optional Field Trips
Field Trips – Thursday 19 November 2026
Updated: 23 June
- All tours depart from the University of Canterbury at 13:15
- Each tour will have a dedicated tour leader
- For return transfers, drop-off will be available at UC before or after continuing to a central city location
- A central city drop-off point has been arranged for convenience
- Some tours are one way only as these tours close to the city centre
- Many of the tours have a maximum number for the tour. Please book early to confirm.
- Most of the tours are complimentary. If you would like to go on either the Renegade Taproom tour and beer tasting tour or the 4 Bars Gin Distillery tour & tasting, the tour cost is passed on to you. Advance payment is required. There are limited numbers on both these tours – book early.
1. Orana Park – Behind the Scenes RETURN TRANSFER
Location: McLeans Island Road
Depart: 13:15 | Return: approx. 17:00
Drop off at UC and city centre as required
A guided tour of what you don’t normally get to see when visiting Orana Park. You will get to observe some of the amazing conservation work that occurs, visit where many of our animals go when the visitors have gone, plus all important time experiencing what we can offer for your biology students.
Wear appropriate clothing, sunhats and sunscreen.
2. SYFT Technologies – Tour and Demo ONE WAY TRANSFER
Location: 68 St Asaph Street
Depart: 13:15 | Tour Concludes approx: 15:45
Make own way back to your hotel
SYFT technologies is a local company spun off research at UC, but their presence is now global. They design and manufacture an analytical chemistry instrument using SIFT-MS (select ion flow tube mass spectrometry).
This tour will include a short seminar on how the technology works, a tour of the production line, and a demonstration of the real-time analysis that SIFT-MS can provide. This tour would be ideal for teachers of level 3 Chemistry to add a layer of context/application to the 3.2 spectroscopic data standard.
3. Renegade Taproom with beer - tour and beer tasting ONE WAY TRANSFER
Location: 105 Orbell Street, Sydenham
Depart: 13:15 | Tour Concludes approx: 16:00
Cost: $25pp
Make your own way back to your hotel.
Renegade Brewing Co is a family-owned brewery and taproom that opened in April 2025 in Sydenham, Christchurch. It focuses on providing small-batch, freshly brewed beer for guests to enjoy in a relaxed environment alongside the working brewery.
The tour includes an introduction to Renegade Brewing and the brewing process, a discussion of ingredients, brewing techniques and beer styles, as well as guided tastings of selected beers. Please make your own way back to your hotel.
4. Zincovery RETURN TRANSFER
Location: 5 Tanya Street, Bromley
Depart: 13:15 | Return to city approx : 16:00
Drop-off at UC if required
Tour the Zincovery Plant and see a demonstration. Zincovery is a Christchurch-based cleantech company that specialises in environmentally friendly zinc recycling. Using a novel, hydrogen-based process, it recovers high-purity zinc from industrial east with 70% less energy and 95% fewer emissions than transitional methods.
5. Black Soldier Flies | High Voltage LabONE WAY TRANSFER
Location: University of Canterbury
Time: 13:30 | Transfer from UC to the city if required: 16:45
| Time | Activity | ||
| 13:30 | Black soldier flies – overview | ||
| 13:45 | Colony visit, followed by a lab visit to see products from black soldier flies | ||
| 14:45 | Afternoon tea with staff and postgraduate students | ||
| 15:15 |
|
||
| 16:15 | Visit to high voltage lab | ||
| 16:45 | Bus transfer to city centre |
6. Lincoln University – Wine Science RETURN TRANSFER
Depart: 13:15 | Return to city approx: 17:00
With drop off at UC if required.
Explore Wine science at Lincoln University. The group will be split into two groups• Go on the vineyard and do some hands-on learning. (more applicable to bio teachers)• Go into the lab with a focus on titrations and techniques to adapt flavour profiles etc. (more applicable to chem teachers)The two groups will then join up for a 30-minute wine tasting session.
7. Water Cremation ONE WAY TRANSFER
Location: 420 St Asaph Street
Tour concludes approx: 15:30
Make your own way back to
your hotel.
The presentation takes place in the Little Chapel at Bell, Lamb and Trotter funeral home, Christchurch City centre. The Christchurch Water Crematorium is situated within the funeral home, and we can take you on a tour of the facility after the presentation. Water cremation is an environmentally friendlier alternative to flame. The process involves Level 2 and 3 Chemistry ideas (hydrolysis) in an interesting context.
8. NZ Marine Studies Centre RETURN TRANSFER
Location: Naval Point Club, Lyttelton
Depart: 13:15 | Return to City approx: 16:45
Drop off at UC if
required
University of Otago's NZ Marine Studies Centre is a Ministry of Education ELC provider who has developed a range of hands-on programmes and resources designed to immerse students, teachers and whānau in learning more about their local marine environment and strengthening connections to it. Come join us at Navel Point Club in Lyttelton and explore the diverse intertidal region using Marine Metre Squared tools and a range of sampling methods to monitor changes taking place in the coastal environment. Connection with Yachting NZ's RŪNĀ curriculum will highlight how schools can use their local boat clubs to engage in environmental action and long-term monitoring.
9. Climate Action Campus RETURN TRANSFER
Location: Old Avonside Girls Site, 180 Avonside Drive
Depart: 13:15 | Return to City Centre approx: 16:15
Drop off at UC if required
This tour will include a presentation on how the campus (previously Avonside Girls site) was set up and how it is now being run. This will be followed with a tour of the site including the solar farm, organic gardens, lab space, etc.
10. 4 Bars Gin Distillery ONE WAY TRANSFER
Location: 3 Ash Street
Depart: 13:15 | Tour concludes approx: 15:30
Cost: $30pp - user pays
Make own way back to your hotel.
Their flagship expression, Gin Clear Day, takes its name from the WWII pilots who used the term to describe the perfectly clear blue skies of ideal flying conditions. It delivers precision, clarity and a refreshing uplift in every sip - crafted to elevate any occasion.Start with a classic G&T and then work your way through an individual tasting of the 11 signature botanicals that together make up the award winning ‘Gin Clear Day’.Additional drinks, cocktails and bottles are available to purchase from the Distillery Bar.
11. One Stadium – Behind the Scenes ONE WAY TRANSFER
Location: Montreal Street
Depart: 13:15 | Tour concludes approx: 1530
Make own way back to your hotel.
One New Zealand Stadium is a stunning piece of architecture. This tour takes you on a journey through its creation, exploring the cultural narratives behind its design and artwork, the science of the turf, and what it takes to operate a world-class facility. Along the way, you’ll discover the stories behind each feature of the venue—many of which hold surprising insights.
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