Riccarton House and Bush

Beautiful walk through the bushes with the cicadas and birds in full noise. Good short walk over the wooden broadwalk and pram friendly. My two kids really enjoyed themselves. It was cool seeing the gardens and the animal heads on the walls inside the house. Deans cottage was a good read. Nice to follow the stream and the kids really enjoyed the low hanging tree to climb and sit on just after the house.

We recently joined the Riccarton House & Deans Bush Halloween Ghost Tour, and it was an absolute delight from start to finish! The evening began with a welcoming glass of bubbles, setting the tone for a fun yet eerie adventure into Christchurch’s early history.nnThe tour through Riccarton House was fascinating — our guide shared captivating stories about the pioneering Deans family, some of Canterbury’s very first European settlers. Each room has been beautifully restored with original-style wallpapers and authentic period details, creating an atmosphere that feels like stepping straight into the 1840s.nnThe Deans family story is filled with triumphs, heartbreak, and resilience. You can truly feel the echoes of their lives — their struggles, love, and loss — within the walls of this stunning Scottish homestead.nnThe tour concluded at the historic Deans Cottage, Christchurch’s oldest remaining building, where the past feels almost tangible.nnThank you to the wonderful team for such a memorable, spine-tingling evening and for keeping Canterbury’s heritage alive in such an engaging way. A must-do experience for anyone who loves history, architecture, or a touch of the supernatural!

This is such an amazing resource to have in our local area. I recently took a large group on the tour of the house. Half the group were children under 12 and Bex was an amazing guide who had us all enthralled with the account of the Dean's family history and was easily able to cater to the age range. It was engaging, interactive and we learned so much. We finished with lunch in the private dining room. Service was efficient, friendly and it was an all round perfect way to show off Christchurch.

Wide variety of stalls including the most amazing Chai Tea and steak sandwiches. Fresh vegetables were plentiful but definitely pdo not eat before attending the Farmers Market.

We live nearby and it always fun to visit this place. There is a lot of history behind it and it is a great place to educate young kids about what happened here hundreds of years ago. The bush also offers interesting ambient to walk around and spend the day with family.

Directions to Riccarton House and Bush with public transportation

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