Operating continuously since 1882 along the willow-lined banks of the Avon River, Antigua Boat Sheds is one of Christchurch's most cherished heritage landmarks. Classified as a Category 1 Historic Building, the distinctive green-and-white-striped sheds preserve an authentic slice of Victorian and Edwardian leisure right in the heart of the central city, just a five-minute stroll from the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
Visitors can take to the peaceful waters in a variety of classic watercraft, including single and double kayaks, paddle boats, row boats, and traditional Canadian canoes. The location also serves as an urban adventure base with bike hire available for cycling along the riverside trails or exploring Hagley Park.
Directly overlooking the water, the Boat Shed Café provides a scenic spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch, drinks, and casual riverside relaxation. The venue also offers private function hosting for up to 60 guests with gourmet deck BBQs and cocktail catering, alongside portable picnic hampers designed for relaxed dining on the riverbank.
Christchurch is often described as a city shaped by its river, but nowhere is that relationship felt more directly than at the Antigua Boat Sheds. Standing on the banks of the Avon River at 2 Cambridge Terrace, the distinctive green-and-white-striped boathouses have anchored the city's recreational life for more than 130 years. Classified as a Category 1 Historic Building, the site continues in its original 1882 function, offering visitors a timeless escape that captures all the charm of Edwardian England while resting entirely within the modern central city.
Located just a five-minute walk from the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, the sheds evoke the classic sentiment from *The Wind in the Willows*: "there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." The quiet waters of the Avon glide gently past willow trees and manicured parklands, creating ideal conditions for an effortless morning or afternoon on the river.
Boating from the Antigua Boat Sheds remains an essential Christchurch experience. The fleet caters to solo explorers, couples, and family groups with a choice of single or double kayaks, traditional row boats, pedal-operated paddle boats, and Canadian canoes. Drifting upriver takes you past quiet stone walls, historic bridges, and leafy banks, completely detached from urban street noise.
For those who prefer exploring on two wheels, bike hire is available directly from the sheds. Cyclists can embark on flat, accessible urban paths through central Christchurch or follow dedicated cycle links into the expansive greenery of neighbouring Hagley Park.
Complementing the boating activity is the Boat Shed Café, an inviting venue where customers can unwind right on the water's edge. Offering breakfast, brunch, and lunch, the café kitchen serves up wholesome favourites ranging from fresh scones and baked goods to heartier dishes like their chef special Thai chicken curry. Cold drinks and hot coffees can be savoured on the deck while watching rowers launch into the stream.
One of the establishment's most famous offerings is its prepared picnic hampers. Guests can pick up a hamper and take their meal straight onto the grassy riverbanks under the shade of nearby trees, blending good food with the pastoral river atmosphere.
The historic venue is fully licensed and accommodates private functions and social gatherings of up to 60 guests. Work groups, family parties, and celebratory occasions can book the riverside deck for a relaxed gourmet barbecue, or choose an evening cocktail catering menu featuring an array of bite-sized canapés. The combination of century-old heritage architecture and gentle river vistas makes Antigua Boat Sheds a unique backdrop for events in central Christchurch.