co.nz
Challenge Petrol Station- Open 7 days. Food 2 Go
The West (Pub) - Coffee, beers. Food to dine in or takeaway. Open through the day & evenings.
Route 72 Cafe, Bar Emporium - Cust Road, Cust - about 20 minutes away www.Route72.co.nz
Oxford Pharmacy & Gift Shop
Emma's at Oxford Books, Gifts, Women's Clothing, Gourmet Essentials www.emmasatoxford.com
Tussock & Thread - 55a Main St. Fashion, accessories, jewellery, homewares, lifestyle pieces and gifts. www.tussockandthread.co.nz
Oxford Cottage Crafts Locally made gifts, honey etc.
Oxford Service Centre / Library. Council Services, Oxford’s Information Centre, free Internet facilities & WiFi www.waimakariri.govt.nz
Fresh Choice Supermarket
Post & Lotto inside
Queenette Dairy
Oxford Butchery
Oxford Budget Boutique Cnr Main St and Burnt Hill Rd (District Union Church Hall) 1-4pm Mon- Fri. Second Hand Clothing - Proceeds to help the community
Main Divide Hair Lounge 53a Main St 03 312 3311
The Sunroom
Donna 03 312 3234. Bay Rd. Hairdressing, sunbed, spray tanning, tinting.
Massage Therapist Marina Vermaat. Relaxation, neuromuscular therapy, Swedish, Indian head massage, chair massage 03 312 4731 / 027 311 1140
Always polished 10 Bay Rd. Mani, pedi, 021 304 708 Tracey.alwayspolished@gmail.com
The town of Rangiora is approx 35 minutes away. There are plenty shops to stock up & some lovely boutique shops along High St. Here are some of our top picks......
Artizan Bakery & Cafe is a good place to stop for a coffee/lunch. There's a children's play room upstairs with giant lego pieces to stack while you enjoy a coffee!
Couplands is a great little bakery shop (near The Warehouse) with good value packaged breads, biscuits, pies (their Neapolitan (cream) slice comes highly recommended!)
Victoria Seafood Bar. On Victoria St, this is a great fish & chip shop. Enjoy your fish & chips at Victoria Park just down the road.
Dudley Park Aquatic Centre Indoor 8 lane 25m lane pool, 19.5m long learners pool, spa pool, children's leisure pool with toddler area & "river".
Skate park - just next to the pool.
The Warehouse Stocks a wide range of clothes, homewares, dvd's, music footwear, outdoors items, confectionery, toys etc.
Farmers Department Store on High St (clothing, homeware, toys etc)
Town Hall Cinemas boutique cinemas
There are three supermarkets - New World, Pak n Save & Woolworths.
Castle Hill Is only 45 minutes away - explore the ancient limestone formations, breathtaking scenery and mountain range. The rocks take on many shapes from tabletops to pillars and with imagination some appear as familiar animal shapes. You can wander around the rocks, and crawl through mini tunnels and arches probably chiseled by glaciers millions of years ago. www.christchurchnz.com/walk-canterbury/castle-hill
Train Take the TranzAlpine Train trip to Arthur's Pass or on to Greymouth. Or the Coastal Pacific train to Waipara, Kaikoura Blenheim & Picton.
Hot Air Ballooning Experience the magic of hot air ballooning over the Canterbury plains with Aoraki Balloon Safaris, Methven. NZ Ballooning.
Some Christchurch Activities (50 minutes away)..........
Margaret Mahy Playground This newly built multi million-dollar playground is a must for children! It's the largest in the Southern Hemisphere (3500 square meters) & jam-packed with fun equipment. There are flying foxes, interactive water play area (take spare clothes!), wide slide, tall spiral slide, sand pit, trampolines, swings, see-saws, climbing net/web to name a few!!! Free entry.
International Antarctic Centre Experience an arctic storm, see the Little Blue Penguins, ride in a Haglund, 4D simulated cinema. Learn about life in modern day Antarctica & Scott Base.
Christchurch Tram A good introduction/tour around the city centre combining history & sightseeing. See the changing face of Christchurch. The day ticket allows you to get on & off as much as you like (17 stops) - a great way to see the city. The knowledgeable drivers inform you about the city, its landmarks & local sights. (Children are free with a paying adult).
Canterbury Museum A great rainy day activity with lots to see & do. Entry by donation. Discovery area $2 pp.
Botanic Gardens Have a stroll around the gardens - a great picnic spot & free to enter. Shuttle Tours available (see website for tour cost).
Punting on the Avon A relaxing way to see Christchurch from a different perspective.
Orana Wildlife Park (40 mins away via Old West Coast Rd & Chattertons Rd). Feed the giraffes. See the lions, tigers, NZ's only gorillas, zebras, cheetahs, rhinos, Tasmanian Devils, kiwi, farm animals, birds etc. (70 different species, refer to website). Hop on & off the free shuttle.
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve 5 minutes from the airport. Kiwi, birds, farm animals, deer, wallabies, monkeys, gibbons, lemurs etc. See website for more info.
Ski Fields Six Ski Fields including Mount Hutt, Porters & Temple Basin
Akaroa is a day trip away. Cruise on the Black Cat Cruises & swim with the dolphins.
Hanmer is 1 hour 50 mins away. Enjoy a relaxing soak at the Hanmer Springs hot pools.