Pom_Chch

From a Chch perspective:

Will you have some flexibility with the hours you will be working or will they be set in stone? I only ask because we live 25km north of Chch and the commute is a breeze outside of rush hour. It takes my partner about 25 minutes and me 20-30 depending on which job I am going to. My partner has flexi time so he can do 9:30-6 and I don't commute in rush hour. If we commuted in rush hour from north Canterbury we probably wouldn't have bought a house out here as the traffic is a nightmare at rush hour.

SSky

I start work at 9am, I seemingly miss the rush hr by about half an hr or so lol and it's a breeze to get to work

Hazelnut

I'd either be working freelance and self employed or on shift work so rush hour isn't that applicable to me but MrH will be in a professional job. I think flexibility around start and finish times would be part of the negotiations. We currently get up at 5:45am to be t our desks by 8:30 so we. an leave slightly earlier. this way we hit some rush hour traffic but not the worst of it.
If there's good public transport we use it. Where we live now we'd need to walk or bike 4 miles, catch a bus, walk another mile, catch an underground train, walk another mile. All if that takes 2.5hrs so we car pool and drive instead.

Pom_Chch

If you aren't commuting in rush hour then your options do open up greatly. Out north of Chch within one hour drive you have a choice of being near the beach - Woodend, Waikuku, Leithfield Beach. There's also good choice inland a wee bit towards the mountains - Oxford, Cust, Darfield, Kirwee, West Melton. If you don't want quite so rural and would prefer a town closer for groceries, cafes etc then you have Rangiora, Kaiapoi and Amberley. Google map 'em and see what you think! Also this website is quite good. It's more from a touristy perspective but I think it gives you a feel for what kinds of places are about:

Waimakariri, North Canterbury, New Zealand – Kaiapoi, Rangiora Accommodation, Activities, Events

If you click on the places tab most of the ones I've mentioned above are on there.

chc4me

I do laugh at the term 'rush hour'. Rush hour in the UK is 1,000 cars parked on the M25 and a two hour delay, rush hour in Christchurch is 7 cars parked at a red light! And if the school holidays are on, then traffic is almost non-existent.

Two of the guys in our office live in the Loburn area (40km) and it takes 35 mins in light traffic, maximum 60 mins in heavy traffic into central Chch. A bypass around Redwood is currently under consultation, should help solve a bit of a bottleneck for those coming in from the north.

West Melton, Kirwee and Darfield could be options heading out West. Again 35 mins to 60 mins maximum to central chch and some great lifestyle blocks and country living.

chocolate cake

It really depends what you commute was like in UK, and where you in NZ. In UK my commute was over 3 times as far distance wise (35km) as in NZ, but barely took any longer than now in Auckland.

Also depends what you're prepared to put up with, for me 30 mins is enough but others are prepared for over twice as long. If you're doing that by car, that's 2 hrs a day wasted, 10 hours a week.

TommyLuck

I wouldn't say wasted, for instance my two hours a day commute in London was by bicycle - so I was getting some decent exercise (ignoring the air pollution).

Aside from being ever so slightly facetious I have a 5 minute commute at the moment. The thing is, I'll be damned if I can still ever get my to-do list clear either at home or at work!! I have nearly two whole days a month back and still there is stuff to do.

DennisBergkamp

If i can get on property ladder i'll be heading up to Kapiti i say.
50 odd mins on train is ok (chance to read or listen to something) But i'd happily add 25 min walk to station to make sure i get to the train on time. Driving to station might get a little hectic with all the traffic lights near Paraparaumu station. Will be initial shock as i have a 25 min commute at moment which is very easy. But i could never afford a place in Welly City.

Hazelnut

With the advent of new technology I think both MrH and I would be OK with a train commute of 40-50mins. We can use the time to catch up on work, read books, watch films or just chill out playing silly games. In previous homes we've cycled, walked, caught trains and used the bus depending on how fair we lived from work.

We're fortunate in that we're both within seven years of being able to down-shift dramatically and retire into the world of self employed, doing what we love, hobby incomes so a few years of the type of commute we're already used to won't matter too much. It would be nicer to cut it down but if we have to leave as is for a better property then we'll do that.

chocolate cake

Yeah, I did say by car, it's more cycling and getting exercise at the same time.
I've commuted by bike in the UK before, and did so for the first couple of years here in Auckland. It's a damn site more dangerous in NZ for sure, I was knocked twice in that period, breaking a few bones.

mnkenzie

I live in Gulf Harbour but luckily I work in Albany (it's approx 30 mins drive from home) so it takes me shorter to go to work than those who work in the city. But without a car, it takes even much longer and I have to catch two buses. Well, if you are not driving at least you could enjoy sight seeing.

snaps

My journey is around 60 minutes on a good day by car.