Papa Hou (Treasure Box) is a performing arts area located within the YMCA. It comes with a large sprung floor, tiered seating, side rooms as well as a licenced bar.
The YMCA is centrally located with many cafes and shops within easy walking distance as well as many new buildings and developments that have arisen as a result of the 2011 earthquake.
YMCA on the corner of Hereford St (left) and Rolleston Ave (right). (My back is to the Botanic Gardens). Bean at the Y Cafe is on the left, who do coffee in the morning. Duo restaurant on Rolleston Ave is under the YMCA (on the right in the picture) and does great coffee from lunch time till late. (But that's "Christchurch late" = 10.30pm)
Front desk in the foyer of YMCA. Facing the desk like this - accommodation is on your right and Papa Hou is down the corridor to your left.
Looking down the corridor to Papa Hou from the reception desk, (see, they even have a sign near the ceiling). Also notice the vending machines.
Walk down the corridor to the base of the stairs and on your right you'll see the toilets, water fountain and entrance to some change rooms which are shared with the YMCA gym. We have also hired studios upstairs to be our change rooms, but these are the only toilets.
Head up the stairs to Papa Hou.
Inside Papa Hou from the door way.
Looking from other end. Beautiful looking dance floor, huh?! The high curtains are hiding a balcony area which we will have open and available for use.
You may bring your own food into the venue but it is not BYO, alcohol can be purchased the venue bar.
Being so close to the city centre there is a wide variety of cafes, shop, stalls etc. nearby. We'll recommend some places for dinner and breakfast/brunch on Sunday nearer the time.
Bean at the Y Cafe as seen from the reception desk area in the foyer. Did you know that they source all their food and coffee from small businesses in Christchurch?
Bean at the Y will be open for us from 8am to 4pm Saturday and 8am to 2pm on Sunday. They have all the coffees and drinks and cabinet food provided by really good local businesses. 😊☕️🍪🥧🥤
Airstream Icecream would love to have you come visit. Open 9am-5pm Saturday and Sunday. Check out their FB page for details.
Airstream Icecream bagel menu.
There is a licensed bar that will be in operation on Saturday night. This is on the same level as Papa Hou, entrance is on the other side of the landing from the Papa Hou door.
There is on-site accommodation known as Hotel Give and there is usually a discount for competitors available nearer the time. Book through their website or give them a call so they can handle any changes or special requests like adding extra nights at the same rate (which is not available/possible through other websites)
If you would like to stay with a Chch dancer then you can select the homestay option on the registration form.
YHA Christchurch, 36 Hereford Street, is a modern youth hostel in a heritage villa (see below). The hostel welcomes solo travellers and families with a variety of room types, from shared dorms to private rooms with ensuites. There is lots of space for cooking and relaxing with two full-equipped shared kitchens and two lounge areas.
A modern hotel with a great central city location popular with visiting dancers.
There is limited parking at the venue with the entrance off Cashel Street but there is plenty of carpark buildings nearby.
This is the Hereford Street view of the YMCA (right), the campervan is in a 5 minute drop off, the blue wall is a mural on the end of the Papa Hou, and on the same side of the street, beyond the big tree is Wilson's West End Car Park. The old building on the left is the Christchurch Arts Centre.
The address for the West End Car Park is Hereford Street, but that is the exit, you enter from Cashel St. It's $6 per day on Saturday and Sunday and $6 for Friday night. (The hours of operation means that is when you can drive in but you can drive out any time.) You can only come in and out once for that $6 though, if you leave and come back you will be charged again.
On street parking in the area is limited and expensive. There is a 5 minute drop off zone in front of the main entrance, which looks in frequent use. Every day the metered parking (which uses your number plate, not paper tickets) is $3.10 per hour with a limit of 2 hours between 9am and 6pm.
There is some parking behind the YMCA off Cashel St, but it has a 2 hour limit as well. Visitors coming for a short time or only in the evening could use a space here (no charge) but must write their registration plate number on the register on the YMCA reception desk. There are also some spaces reserved for a Medical Centre adjacent on Cashel St, so don't park there.
View of the entrance to the YMCA from the car park at the back of the building.
