Antigua Boat Sheds

The Antigua Boat Sheds are wooden Victorian boathouses built in 1883 on the banks of the Avon River/Ōtakaro in central Christchurch — among the few surviving 19th-century structures on the riverbank still operating in their original role. They were established when punting and rowing were fashionable pastimes for Christchurch's colonial society, and the business has run continuously ever since. Today the sheds hire out canoes, kayaks, and rowboats, while those who prefer a leisurely ride can book a traditional punt guided by a pole through the willow-lined river. The restored timber facade and calm river setting make it a quietly distinctive stop a short walk from the city centre.