PreviousSouthern Encounter Aquarium & Kiwi House (Visit this link)
We are committed to the concept of conservation through advocacy and education, and endeavour to bring you closer to the aquatic and terrestrial fauna that makes New Zealand so special.
The animals are examples of the wide range of species displayed at Southern Encounter, come in and check out approximately 150 species of fishy and feathery friends some day soon!
Southern Encounter is found within Cathedral Square, in the heart of Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city.
Entry is through either the Christchurch Visitor Centre or Pathway Clothing, both of which are located in the South-west corner of Cathedral Square.
New Zealand is geographically isolated from any major continental land mass, and has been since it broke from the Gondwanaland ‘Super Continent’ approximately 70 million years ago.
This has resulted in a native fauna which has evolved independently from that found on other land masses and consequently all but five of New Zealand’s native freshwater fish are endemic (only found in New Zealand).
From a terrestrial perspective this isolation has also resulted in a proliferation of flightless birds, which have evolved to fill the ecological niche which mammals took up on other land masses.
Southern Encounter embraces these very special animals and aims to educate the public about their fascinating life histories, their beauty, and sadly, due to many negative impacts brought about by man, the precariousness of their existence.
http://www.southernencounter.co.nz