Christchurch travel guide

Background

Given Christchurch’s strong and outwardly obvious English links, it is perhaps ironic that the first European settlers on the Canterbury Plains were in fact Scottish. Although having originally emigrated separately to Nelson and Wellington in 1840 and 1842 in search of better living conditions, brothers William and John Deans arrived on the plains and established themselves on land the local Maori called Putaringamotu in 1843, calling it Riccarton after their home town in Central Scotland. Five years later the New Zealand government made a contentious land deal with the local Maori purchasing about eight million ha of land for – it would seem – little more than ‘two sticks and a balloon’, which paved the way for more concerted settlement.

In 1849 a prestigious 53-member organization called the Canterbury Association was founded by Irishman Robert Godley. Comprising two Archbishops (of Canterbury and Armagh), seven bishops, 14 peers, and other notables, mainly from Godley’s old university college of Christchurch, in Oxford, its aim was to establish a new utopian Anglican settlement in the new colony of New Zealand. The site of this new settlement was chosen by the association’s surveyor, Captain Joseph Banks, who, presumably after seeing the Deans brothers’ prize ‘neeps’ and ‘tatties’ (turnips and potatoes), saw the obvious potential of the rich alluvial plains for agriculture.

In 1850 the ‘first four ships’ – Charlotte Jane, Randolph, Sir George Seymour, and Cressy brought 782 colonial souls to the then whaling base of Lyttleton, which had already been established on the Banks Peninsula. Even before their arrival, the Canterbury Association had already christened the great settlement-to-be, Christchurch. But perhaps, human nature being what it is, it seems little of either Christ or the church prevailed and bitter wrangling between members quickly led to the Association’s disintegration in 1855 and the end of the great Anglican settlement plan.

Despite these hiccups the new colony flourished and today its roots are obvious. One only need look at the trees and cricket pitches in Hagley Park, the gardens, the street names and the punting on the river, the public school boys skipping out of Christ’s College in blazers and straw hats, to realize how much of its founding English influence prevails. Indeed, in Christchurch, to be in the slightest way related to anyone on ‘the first four ships’ is, ‘darling’, to belong to the city’s elite. As for the Deans boys, William drowned in 1851 on a journey to Australia to buy sheep, and John died in the cottage three years later after contracting tuberculosis.

For details on events have a look at the useful website http://www.bethere.org.nz and http://www.christchurchnz.net.

The ‘Summertimes’ programme, http://www.summertimes.org.nz, includes summer theatre and retro events, twilight concerts and even a teddy bears picnic. The culminating outdoor Motors Classical Sparks in Mar is the highlight, with a classical concert and fireworks in Hagley Park.

National and international rugby Super Twelve and Tri-Nations (Mar-Oct) and Test matches at Christchurch’s Jade Stadium in the south of the city is a top spot and still wet with the tears of British Lions supporters after the tour of 2005.

Getting around

Christchurch is best explored on foot or by public transport. If you do have a car, note that the one-way road system can be confusing, and although there are plenty of parking lots and meters they are almost as tightly patrolled as Auckland and Wellington. An hour in the city centre will cost about $4. You can park for free south of Moorhouse Avenue (the Old Train Station and Hoyts 8 Cinema) and catch the free shuttle from there. Being so flat the city provides easy cycling.

The Best Attractions Shuttle T0800-484485, takes in the main city attractions including the Antarctic Centre and the Gondola, departing Cathedral Square, daily 0900-1800. A day pass will cost around $15.

The Midnight Express, offers late selected night services to the outer suburbs departing on the hour from 0100-0500 from Oxford Terrace, $5.

Ins and outs

Getting there

By air

The international and domestic terminals are located in a single building and are easily negotiated. There are information centres in both terminals, and city transport is to be found outside the building. Metro buses, T03-366 8855, www.metro info.org.nz, offer a regular service to Cathedral Square (20 minutes) hourly, Monday to Friday 0600-2300, Saturday to Sunday 0800-2300, $7. Red Bus City Flyer, T03-379 4260/T0800-733287, http://www.redbus.co.nz, also offers services hourly Monday to Friday 0600-2300, Saturday to Sunday 0730-2230. Various shuttles, including Super Shuttle (door to door), T03-357 9950/T0800-SHUTTLE, or Airport Shuttle Services, T03-356 3286, will take you into town for around $18. A taxi from the airport costs $35-40.

Tourist information

There is a wealth of free material including the useful Today and Tonight/ Christchurch and Canterbury, which is a must. There are also numerous city attractions and ‘drive’ maps including the Top Attractions, A Guide to Christchurch’s City Centre; The Avon River Drive; The Garden Drive; The Antarctic Heritage Trail; Wine Trail; and Arts Trail maps. The daily paper in the Central South Island is the Christchurch Press.

Christchurch

Airline offices

Air New Zealand, 549 Colombo St, T03-363 0600 (after hours T0800-737000). Mount Cook, T0800-730000. Qantas, T03-374 7100 (after hours T0800-808767).

Bicycle hire

City Cycle Hire, Addington, T0800-343848.

Mountain Bike Adventure Company, T03-339 4020/T0800-424534, http://www.cyclehire-tours.co.nz.

Car hire

All the major national companies have offices at the airport and in town. Prices average about $60 per day with unlimited mileage.

Scotties, 189 Blenheim Rd, T03-3482002/ T0800-736825. Also has offices in Auckland, is recommended and can offer good hire rates and buy back sales.

Others include: Apex, T0800-939597; Hertz, T0800-654321; KiwiCar, T0800- 5494227; Omega, T0800-112121; Pegasus, T0800-803580.

For cheaper deals try: Cut Price, T03-366 3800; Mac’s, T0800-154155; Rent-A-Dent, T0800-736823; Shoestring Rentals, T03-385 3647; and Trusty, T03-366 6329.

Motorcycle hire

Motorcycle Rentals and Tours, 32 Allen St, T03-377 0663, http://www.nzbike.com.

Rental Motorcycles, 28B Byron St, T03-372 3537, http://www.motorcycle-hire.co.nz. $85-235 per day.

Motorhome hire

Adventure Kiwi, T03-366 8008, http://www.adventurekiwi.co.nz; Backpacker Campervan Rentals, T0800-288699; the arty colourful vans of Escape Independent Car Rentals, T0800-216171, www.escape rentals.co.nz; Maui, T0800-651080; or Tomlinson Campers, T03-374 5254.

Taxi

Blue Star, T03-353 1200/379 9799, 24 hrs.

First Direct, T03-377 5555.

Gold Band, T03-3795795.

Banks

ANZ, ASB, BNZ, National and Westpac are around Cathedral Sq. Banking hours Mon-Fri 0900-1630.

Currency exchange

Most of the major bank branches offer exchange services. Interforex, 65 Cathedral Sq, T03-377 1233. Travelex, at the VIC or Harvey World Travel, corner of Armagh and Colombo sts, T03-366 2087, http://www.travelex.co.nz.

Disabled services

Disability Information Service, 314 Worcester St, T03-3666189, dis@disinfo.co.nz, 0900-1630; Kiwiable, T03-941 8774.

Internet

There are numerous places around Cathedral Sq: Cyber Café, 1/166 Gloucester St, T03- 365 5183, Mon-Fri 0900-2100, Sat-Sun 0900-2000; E Blah Blah, 77 Cathedral Sq (bus info corner), T03-377 2381, daily 0800-2230.

Laundry

21 Stanmore Rd, T03-389 1831, 0800-1730, Sat-Sun 0800- 1400 or 247 Armagh St, T03-379 6622.

Library

Gloucester St, Mon-Fri 1000-2100, Sat 1000-1600, Sun 1300-1600.

Medical services

24 hr surgery corner of Bealey Av and Colombo St, T03-365 7777; Christchurch Hospital, Riccarton Av, T03-364 0640; Dentist, T03-366 6644 (ext 3002); Urgent pharmacy, 931 Colombo St, T03-366 4439, until 2300.

Police

Central Station, corner of Hereford and Cambridge Terr, T03-379 3999.

Post office

(Post Restante) Cathedral Sq, T0800-501501, Mon-Thu 0800-1800, Fri 0800-2000, Sat-Sun 1000-1600.

Useful addresses

AA, 210 Hereford St, T03-379 1280. Emergencies, T111.