GoingIn2011

My parents are arriving in just under 3 weeks

They are going on a road trip and they were planning on staying a few nights in Dunedin and avoiding Chch. I said I thought they should still see Chch and I would still pick that over Dunedin, after a massve quake or not. They're not all that fussed abut seeing seabirds so they cancelled their Dunedin jaunt and have decided to spend those couple of nights in Chch instead. Soooo.. What is open? Is the arts centre still there? Does the tram thing still run?

Thanks

Natalie

barnsleymat

My mate has just moved in with us here in Dunedin after living for 2 months in Christchurch. He couldn't wait to get out as there's nothing to do up there, he's loving Dunedin as there's much much more happening, the city centre is lively, the nightlife is great and it's an absolute beautiful place to be especially in the summer.

Pom_Chch

There's loads to do in Christchurch! Don't avoid it, it's a great place.

Not sure about the tram, check this out: http://www.tram.co.nz/. The whole website has lots of ideas for Chch punting, gardens tour, gondola etc.

Go to Hagley Park and the Botanic gardens, it's lovely in summer time. You can do a tour or just walk around yourself.

Visit the beaches, they are also gorgeous on a sunny day.

If you're into wildlife check out http://www.iceberg.co.nz/. No where near as good as the tours you will get checking out the real deal in Akaroa but still a fun day out non the less.

There's also Orana http://www.oranawildlifepark.co.nz/

Riccarton Market is worth a visit http://www.riccartonmarket.co.nz/

Pegasus Bay winery - http://www.pegasusbay.com/. Not in the centre of Christchurch, it's about an hours drive north.

There is also plenty of cycling and hiking to do in Christchurch too.

Enjoy!

Persephone

Plenty to do if they're only going to be here for 2 days. It all depends on what they like doing. If you like going out and clubbing then it does get a little dull after a while.

PomChch has come up with some suggestions.
Also consider Willowbank - a wildlife park but tends to have more native wildlife, you can see kiwi birds close up and feed the eels [more exciting than it sounds]

The Antarctic Centre - lots of info on the Antarctic and Scott etc. Also has some blue penguins and you can don a big fluffy coat and experience Antarctic temps in the cold room

Chch Museum - worth a wander around plus it is next to the Botanic Gardens if they like that sort of thing

The Arts Centre is cordoned off but you can walk round the outside. This brings me onto the other activity you can do here, a cordon walk. Walk round and look at the damage, most has now been demolished but it shows you the extent of the damage and just how much of the city centre has gone You can now get a reasonable look at Christ Church cathedral from Gloucester St and see the back part of it from where the Press building used to be. There's also the ruins [now] of the Catholic basilica.

The trams are not running and if you do a cordon walk then you'll see why. The tracks run through the centre and up into the cordon!

Punting on the Avon is now up and running so this is another option.

Visit Akaroa -

Will add more as I think of it. As I said they'll find plenty to do if they are here for a few days.

ellenarosemary

The Botanical Gardens are lovely at any time of year, also the Antarctic Centre is well worth a visit - lovely little blue penguins.

The trams are due to re-open Mid 2013 - so are currently not running.

Don't avoid Christchurch, still well worth a visit.

love30stm

Yes but what about the nightlife????

love30stm

Sounds wonderful, shame it's so far away from other places

Tom1983

If they decide to do the International Antarctic centre, pay for one visit.

It's expensive, not really worth the money. You could be there for an hour and have had enough - there isn't really an awful lot to do there for the price that they charge. Shame really as the snow storm, jugglanaut (or whatever the thing is called) and the penguins are enjoyable. Try and get the Happy Feed 4d experience, very funny

There's still a fair bit to do other than being round central Christchurch. I'd recommend they walk Gloucester Street, Madras Street, Tuam Street and then Montreal St. It's not for some but you can see around the city centre and can imagine what life was like before the quake

Sumner despite the quake is still worth visiting. Go down there, a walk on the esplanade down to Scarborough Cafe for a fine glass of Cabarnet Sauvignon and nachos. Well worth the dollar

Oh after that, if they're driving - drive up Evans Pass Road. The views are amazing! Some fantastic photo oppportunities. You can drive up to there and then down Mt Pleasant Road. I look forward to when Summit Road is fully opened so that you can drive up Evans Pass Road and then head to sign of the kiwi and dyers pass road. Both roads are great, Lyttleton is worth a drive by i'd say as well

A few kms away is Orana wildlife park on Macleans Island Road. Worth a visit as well.

If one likes golf, there's some very good courses I can recommend.

Despite being earthquake damaged and without a city centre, there's still plenty of things to do round Christchurch.

Lastly with regarding nightlife - go to Corporate Affairs! Their VIP bar is worth every $50 for a double malt!

Pom_Chch

Tight budget, didn't get out much in the evening! New Zealand was the last stop on our year out, we had done a good job of rinsing the budget! Looking forward to making up for that when we arrive

sr71

It's one of the top cities to visit in 2013 :

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zeal...articles/77531

Snap Shot

The Antarctic Centre was excellent IMHO. We went there June 2011 for my birthday treat. Yes it's expensive but interesting too. The ride in the Haglund was, um, interesting. The Haglund is an all terrain vehicle on tank tracks, it's like sitting in a little train carriage as the driver drives a short distance over a (very hilly) outdoor vehicle test track. You might find some of the exhibits inside the Antarctic Centre a bit 'entry level' but they're on holiday, right ? Probably be popular with kids, especially as it'll be the school holidays when they come consider yourselves warned !

We went to the Running Bull in Riccarton for my birthday dinner. The food was delicious.

Salt on The Pier is a nice cafe bar at New Brighton. You can walk along the beach at New Brighton, it's a nice walk. On a Sunday there is a guy flying kites there. He ties the kite strings down and there's about 20 or so derrigibles (things that float) just floating in the sky 'cause that's his hobby.

Go to, 'After the red Verandah' in Linwood for coffee if you wish. We lived right next door to it as they rebuilt it post earthquake. The, Beat Street Cafe' in Barbadoes Street (I think) is good for a drink and a snack. Hagley Park will be beautiful in the summer. You can walk along the banks of the Avon River (ok, it looks more like a stream, but hey) walking past the Willow Trees on a sunny day bliss. The Botanic Gardens at/in/by Hagley Park is great. Nice cafe too. You can tell we ate our way round Christchurch !

They could go to Akaroa, that's interesting to see all the references to the French fleet that landed there back in the 1800's. The view down to Govenors Bay is stunning if you drive out towards Lyttleton. The cafe, 'Sign of the Tarkahae' in Cashmere might be open now.

Caz8NZ

theghostofdustybin

Revival bar Vic Street
Smash Place Bealey Ave
Fiddlesticks - Art Gallery
Casino - if you like that sort of thing
Cargo - Linclon Road
Peddle Pushers - Linclon Road
Bailey Irish bar - Edgeware
No4 Bar - Merivale
JDV - Merivale
Pomeroys - Kilmore Street
Cassles Brew Bar -
Monday Room - Moorhouse Ave

Just off the top of my head..

Matelot

Dusty ... you alcky!

GoingIn2011

Thanks for these suggestions. I will write them on a list. Glad there is still lots to do in Chch.

Mum and Dad not really into nightlife. Botanical Gdns, history, arty type things more their cup of tea.

Cheers everyone