Step inside Riccarton House for a guided journey through Christchurch’s pioneering past. Discover over 20 restored rooms that reveal the daily lives of the Deans family and the city’s colonial roots.
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
1 hour
Fitness Level
Suitable for all fitness levels; involves walking indoors and climbing stairs to the first floor.
Wildlife
History
Riccarton House was built in 1856 by the Deans family, early European settlers who preserved one of the few remaining native kahikatea forests in Christchurch.
Conservation
Efforts to maintain Riccarton Bush alongside the homestead protect native species and preserve this rare lowland forest within a growing urban area.
Riccarton House & Bush
Step inside Riccarton House for a guided journey through Christchurch’s pioneering past. Discover over 20 restored rooms that reveal the daily lives of the Deans family and the city’s colonial roots.
Riccarton House & Bush in Christchurch, Canterbury preserves a significant slice of Canterbury’s early settler history. The heritage property interprets the lives of the Deans family through carefully restored rooms, historic furnishings and maintained grounds.
Visitors can choose guided experiences that include a house tour through more than twenty restored rooms, a gardener-led walk of Victorian and native plantings, a Heritage Festival guided event, and after-dark ghost tours that combine local history with personal accounts from knowledgeable hosts. Guided garden walks are led by gardener Alan, who shares horticultural and ecological context for the site.
Tours focus on authenticity, conservation and storytelling. The house tour presents 19th-century life with room-by-room interpretation. Garden tours explore Victorian restoration alongside native plantings and landscape history. Ghost tours examine reported hauntings while grounding accounts in documented events tied to the Deans family.
Riccarton House & Bush accepts bookings for scheduled guided experiences and festival events; advance reservations are recommended to secure limited-capacity tours. The site’s long-term preservation, detailed restorations and use of local guides contribute to a reliable visitor experience. Promotional materials and tour listings specify times, accessibility details, and any special event information. Visitors interested in heritage architecture, historic gardens or Canterbury social history will find the site a focused and credible destination.
Interpretation emphasizes documented sources, family records and preserved artifacts to inform tour narratives. Effective conservation and careful presentation help maintain original fabric and furnishings while enabling public access. Information about schedules and accessibility appears on official listings for visitors online.
Location
Christchurch, Canterbury
Situated in Christchurch, Canterbury
Tours Offered
4 tours
House, gardens, festival and ghost tours
Rooms Restored
20+ rooms
Over 20 restored 19th-century rooms
Guided Experts
Local guides
Guided by gardener Alan and hosts
Reserve a house tour, garden walk or ghost tour to secure a spot — advance bookings recommended for festival and evening events.
Arrive Early for Check-In
Plan to arrive 10 minutes before your tour start to check in and browse Riccarton House’s historic shop.
Wear Comfortable Shoes
The guided tour includes walking through historical rooms with some stairs to climb—choose supportive footwear.
Limited Accessibility Upstairs
Be aware that access to the first floor requires stairs; it may not be suitable for those with mobility concerns.
Book in Advance
Tours have a maximum of 15 participants and fill quickly during festival season — reserve your spot ahead of time.
Comfortable walking shoes
Supportive shoes help navigate the tour’s indoor flooring and stairs comfortably.
Light rain jacket
Spring showers can occur, so a packable jacket is advisable for outdoor sections.
spring
Layered clothing
Temperatures inside and outside may vary, so layers keep you comfortable throughout the visit.
Camera or smartphone
Capture stunning architectural details and moments inside Riccarton House and surrounding bush.