Attractions & Dining
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, kayak on the Ashley River or have a jet boat ride on the Waimakariri River. There are lovely boutique shops, cafes & a wine 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 show casing New Zealand's Artists and a museum.
Activities
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 is another popular walk. The Ashley Gorge Loop track has been extended & now includes a waterfall track. 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. Oxford has its own beautiful Art Gallery with new exhibitions each month show casing New Zealand's Artists. Tuesday -Sunday 10-4pm. Plus giftware.
Oxford Museum - 70 Main St. www.oxfordmuseum.nz Summer (Sept 1 to May 31) Weds, Fri and Sat 1pm - 3.30pm, Sun 11-4pm. Winter (1 June to Aug 31) Sun 11-4pm
Oxford Area School Observatory - Observation nights are organised, special events, night classes for adults and group visits also available. 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 34 Main St Oxford.
Oxford Community Swimming Pool - Burnett St Open November to March. Outdoor heated pool www.waimakariri.govt.nz
Ashley Gorge River - 8km from Oxford township. Ideal for kayaking, fishing and picnic areas. Fun and activities for all the family
Kowhai School of Riding - Horse Treks for beginners or advanced riders http://www.kowhai.co.nz/ Mountain bike riding on the Wharfdale track
The Riding Workshop - dressage simulator. www.theridingworkshop.co.nz
Dine
Main Street Bakery & Cafe - (The Sheffield Pie Shop's Oxford Cafe). Corner of Main St & Bay Rd. Open for breakfast and lunch. Great coffee and delicious pies!
Café 51 - 51 Main St. Award Winning NZ cuisine. www.cafe51.co.nz
Black Beech Wine Bar - Main St, Craft beers, wine, gourmet pizzas, platters & desserts. www.blackbeechbar.com
Cruisy Days Diner - Main St. 50's style diner with a NZ twist. A must see!
Indian Hut - Main St. Indian food to dine in or take away. Lunch and dinner
Village Foods Bakery, Takeaway and Café 48 Main St (03) 312 4893. For burgers, fish & chips, pies, sushi, sandwiches, bread, Chinese meals, coffee.
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 - 102 Main St. Open 7 days. Food 2 Go
The West (Pub) - Coffee, cold 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
Shop
Oxford Pharmacy & Gift Shop Main St
Emma's at Oxford 53 Main St. Books, Gifts, Women's Clothing, Gourmet Essentials www.emmasatoxford.com
Oxford Cottage Crafts 37 Main St.
Oxford Service Centre / Library 34 Main St. Council Services, Oxford’s Information Centre, free Internet facilities & WiFi www.waimakariri.govt.nz
Fresh Choice Supermarket Main St. Post & Lotto inside
Queenette Dairy Main St
Oxford Butchery 44 Main St
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
Pamper
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
Rangiora
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 (only 23 seats!) & a 93 seat cinema.
There are three supermarkets - New World, Pak n Save & Woolworths.
Day Trips....
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.