The cottage is just a short drive (5km) to the Oxford township. Enjoy a walk up Mount Oxford, local horse trek (Kowhai School of Riding 10 mins away or Rubicon in Springfield), kayak on the Ashley River, have a paddle & play at the park at the Ashley Gorge or have a jet boat ride on the Waimakariri River. Try canyoning at Glentui or gliding in Springfield. Oxford has recently gain Dark Sky Accreditation meaning it's fantastic for star gazing! There are boutique shops, cafes & restaurants 5 minutes away. Pick up some great local products at the Oxford Farmers Market every Sunday morning. Oxford has an Art Gallery with new exhibitions each month showcasing New Zealand's Artists.  There are two parks in Oxford - Pearson Park which is great for young children (next to the supermarket) & further down on the corner of Burnett Street there is a skate park, tall "spider web", swings, slides & spinning ring. Have lunch at the award winning Cafe 51. Check out the Sheffield Pie Shop's "Main Street Bakery & Café" in Oxford for fantastic pies & baked goods. Other cafes / dining options include Black Beech Wine Bar (Gourmet Pizzas, tapas & desserts), Village Foods Bakery & Takeaway (fish & chips, baked goods, pies, sushi, Chinese meals etc), Oxford Workingmen's Club (bistro & takeaway), Challenge "Food To Go" (fish & chips, chicken, pizzas, curries), The West pub) serving pub meals. '50's style American diner "Cruisy Days" serving curly fries, buffalo wings, burgers, ice cream, milkshakes, waffles etc. Indian Hut - dine in or take away. Please refer to their websites for opening days/times. Just a short drive to Cust (approx 15 minutes) you'll find Route 72 Cafe & Emporium. Breakfast, lunch & evening meals on set nights. Shop at Oxford's various boutique shops including Emma's at Oxford (books, clothing & gifts), ReClotheme recycled clothing, Theas & the Art Gallery. Why not check out Oxford Cottage Crafts, Oxford Pharmacy & Gift Shop. The Farmers Market is on each Sunday morning. There is a Fresh Choice supermarket in Oxford. There are some lovely walks in the area - please refer to the Department of Conservation Website for details. Experience the beauty, native flora and birds in the Oxford foothills and Puketeraki Range. Try out the Oxford Rural Walk, Mears Track, Eyre Walk, Oak Walk, Mountain View Walk, Oxford Millennium Lookout Walk, Look Out walk. Other more extensive walks are Mount Oxford, Glentui, Mt Richardson, Ashley Gorge. Check out the walks on the Information Kiosk in Main Street or see attachment. The Ryde Falls is another popular walk. The Riding Workshop Has NZ's only dressage simulator. All levels of riders can improve their skills & it provides an analytical approach to riding. Learn to canter or fine tune your position & performance.   Oxford Area School Observatory Observation nights are organised, special events, night classes for adults and group visits also available. Golf Waimakariri Golf Course. 18 holes.Thongcaster Road, Oxford. Green fee players welcome. Take some time to pamper yourself! There's a great selection to choose from..........Main Divide Hair Lounge. Daisy Lane - Home based Beauty Clinic (Waxing, Pedicures, Brow Shaping & Tinting, Manicures Eyelash Tinting, Make-up, Facials, Electrolysis, Make-up). Massage Therapist - Marina Vermaat (Relaxation, neuromuscular therapy, swedish, indian head massage, chair massage). The Sunroom (Hairdressing, spray tanning, tinting). Always polished (Mani, pedi, cnd shellac power polish). I Love my.... (makeup, microblading, tattoos etc There are three petrol stations in Oxford (Challenge, GAS & Allied) all of which have mechanics for motor vehicle servicing/testing etc. There is also a hardware store - High Street Hardware. Oxford Speedway Carleton Road, off South Eyre Road. Oxford Tennis Courts A key can be picked up from the Oxford Service Centre 34 Main Street Oxford. Oxford Community Swimming Pool Burnett Street Oxford Open November to March. (Outdoor Heated pool) Train Take the TranzAlpine Train trip from Christchurch to Arthur's Pass or on to Greymouth. Or the Coastal Pacific train to Waipara, Kaikoura Blenheim & Picton Hot Air Ballooning Experience the magic of hot air ballooning over the Canterbury plains with Aoraki Balloon Safaris, Methven. Ashley Gorge River  8km from Oxford township. Ideal for kayaking, fishing, park and picnic areas. Fun and activities for all the family Mountain bike riding on the Wharfdale track Ski Fields Six Ski Fields including Mount Hutt, Porter Heights & Temple Basin approx one hour drive from Oxford. Akaroa is a day trip away.  Cruise on the Black Cat Cruises & swim with the dolphins.  Hanmer Springs is approximately 2 hours drive. Enjoy a relaxing soak & spa at the hot pools. Castle Hill Is only 45 minutes away - explore the ancient limestone formations, breathtaking scenery and mountain range. The rocks take on many shapes from tabletops to pillars and with imagination some appear as familiar animal shapes. You can wander around the rocks, and crawl through mini tunnels and arches probably chiseled by glaciers millions of years ago. Rangiora The town of Rangiora is about 35 minutes away. There are plenty shops to stock up & some lovely boutique shops along High St. Here are some of the top picks...... Artizan Bakery & Cafe is a good place to stop for a coffee/lunch. There's a children's play room upstairs with giant lego pieces to stack while you enjoy a sit down! Couplands is a great little bakery shop (near The Warehouse) with good value packaged breads, biscuits, pies (their Neapolitan (cream) slice comes highly recommended!) Victoria Seafood Bar. On Victoria Street, this is a great fish & chip shop. Enjoy your fish & chips at Victoria Park just down the road. Dudley Park Aquatic Centre Indoor 8 lane 25m lane pool, 19.5m long learners pool, spa pool, children's leisure pool with toddler area & "river". Skate park - just next to the pool. The Warehouse Stocks a wide range of clothes, homewares, dvd's, music footwear, outdoors items, confectionery, toys etc. Farmers Department Store on High St (clothing, homeware, toys etc) Town Hall Cinemas Recently refurbished, two boutique cinemas (only 23 seats!) & a 93 seat cinema. There are three supermarkets -New World, Pak n Save, Countdown. Some Christchurch Activities (50 minutes away).......... Margaret Mahy Playground This newly built multimillion-dollar playground is a must for children! It's the largest in the Southern Hemisphere (3500 square meters) & jam-packed with fun equipment. There are flying foxes, interactive water play area (take spare clothes!), big slide, tall spiral slide, sand pit, trampolines, swings, see-saws, climbing net/web to name a few!!! Free. International Antarctic Centre Experience an arctic storm, see the Little Blue Penguins, ride in a Hagglund, 4D simulated cinema (Cruise & Happy Feet). Learn about life in modern day Antarctica & Scott Base. Christchurch Tram A good introduction/tour around the city centre combining history & sightseeing. See the changing face of Christchurch. The day ticket allows you to get on & off as much as you like (17 stops) - a great way to see the city. The knowledgeable drivers inform you about the city, its landmarks & local sights. (Children are free with a paying adult). Canterbury Museum A great rainy day activity with lots to see & do. Botanic Gardens Have a stroll around the gardens - a great picnic spot & free to enter. Shuttle Tours available (see website for tour cost). Punting on the Avon A relaxing way to see Christchurch from a different perspective. Orana Wildlife Park (45 mins away) Feed the giraffes. See the lions, tigers, NZ's only gorillas, zebras, cheetahs, rhinos, Tasmanian Devils, kiwi, farm animals, birds etc. (70 different species, refer to website). Hop on & off the free shuttle. Willowbank Wildlife Reserve 5 minutes from the airport. Kiwi, birds, farm animals, deer, wallabies, monkeys, gibbons, lemurs etc. See website for more info.