Christchurch, New Zealand + Add a trip

Most people do not realise that Christchurch is the gateway to Antarctic for many research efforts. The US has a naval base at the airport from which it stages all it's support flights.

As a result if you want to learn a lot about the ice, then Christchurch is a great place to do so. A combination of the Antarctic section at the Museum and the Antarctic Centre (near the airport, and complete with simulated blizzard but real penguins) should see you right.

It's 15 minutes out of the city centre and provides a fantastic view over the city.

If you stay until dinner time, you can have some great food at the restaurant on top of the hill.

http://gondola.co.nz/

The Terrace (which is basically Oxford Tce.) has a bunch of restaurants serving food that'd suit most palettes. On a nice summer day, it's lovely to sit out on the patio (pretty much every restaurant on the strip has one), sipping a good cup of cappuccino, while having yum brunch.