This place gives you an experience! Very glad we went there. In addition to a movie that really pulls you in, there is a good ride in an Antarctic vehicle, live penguins, and a room to experience Antarctic weather. Anyone interested in Antarctica and kids alike will love it.

Easy to find with heaps of parking. So much to see & do! Heaps of interesting exhibits.The 3D theatre was fun, plenty of oohs, ash’s & laughter. Seeing & being able to pat Husky dogs was so special, they were so placid, their owner/handler was so generous with his time & information. The visit in the snow room was a bit of fun, cold & windy. Watching the little penguins being fed & the keeper presentation was great fun & informative. We had a great time & would have to say it’s a don’t miss activity! Food at the cafe was good & not over priced. All the staff were very friendly.

Well worth the time and admission fee. The rides, films, and husky presentation experiences are based on set times. Best to go in the morning or early afternoon to catch everything.

Had a wonderful visit to the Antarctic center! So much to see and do! We spent 4 hours there and got to ride in the vehicle, go backstage with the penguins, meet the huskies, and much more! Had a great experience here and learned much! Take your time through the interactive exhibits, have fun, and enjoy!!

Had an amazing time at the exhibit – we saw Penguin feeding, braved an Antarctic storm in an enclosed space, enjoyed a 4D movie, touched the Huskies, and even took a ride in the impressive Hagglund, the specialized all-terrain vehicle used in Antarctica. Almost a perfect score, if only the staffs were more helpful. The team near the Storm Experience room unfortunately weren’t attentive, didn’t proactively provide information until someone asked questions. However the Hagglund driver and the 4D Theatre attendant were very helpful and friendly. Overall it was great experience and we would recommend anyone who visit Christchurch to come and visit this place!

This is an opportunity not to be missed. Many one of experiences to be had here, from the Hagglund ride, 4D cinema and seeing huskies. Amazing information about Antarctica and real time camera views. Got to experience a blizzard. Our guide was very informative and helpful.

As per the warnings, the ride in the Hagglund vehicle is bumpy and not for those were back problems or who are pregnant. The penguin feeding is somewhat underwhelming. There are seats for perhaps 20 people, but over 50 were crammed into the space. With waiting for the feeding to begin and observing the feeding, people were standing for about a half hour. This is problematic for seniors like me who have problems standing. Please consider installing more seating. There are lots of other smaller exhibits to view. If you find this review helpful, please give a like. You may also want to read my reviews of other tourist facilities in Christchurch, as well as in Auckland, Wellington and Brisbane, Australia.

This is an amazing experience. For someone that has been to the Antarctic it added to my knowledge. We had a backstage pass (recommended) so we found out lot's more about the Penguins at the Centre and the wonderful job they are doing, the guide was very passionate about her work. The Husky presentation was also first class and you get to pet them! The Blizzard experience, the Haglunds and the 4D theatre also fun. Add to that the many displays and information, it is all well worth the admission.

We really enjoyed our visit to the International Antarctic Centre (IAC) and thought it was one of the best value for money things we did in New Zealand. The talk on the use of Husky dogs in the Antarctic by Scott was really interesting. The Haggalund ride over the obstacle course was fun (NB only for those over 1.2m tall and without back/neck injuries etc). The ice storm and 4D film also a bit of fun (and informative) as was the Ice hole Challenge. There is a small group of rescue blue penguins which can be viewed from above and from below water (through viewing glass). The IAC is literally accross the road from the airport and backed onto our airport hotel. It was a great way for us to spend 3 hours whilst killing time in the day for our evening flight. The main activities listed above are timed frequently during the day. There was a break though for the Huskies around lunchtime. You do not need to wear warm cothing to visit. They give you jackets with a hood and overshoes to experience the (c 5 minute?) Ice Storm but I would say long trousers would be better than shorts to avoid getting cold legs .

We loved our visit, especially seeing the blue penguins and experiencing the Hagglund course. Staff are very knowledgeable and helpful and the storm dome was really fun. We learned a lot and had a blast. Totally lives up to the recommendations online and word of mouth.