The International Antarctic Centre sits near Christchurch Airport, which is fitting: the city is one of the main gateways for Antarctic research flights. Exhibits cover polar science, field logistics, wildlife, and the sheer practical difficulty of working at the bottom of the world.
It is polished and family-friendly, with enough hands-on material to justify a visit before or after a flight. Travellers interested in Christchurch's role as an Antarctic base will get more out of it than those expecting a traditional natural history museum.