see_the_world7

We're headed to New Zealand in just over a month. Our first 3 nights are in Christchurch. We kept these reservations even after the earth quake since we figured we'd have jet lag and it was as good a place to recover as any. We plan to head to Akaroa one day, but we'll still have another day in/around Christchurch.

Can any locals tell me what is currently open that we could visit. I know the cathedral is obviously out and I just checked the website tonight and saw that Canterbury Museum is closed until at least the end of June. Any other recommendations? We thought about heading up to Kaikouri for the day for whale watching but I'm not sure if that will be too far for a day trip. How much of the city center is still off limits?

Thanks for the update.

mlgb

Have you checked with your lodging to be sure they are open for business?

Here is the visitor center website for Christchurch, there are update links to check on what is operating. Much of the central business district is still closed off, and some activities have been moved to the suburbs
http://www.christchurchnz.com/plan-y...l-serving.aspx

http://www.christchurchnz.com/what-t...ravellers.aspx

One thing you should realize is that they are still having aftershocks so that may be part of your experience, too.

Perhaps you would want to just keep the first night in Christchurch, and then move on. You could spend a day traveling via Waipara winery area to Kaikoura, and then swing back thru Hanmer Springs.

see_the_world7

Thanks for those links!

Yes, our lodging is open. We're booked in a self-catering apartment on Salisbury Street right on the edge of the park. They say they had a little damage but have been able to get everything sorted. We booked all our locations ahead of time and that is the only one that was prepaid. I suppose they might make an exception and let us change, but we weren't sure we wanted to. We arrive a little after noon on June 20th. We figured by the time we pick up our vehicle, get luggage, etc... we would not feel like doing much anyway. Plus we're traveling from England so I fully expect we'll have jet lag. That is night 1. We don't want to drive much that first day. In fact, we figured we'd still be recovering from jet lag on the next day and weren't going to plan too much then. If we're feeling good that is the day we planned to head to Akaroa. That will be a full day for us with stops so then that is night 2. We had chosen a place close to the city center figuring we could just walk around the first day and in the evenings. I knew the city center would remain closed for a while, but we didn't know what else would be open. We were hoping the Canterbury Museum might be open, but it looks like it won't.

Our 3rd day we thought about driving up to Kaikoura. I realize we could spend the night there and maybe I'll look in to that. We were just trying to leave our options open. If that 3rd day is bad weather and we wouldn't expect the whale watching to happen then we probably would do something else and wouldn't want to be booked in accommodations up there.

After our 3rd night we plan to start heading through Arthur's Pass so maybe if I can get out of the 3rd night in Christchurch we'll look at making a start in that direction on day 3.

Thanks for the feedback. I see the Antarctic Center is open. Is that worth visiting?

mlgb

A lot of people like the Antarctic Center. It isn't my favorite thing for the rather high ticket price, I used to prefer going to the Canterbury Museum. I think after you get over being tired from the long trip, you'll find that the jet lag isn't all that bad in the "arriving" direction. I would think your lodging will be understanding about dropping a night, and just glad you aren't cancelling completely.

I find Kaikoura awfully far for a self-drive day trip.

see_the_world7

OK, after first telling us they were not damaged and would be open, we've just received word from the self-catering place in Christchurch that they might not be open due to an unsafe building near them. They recommend we look elsewhere. So now we are considering just staying 2 nights in the Christchurch area and then just adding an extra day to our next location. Since we don't really need to be walking distance to the city center of Christchurch anymore, any suggestions on an inexpensive motel or self-catering (2 bedrooms) in the Christchurch or Akaroa area?

mlgb

Here's the link for Akaroa.

http://www.akaroa.com/fpnew/fastpage...templateid/204

I think if I were in your shoes I would just head straight there.

Melnq8

We enjoyed our stay at the Salerno Motel (save a bit of street noise) and they were unaffected by the earthquake:

http://www.salernomotel.co.nz/

We've stayed here too, and as far as I can tell, they're also open for business:

http://www.delagomotel.co.nz/

kiwi_rob

Hello, stw. I have been away from this board for a while and have only just seen your post.

The Christchurch CBD is, as the current popular expression would have it, "munted". The exclusion zones are being shrunk gradually (far too slowly in the opinion of many locals), but the CBD is still off-limits and is likely to be so for quite some time yet. We are only slowly getting news of the number and identity of the buildings that will need to be demolished, and it is jaw-dropping stuff. Others, such as our Town Hall (where many concerts and other events are held), are not expected to reopen until the middle of next year at the earliest.

The Antarctic Centre is open for business (and seems to be desperate to attract visitors), but there is not much else to see and do in Chch just now apart from walk in the parks and sightsee.

A report published a few days ago indicated that the number od available guest beds here has been halved, but that there is still accommodation available.

Kaikoura can been done in a day trip from Chch (about two and a half hours drive each way) and Akaroa is about an hour each way.

I'm afraid that, for now, Chch is more of a gateway than a destination in its own right.

Rob.

Bokhara2

Hi Rob,
Great to see your face popping up.
Hope all is well with you & yours.
I was so sad to hear that something like 1,000 buildings will have to be razed in Christchurch CBD. Can't begin to imagine how it must feel when it's your own city.

Very best wishes
Bokhara

see_the_world7

Thanks all. We've gotten a refund for our accommodations in Christchurch and are now planning to spend the first 2 nights in Akaroa before heading toward Arthur's Pass.

kiwi_rob

Yes, Bokhara, that estimate of 1000 buildings to come down is hard to comprehend. Looking on the bright side, once the sites have been cleared, there will be plenty of off-street parking available for a while for anyone wanting to come to town. Mind you, there may not be much there for them to see or do.
Rob.

KrisTiki

I did the exact same trip in 2008. Although I was flying from Sydney, so no jet-lag. Here's some things we did--my best booking friend is www.newzealand.co.nz It even helps you with driving itineraries and drive times (which it looks like you have NOT taken into account!)

Day 1: arrival early afternoon, pick up car, drive to Center of town- lunch- it was sunday and lots of places were closed. Drive to the Kiwi center: Kotane.co.nz for a show/dinner/bird watching.
Drive to Akaroa--LONG, Dark, twisty roads, with the fear of sheep dropping in across the road, sheer drop offs from the cliffs we were driving along...arrived late for our little house.
Overnight in Akaroa: perfect view of the bay--NZ and OZ have "Holiday Parks" which I like-inexpensive, clean, small houses for multiple ppl in great places. (search New Zealand Holiday Park)
Did a Dolphin Swim in Akaroa, walk about, lunch..and drive north to Kaikoura.

Drive 4 hours or more to arrive at Kaikoura--barely got dinner, the only restaurant in town still with lights on let us order take away after they were closed! Stayed in the HOliday park. I did a seal swim the next day--it was great. My travel companions did a flight around the area and saw whales/dolphins..etc. Walk about town, back in the car...

Drove about 6 hours..seemed like more. to get towards Arthurs Pass. We actually went to Nelson, it was dead. Then arrived at a farmstay around the bay. 3 nights there was fab.

Our road trip continued..but be aware the narrow 2 lane roads, no big highways like in UK or USA or Europe! And take or buy bug repellent for your family. I got attacked by "sand flies" which are black flies and was miserable for that the entire time. But wonderful trip otherwise!

**HINT: Try Travel

see_the_world7

Thanks KrisTiki. I've already been looking at the website you mentioned and several others. We've also planned out the driving routes and drive times by comparing a few different sites. We always plan to stop along the way and most places we are spending multiple nights in each location so I don't think we'll be rushed at all. We had already booked all of our accommodations but just needed to make a few adjustments due to the status of Christchurch. Our main decision was about whether we would do the drive to Kaikoura. Previously we would have been staying in Christchurch so the drive estimate was around 2.5 hours. I realize the drive to Kaikoura from Akaroa would be closer to 4 hours so we aren't going to do that anymore.

Our only worry about driving is whether the roads might be slick since it will be winter, but we're renting a 4WD and will have snow chains just in case. We're very used to the small country roads around England and we've driven through mountain roads in other countries. We're used to driving taking much much longer than it would on the motorway.

We do plan to take bug spray although I'm hoping the bugs won't be bad in the winter. Do you expect they'd still be bad in June and July? We'll be on the south island for 3 and a half weeks from mid June to mid July.

Melnq8

STW - I recently read that tea tree oil mixed with lotion makes an ideal sandfly repellent, so that's what I've packed for our trip to the SI next week. In my experience, the sandflies aren't bad during the winter months, but they never completely go away.

mlgb

I will be interested to hear if those vicious NZ sandflies are deterred by a bit of tea tree oil. I would pack a backup plan...for me DEET!!

Melnq8

We've got some of that too mlgb, although I've not had much trouble with sandflies on our trips to NZ - they seem to like my husband better than me. Tea tree oil certainly repels me though, the stuff really stinks.

Bokhara2

I doubt there will be many sandflies around in June/July. Their wings will snap off in the cold