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My wife has had a job offer so we're potentially (when she's made up her mind) going to Christchurch for 1st May. I've never really been past Europe so I'm thinking of making the most of travelling over there by either going on a cruise (I can't find one that suits in that direction though!) or travelling to the likes of Thailand for a holiday on the way. Does anyone have any suggestions? If we're going, I'd like to leave around mid-March so we've got up to 6 weeks or so if necessary.
I may be dreaming but I like it - a flight over there just doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun to me.
Any ideas?
I reckon this cruise should take you at least 6 weeks to get there!
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Nah, knees are too bent for me - I'd need something with more leg extension.
Take it you have been to NZ and Christchurch we had plans to do the same after 4 week stay over there we changed our minds and that was before the quakes!!
Consider going via the South Pacific instead of SE Asia.
I've been to French Polynesia, the Cook Islands and Fiji - all were a lot of fun.
Can stop in LA for a bit too if you like.
Good shout - South Pacific sounds very interesting to me - fly to LA and go from there. I'll have a look at that option...
Unfortunately we have not been - a holiday there would mean giving up jobs and the cost would be astronomical. We know a lot of people who have moved there and love it BUT I cannot say that we are certain at all.
Unfortunately we have not been - a holiday there would mean giving up jobs and the cost would be astronomical. We know a lot of people who have moved there and love it BUT I cannot say that we are certain at all.
Good luck, enjoy. At least the new MTB park has opened with uplift, and you will get good at hiding under tables.
Most international flights to ChCh go via Sydney or Auckland, so perhaps look at where you could fly to from there for potential places to stop.
If I had 6 weeks on the way there I'd probably go to the US on the way and spend some time in the mountains (but then I'm not a fan of hot temperatures). I know a few folk who worked theor way there via South Africa and Aus too.
I lived in ChCh a couple of years ago and loved it. It will be even better now as more roads are open to cyclists in the port hills and a new trail centre has opened (the 'Adventure Park').
Christchurch is not the thriving place it once used to be. When i go back to NZ, i'll not even visit CT.
NZ - yes
Christchurch - NO
Unfortunately this is a debate that can rage on forever - I've asked many, many people and have looked at various forums - for every person who adores their life in South Island, NZ, there is another who used to live there and detested it. By the time I've read through everybody's response about how horrific/awesome it is, I'll be old and grey, and wouldn't be able to get in anyhow.
I'm thinking the only way of knowing is to go and try it for a couple of years. If I could move to Europe, I would do it in a heartbeat but then I've been trying to persuade her for over ten years of that and have hopelessly failed.
Good shout on Sydney & Auckland - I'll work back from there and see about any cheap flights we could muster.
Easy to get to Bangkok with emirates, then check out Thailand and Vietnam etc
Downside of travelling on your way over will be the amount of stuff you will have with you. Bear this in mind. 30kg + is not nimble. Good luck the kiwis are a top bunch
A friend went out on a work placement to NZ for a couple of years as it turned out. She came back via all sorts of exotic places including the Galapagos. I assume you could do something like that the other way i.e. from Blighty to NZ.
Incidentally she has gone back out there after a few months back here. Based in Wellington, mind.
I agree, unless you've been there and tried it who knows. I lived there almost 15 years (Wgtn which is a far superior city...) and regret not a moment. Good on you, the city is certainly not what it was. Well, there;s no city left really but it's regenerating and there's spectacular stuff not far away - Rakaia Gorge, Arthurs Pass, Mt Hutt, Mt Somers etc etc. I lived in Methven for a while when I worked at Hutt and that whole area is totally different.
And the beers better now.
For stopping off, Hawaii is good or any of the pacific islands. AirNZ used to be able to get you to hawaii or Cook Islands - both good, if different.
Go for the south Pacific. Fly in to LA and then out to either The Cook Islands or Fiji (I'd choose the former). You'll then fly into Auckland then down to Christchurch from there.
My mum went by boat in 1965ish, via Panamar and Fiji etc took her car too!
Fantastic, thank you for all the information. We're not city people at all (we live in semi-rural Scotland anyhow), and my wife's job would be in Lincoln, to the SW of Christchurch (apparently where folk flee to when tsunami warnings go out) so from the outside looking in, I don't think we'll be too concerned about the city not being as vibrant as it once was/ We're potentially going for our kids - 4 and 1 - the idea of a much more outdoor life appeals greatly - I'm sick and tired of living indoors, cowering from rain.
With the disparaging things I have heard so far, I'm thinking the journey may be the best bit!!
I'd love to cruise there or go by some sort of boat but it doesn't look easy now that air travel is the way. I'll be researching sending the cars over as well soon!
Wife and I moved to Hamilton (N Island) without ever visiting NZ, it was fab. Would have stayed forever but then job took us to USA instead.
It'll be an amazing adventure. Love Asia myself so +1 for Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia. Send your stuff by boat, put what you need in a rucksack and spend $10 a day each!
Make sure the first purchase you make for your new home is a really strong table..
My brother and his wife emigrated 3 years ago and loves it. With the dropping ££ value it's getting more unlikely that I'll be able to visit any time soon
Check TradeMe for car prices, it's a PITA sending them, you can but might be easier to sell and buy there. They will take 3 months, any shared container will.
Ignore what anyone says, I had more whingeing poms work for me than I care to remember. Embrace the difference and get out there. Don't expect stellar weather either esp not there but as I said before you are close to lots of adventures.
Christchurch is very quiet, very desolate and is generally in quite a sorry state. It's a very cool place to visit for a few days, and the sense of community to rebuild is amazing, but unfortunately rebuilding a whole city takes a long time and progress is, in the grand scheme, quite slow.
It's a fantastic place to visit, and I'd recommend it to anyone who goes to NZ to visit the South Island and spend some time there, but I'd (personally) hate to live there.
North Island though, Auckland is amazing and a great place to be. I know people who have lived in NZ all their life and have never been to the South Island.
The South is an amazing place though. Had a fantastic time there for a month or so. A massive, massive contrast to the North.
Lincoln isn't a bad spot, nice easy access to the Bank's Peninsula, University vibe, easy access to the coast to the south and north and the Port Hills.
You can be in Arthur's Pass National Park in a couple of hours.
I personally love South Island, NZ and would kill to be in your position.
If I recall, there are cruises that depart USA west coast and stop at NZ via Hawaii etc. Looked into it when I lived in Australia and my parents couldn't fly.
I lived in chch for a year and loved it and that was despite being there for the 2011 earthquake (that was an eye opening couple of weeks working as a junior a+e registrar!) The main thing that drove me away was the constant aftershocks and the quakes which I understand are still ongoing. The CBd didn't interest me much which is lucky as it's decimated, but the shakes started to get really old. Being at work for a big shake and all comms going down wondering if my wife was ok at home got old. As did dodging falling boulders on the cycle from work. Perhaps if you've never been there for a big shake you will not worry but being in a+e for the aftermath conspired to make me a bit jumpy!
My wife's oldest friend who is from a rural Scottish background emigrated to the South Island (about 2 hrs south of Christchurch)years ago - they haven't looked back - absolutely love it.
I have ended up under my desk a few times in edinburgh ! Wobbly floor and well drilled response = embarassment
I was in NZ for a month many years ago and a guy we knew there sold up in the UK, bought a landie and drove it all the way to Singapore (I think). He sold the car for a boat ticket to NZ and has lived there ever since. This would have been in the 50's I think. Looking at the countries you have to drive through that would be an "interesting" trip to do today.
This is not a suggestion for the OP. If it was me, I'd fly halfway there, Singapore would do, then explore more of Thailand and visit Vietnam...
Doorway or stairwell for the win nzcol! Never failed me - well once I got hit by a suspended ceiling tile but that doesn't count.
Chch had great biking on doorstep, great surfing on banks peninsular, great skiing no crowds and kiwis are really nice people.
It's a long way from home though.
Working there really opened my eyes to how sh!t working in the nhs had become and changed the direction of my career accordingly.
DickyHepburn above - you didn't used to live in Backwell did you?
NZ
Week 1. Best place in the world
Week 2. Nice here
Week 3. Wheres the airport?
I'm thinking the only way of knowing is to go and try it for a couple of years
That's a great attitude.
Breaking the trip is a wonderful idea and great use of dead time. Easy to do 6 weeks in SE Asia, I lived/worked there for a while and did 10 weeks there recently (Laos, Cambodia, Thailand)
Vietnam Central and North, Cambodia (temples), Thailand - Chang Mai and Islands, eg Koh Samui or those down around Krabi ?, Borneo - Sandakan, Kinabatangan River, Rainforest Lodge Danam Valley
That being said the Pacific idea is a great one as it's so far most of us Europeans never go.
Pahoehoe-not any more, drop, cover, hold these days 😉 under a strong object. Not many buildings with stairs left in the wells in ChCh, and sheared in wgtn recently.
As I thought - some massively disparate viewpoints! Thank you for all of them. I'm torn, inevitably about going out in the first place but I still think we should try it, about doing Asia or the US-Hawaii-South Pacific on the way. Overall though, it's not a bad position to be in!
NZ is great if you're into outdoor life. Been over 3 times for long periods. Turned down job few years due to ill relatives still regret that missed chance but hey ho. Go and see for yourself. May be cheaper to do South Pacific from NZ in future rather than Asia. Id check flight prices and go to places on way over that are cheaper from here and dearer from NZ if that makes sense.