Southern Centre: Multi-Sensory Experience
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Learn, explore, create and stimulate your senses through the use of innovative lighting and sound technology.
The Southern Centre is a multi-sensory environment for people of all ages and abilities which helps reduce stress levels and develop social skills.
It is a unique facility with the ability to cater to the needs of the individual, empowering you to choose your own environment, make changes and control your leisure time.
Interact with the smell machine, bubble column, shadow wall and more – all aimed at stimulating an individual's senses through smell, touch, light and sound.
The Southern Centre is for everyone, however, individuals who would most benefit are adults and children who have learning differences, cerebral palsy, autism, multiple disabilities, anxiety or stress-related problems.
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Email: southern.centre@ccc.govt.nz
Phone: +64 3 941 7016
You can get to the Southern Centre on buses 60, 1, 44 and the Orbiter.
View 60 timetable View 1 timetable View 44 timetable View Orbiter timetable-
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Book your visit
- Call 03 941 8999 or 03 941 7016
- Email southern.centre@ccc.govt.nz
- Come see us in-person at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre
Please contact the Southern Centre if you would like more information. Facility tours are available on request.
You can find the Southern Centre upstairs at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre. There is an elevator near the doors through to the gym and back carpark.
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PriceIndividual - 30 minute session *#$12.00Multi-visit pass (x10 visits) #$108.00
# A 50% discount is available for Hāpai Access and KiwiAble Leisure card holders for casual entry and multi-visit passes.
* A 25% discount is available for Community Services and Super Gold cardholders for casual entry and multi-visit passes.
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Benefits of a multi-sensory environment
- Promotes intellectual activity including memory recall
- Encourages relaxation
- Interactive equipment develops an understanding of cause and effect
- Helps to develop language – encourages participants to make choices or indicate their preference
- Promotes social skills and helps lower stress levels
- Last, of all, it's a fun environment
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Birthday parties
If you are looking for a unique experience, the Southern Centre is a great place to hold a birthday party.
We provide a sensory session with a birthday theme and a personalised message. Birthday party sensory sessions last for 30 minutes and are available for groups of up to 12 participants (not including caregivers).
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History of the Southern Centre
The Southern Centre is operated under a very successful partnership between the Christchurch City Council and the Canterbury Multi-Sensory Trust.
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The Christchurch City Council manages the daily operation of the Southern Centre, which includes staffing, general building requirements, processes and overhead costs.
The Trust is responsible for sourcing funding for the specialised equipment in the room, which includes new equipment projects and maintenance of equipment.
The original concept for multi-sensory rooms began in the Netherlands in the late 1970s and grew in popularity in both the UK and Europe.
The types and functions of sensory rooms have changed and morphed over the years and the Southern Centre is an extremely dynamic version of the early rooms.
This innovation and creativity have seen the Southern Centre recognised on the international stage, winning the World Leisure Award for Innovation and Excellence.
The first Southern Centre was located at QEII Recreation and Sport Centre until the February 2011 earthquake. It was then relocated to its current location at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre.
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Accessibility
At Christchurch Recreation and Sport we embrace diversity and believe that everyone deserves equal opportunities and access to recreation, sport and leisure facilities.
Christchurch Recreation and Sport Centres provide key accessibility features to ensure you can enjoy our spaces, including ramps, hoists, water chairs, changing rooms and toilets.
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You might like
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Sensory SwimmingCasual: $6.70 Multi pass: $60.30Sensory Swimming sessions are set in a calming, safe and supportive environment where people feel at ease and comfortable exploring new experiences.
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FUNky movementsCasual: $5.80A mixed ability, low intensity 45-minute class that combines gentle mind and body exercises for disabled people. No two classes are the same - they are always fun and support people are welcome.
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Birthday partiesCelebrate your child's special day with a fun and active birthday party at Taiora QEII, Pioneer, Cowles Stadium, Graham Condon or Te Pou Toetoe Linwood Pool.
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TumbletimesCasual: $4.90 Multi pass: $44.10Tumbletimes is a casual play session designed for babies and preschoolers to explore their physical capabilities at their own pace in a fun, safe and social environment.
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Pay to Play BadmintonCasual: $5.00 Multi pass: $45.00Rally your friends and whānau for a game of badminton at one of our Recreation and Sport Centres.
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Pay to Play BasketballCasual: $5.00 Multi pass: $45.00Practise your layups, passes and slam dunks with casual basketball sessions at Cowles Stadium, Graham Condon and Pioneer. Play as an individual or as a team.
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Pay to Play PickleballCasual: $5.00 Multi pass: $45.00A fun and exciting sport that combines elements of Badminton, Tennis and Ping Pong. Give it a go, you'll soon be hooked.
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