2 Day Artscape

Selwyn is only a 20-minute drive from central Christchurch and possesses a rich landscape coveted by artists and artisans alike. Bring your paints and pencils to sketch some of New Zealand’s most stunning scenery.  

Set out for your two-day tour early and take the road to Prebbleton, stopping at Union Fare for some of the best coffee and arguably the best eggs benedict this side of the Southern Alps! You’ll need all your strength for the next few days of travel and art! 

The next stop on your Selwyn adventure is Down by the Liffey Gallery in the picturesque town of Lincoln. This wee gallery is housed in the historic Coronation Library Building, opened in 1912 to commemorate the coronation of King George V, and fully restored in 2011, reopening as the art gallery it’s known as today. The Liffey prides itself on its links to the local community, with exhibitions changing monthly.  

On the main road of Lincoln, you’ll see the stunning sculpture “Ariel” by Llewellyn Summers. While in town, visit Lincoln University, the oldest agricultural college in the Southern Hemisphere that houses an enviable collection of original artworks including pieces from Bill Hammond, Toss Wollaston and Robyn Kahukiwa. 

Take Leeston Road to the quaint town of Leeston where you'll discover Lakeland Art Gallery.  Lakeland has a great range of both contemporary and traditional artwork and also runs art classes regularly, so be sure to book one in! 

Your accommodation for tonight is The Crate and Barrel Hotel, where the community gathers to enjoy traditional fare meals and local yarns. The hotel has been designed for comfort and convenience.

After enjoying a relaxing night, it’s time for the most important meal of the day—breakfast! Suburban Eatery uses fresh local produce and is the perfect spot to get you energized for the day. We recommend the corn quinoa and spinach fritters! They also make a great barista coffee, so make sure you get your caffeine fix before you leave.

Once breakfast has been devoured, make a beeline for Hororata, home of the Highland Games and Hororata Glow Festival. The old Hororata pub, badly damaged in the 2010 earthquake, is being faithfully restored and is now a haven for Selwyn artists to sell their creations. The owners, Frank and Sarah, offer pottery and art classes. You will often find Frank behind his wheel throwing beautiful pots right before your eyes.

Across the road is the Hororata Café which makes a tasty lunch—pies are their specialty. Hororata Road will take you to Glentunnel, where pottery, coal and brickworks were the original industries of this town. On weekends, you may find the Glentunnel Museum open for you to explore more of its history.

Head North to Darfield and check out Te Huanui Art Gallery on the main road. This space has regular changes in exhibitions and celebrates local artists. Taking place in spring, the annual Darfield Artweek and its exhibitions in the local recreation centre should not be missed.

Once you’ve finished at Te Huanui Art Gallery, it’s time to begin the journey to Christchurch via West Melton. If you have time for a final stop, drop into Melton Estate, where you can browse the local art for sale and stay for a delicious meal or wine tasting.

Thanks for visiting Selwyn and exploring the artistic delights the region has to offer!