On arrival in New Zealand we had, for the first time in four months, the novel experience of feeling cold! Quickly retrieving what few warm clothes we had from our bags, we got on the airport shuttle bus bound for the city centre. Christchurch is the south island’s largest city (large town) with a population of just over 300,000 people. Bearing in mind that the south island’s population is only one million, that is quite large!
On reaching the city centre it is easy to think you have arrived in an English town; the name Christchurch comes from an Oxford college and the river Avon runs through the centre. The fact that everyone speaks English only helps to add to the illusion. Having been prepared for higher accommodation costs by our stay in Singapore, room prices at the New Excelsior hostel didn’t come as too much of a shock. The cost of eating out certainly is a shock though; the days of a meal and a beer for less than a pound are clearly behind us!
Dumping our gear in the room we went to try and find a cheapish warm coat for Debs (for some reason she sent hers home) and to have a look at the city. The city is centred round its cathedral, which would be very attractive, if it wasn’t for the scaffolding (aaaaarrrrgghh!). Giving up with the cathedral we stopped and watched an entertaining street performer in the main square and then continued our stroll. The city is really pleasant but it couldn’t be described as vibrant. Deciding that it was too cold and that we were too tired to carry on looking round, we found Debs a coat and then headed back to the hostel for a sleep.
Having priced up various backpacker bus companies, we decide that the best way to see the island was to hire a campervan. Thinking that there would be no problem in getting one as it is the middle of winter, we asked at reception only to be told that as it is the school holidays we may have trouble. Fortunately there turned out to be no problem and we quickly booked a two berth camper for the next 18 days.
Next: The south island by campervan
On reaching the city centre it is easy to think you have arrived in an English town; the name Christchurch comes from an Oxford college and the river Avon runs through the centre. The fact that everyone speaks English only helps to add to the illusion. Having been prepared for higher accommodation costs by our stay in Singapore, room prices at the New Excelsior hostel didn’t come as too much of a shock. The cost of eating out certainly is a shock though; the days of a meal and a beer for less than a pound are clearly behind us!
Dumping our gear in the room we went to try and find a cheapish warm coat for Debs (for some reason she sent hers home) and to have a look at the city. The city is centred round its cathedral, which would be very attractive, if it wasn’t for the scaffolding (aaaaarrrrgghh!). Giving up with the cathedral we stopped and watched an entertaining street performer in the main square and then continued our stroll. The city is really pleasant but it couldn’t be described as vibrant. Deciding that it was too cold and that we were too tired to carry on looking round, we found Debs a coat and then headed back to the hostel for a sleep.
Having priced up various backpacker bus companies, we decide that the best way to see the island was to hire a campervan. Thinking that there would be no problem in getting one as it is the middle of winter, we asked at reception only to be told that as it is the school holidays we may have trouble. Fortunately there turned out to be no problem and we quickly booked a two berth camper for the next 18 days.
Next: The south island by campervan
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