I’ve seen a few collections of toys in New Zealand but The Toy Collector in Christchurch is the first to have me tapping at my keyboard. I wasn’t a model railway fan before visiting, but the train sets are fantastic, one is a LEGO city including houses, shops, a soccer pitch, and an airport.

LEGO train set at The Toy Collector in Christchurch

LEGO train set at The Toy Collector in Christchurch

The other model train set has a lot of detail too, I spent ages looking at all the individual pieces.

Model train set at The Toy Collector

Along with the train sets is a life long collection of matchbox cars and a shiny selection of diecast Holdens and Jaguars.

Holdens and Jaguars at The Toy Collector

There are also collections of Superheros and Star Wars, collectibles from the movie Cars, and All Blacks memorabilia.

LEGO Big Bang Theory set at The Toy Collector

Update July 2020: The Toy Collector is now part of the New Zealand Museum of Toys & Collectibles and is opening soon at 36 Manchester Street.

Cost to visit – $10 adults, children under 14 – $5.

PS. The owner is really nice, he’s keen to chat about toy collecting, unfortunately as a non collector I couldn’t oblige, however if you’re a collector call in and say hello. And if you have a much loved collection of toys that needs a new home, I doubt it could find a better one.