Glentunnel there are plenty of things to do. Selwyn District, Glentunnel & Coalgate are part of a thread of small villages offering visitors a hub for mid Canterbury outdoors exploration from walks to local heritage trails. Glentunnel has a close historical association with local coal mines, potteries and brickworks of the Glentunnel/South Malvern area. This association, which continued until the 1980s, can still be seen in the brick community buildings including the library and stable, and many of the miners’ cottages are still lived in today.
What to do, highlights in Glentunnel & Coalgate
- Heritage buffs will enjoy soaking up the atmosphere of the Homebush Stables
- Brick buildings from churches, library and imposing brick gate posts (check travel pack information for brochure)
- Hub for Mt Hutt, Craigieburn Valley Ski Area & Broken River Ski Area.
Homebush Stables
Part of the pastoral business of the nineteenth century Deans family. The Deans established a large brick making and pottery works. The brick woolshed on Homebush marks the Deans family’s early presence in the district. The category 1 heritage listed 1870’s museum and stables buildings house a wide ranging and unique collection of pioneering country life on the Canterbury Plains and beyond. This includes a collection of vintage farming and mining machinery, military and sporting memorabilia and a broad collection of the everyday life of our forebears. There is also the unique Dayton Ohio water turbine, the only known one that is still in-situ in the world.
It is a working farm of 520 hectares with over 100 hectares planted in trees. Sheep and cattle have been farmed in the foothills by the Deans’ family since 1850. The cluster of heritage farm buildings were purpose-built for an extensive run of 33,000 acres. They remain on the property as a magnificent legacy to pioneering rural life and are classified in Category One by the Historic Places Trust.
Homebush has been used for location filming for a number of movies and advertisements including The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Homebush is open to groups by appointment only.
The Glentunnel Holiday Park camping grounds, beside the Selwyn River, are popular with Canterbury locals wanting to get away for the weekend.
Location: Homebush Road, Glentunnel.
Who turned up and named Coalgate?
Coalgate has an interesting history, first as a seasonal camp for Maori on eeling expeditions or travelling to the West Coast, and then as the ‘gate’ to the coalfields in the Malvern Hills.
Population in Glentunnel & Coalgate
1,191
What to do nearby Glentunnel & Coalgate, Canterbury?
Glentunnel & Coalgate is nearby Rangiora, Amberley, Oxford and Springfield (selfie heaven with its massive concrete pink doughnut).
Want to go camping in Hororata check out 9 Hurunui campsites & budget accommodation ideas.
Check out our favourite instagram posts for Glentunnel & Coalgate
Getting to Glentunnel
Travel pack information
Every town adds to the richness of things to do and see. For more details about what to do nearby Glentunnel & Coalgate check out Things To Do In Canterbury § Places to Visit, Activities & Sightseeing.
