Moving to Christchurch, Cantebury

[Queen Kiya]

My family and I are moving to Christchurch, maybe as soon as November! I am both excited and scared! We have an 18 month old daughter and I don't know a soul living in New Zealand!

(I do know someone FROM NZ who is now living in the U.S.)

I have no idea what Christchurch is like, where it is, and where to even start looking for somewhere to live! (I only know what I have learned on the internet...)

We're goign to be living there for atleast 2 years while my DH goes to school. Anyway, I would love it if I could meet a few friendly folks on here to learn more about NZ!

It will be fun!

Kris
(In my little town in Eastern Ontario, Canada)

:dizzy:

[simple living mama]

Hi, we lived in Christchurch for two years while husband went to school and I had my first child over there. We have since moved back to Colorado.

We had a great time but for the first three months it was hard finding a place to live and getting settled in. Once we did that, life became fun.

Email me directly about anything and I will try and answer it for you the best I can. It's funny, he just applied for a job today at the University of Canterbury where he got his masters. I would love to move back.

Regina reg@animas.net

[Queen Kiya]

Hi, we lived in Christchurch for two years while husband went to school and I had my first child over there. We have since moved back to Colorado.

We had a great time but for the first three months it was hard finding a place to live and getting settled in. Once we did that, life became fun.

Email me directly about anything and I will try and answer it for you the best I can. It's funny, he just applied for a job today at the University of Canterbury where he got his masters. I would love to move back.

Regina reg@animas.net

Well, we are considering having more children in the next few years, so we too may have our second child over there. We shall see! ;)

We are hoping to find a place before we leave. We have one ni mind. We'll most likely be leaving in January, as the school year begins in Feb over there...I hope all goes well.

I'll bes ure to mail you if I have more questions....

Thanks for your info!

K

[mamaleahnz]

Hi Kris
I live in Hanmer Springs which is 1.5hrs north of Christchurch, we come to Chch every week or two for shopping. Give me a yell if you need help with anything, I can recommend good organic shops, health stores, a great family doctor. But really, even if all you need is a friendly vibe, PM me :thumb
Leah

[simple living mama]

Well, we are considering having more children in the next few years, so we too may have our second child over there. We shall see! ;)

We are hoping to find a place before we leave. We have one ni mind. We'll most likely be leaving in January, as the school year begins in Feb over there...I hope all goes well.

I'll bes ure to mail you if I have more questions....

Thanks for your info!

K

You're very welcome and I hope to hear from you again!

[nznavo]

I'm from Christchurch, born and raised. I no longer live there but I go back to visit quite often. I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. Feel free to PM me.

[Queen Kiya]

Thank you! Everyone, for your replies. We are in the middle of packing up our house, trying to get passports, visas, medical certificates, etc...it is sooooo crazy and so stressful. Amidst all of this I am trying hard to keep my daughter on her routine so she does not get upset by anything...it's so hard!

I am a bit worried about how we'll get from the airport to the city centre (or wherever it is that we'll live) as we won't have our own vehicle (don't know how to drive there) and we won't have a carseat. I did read that you can rent car seats from somewhere, though. What I am hoping is that there is some form of shuttle bus service and that they might have their own carseats? I don't know...

Any thoughts?

K

[nznavo]

Some taxis will have carseats. I would imagine van taxis have them. I know they do in Sydney. If you call for a taxi you can request a car with a carseat.

More generally, you can hire them from Plunket for around $10 a month (I think?), if you'll have a car after arriving. You get used to driving on the other side of the road very quickly. My perspective is that public transport in Christchurch isn't great. I don't drive anywhere else as a rule but I always end up driving or cycling everywhere when I go there.