getting around, Christchurch

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PUBLIC TRANSPORT - new Central Station since 25 Oct 2011

Bus service had become veeeery time-consuming, not just because of traffic jams but because we lost the central Bus Exchange (in the Red Zone), and two major hubs that were linked by a shuttle service had been created. So often you needed three buses to get somewhere, and you can imagine to what huge travel times this led.

From today, 25 October 2011, things are going to get better. Hopefully. There is a new Central Station. It is located on a large lot where buidlings have been demolished, between Lichfield and Tuam Streets, and the north/south routes of Durham St/Oxford Tce and Colombo Street. Also the routes are serviced more frequently.

You find the location of Central Station here

For routes and timetables click here



Transport hub launched at Christchurch Airport

The latest news is the creation of a tourist transportation hub at the airport. Let me just copy the text and link in here:

Christchurch Airport has launched a transport hub at the airport for regional and long-distance bus travellers. Regional bus and shuttle services now connecting to the airport include Newmans Coachlines and GreatSights, which presently have routes from Christchurch to Queenstown.

“We wanted to simplify the travel process for people coming in and out of Christchurch following the disruption of the earthquakes,” said Christchurch Airport Manager Commercial Development Matthew Day.

“This is great news for all travellers, as it means you can take a bus service straight to the airport to connect with a flight or with another bus route in the South Island or to meet friends and family in Christchurch,” said Matthew Day.

The Intercity Group which operates the Newmans and GreatSights services is delighted with the development. “This makes travel for our passengers simpler and clearer,” said Sam Peate, General Manager InterCity Group Coaching. “Christchurch Airport is already a transport hub well-serviced by buses, shuttles and taxis, and with good carparking options, so this is a natural fit.”

Matthew Day points out that the new airport terminal has fantastic passenger facilities for use by all travellers, not just people booked on flights. “It’s warm and comfortable, it has lots of seating, pure artesian water, free showers, a fabulous food court and retail shops, as well as travel booking services,” he said.

The airport company began discussions with other transport providers following the earthquakes, when it became clear that there was no longer a central point in the city where travellers could be collected and dropped off. Coupled with traffic problems due to the closure of the CBD, it became clear that the airport could offer a solution.

The existing shuttle and bus services from Christchurch Airport include Knight Rider, the West Coast shuttle, and Budget Shuttles.

Future routes from Christchurch Airport to Dunedin and Picton, and all points in between, are also under consideration. Tickets can be booked through the Travel & Tourism Centres at Christchurch Airport: ph 0800 LOVE NZ (0800 568 369).

The link: http://www.christchurchairport.co.nz/CorporateAndCommunity/MediaCentre/article-2585/transport-hub-launched-at-christchurch-airport/

Link to the bus companies that run their tours starting at the airport:
http://www.christchurchairport.co.nz/AirportInformation/ParkingAndTransport/RegionalTransport/

Great Sights
Phone: 0800 744 487
www.greatsights.co.nz

Knight Rider
Phone: 0800 317 057
www.knightrider.co.nz

West Coast Shuttle
Phone: 03 768 0028
www.westcoastshuttle.co.nz

Budget Shuttles
Phone: 03 615 5119
www.budgetshuttles.co.nz

Newmans Coachlines
Phone: 03 365 1114
www.newmanscoach.co.nz



Update Feb. 2012

Bus transport between city and airport

The #10 bus service from Cashmere to the airport does not operate anymore. Due to this change the #29 Airport Bus now runs half hourly instead of once per hour, as before. The journey takes 25 minutes from Central Station to/from the airport.

The first bus trip from the city to the airport is at 6.15am and the last one at 9.50pm during the week. Service from the airport to the city between 6.45am and 10.20pm.

More information on
http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/timetables-maps/29-fendalton.html?route=29

The #3 bus (Sumner) still goes to the airport via Central Station. The trip takes 35 minutes from there to the airport. However, if you stay at a motel in Riccarton this bus would be the best choice for you as it travels through Riccarton Road. One of the stops is at Westfield Riccarton shopping mall.

Check out here:

http://www.metroinfo.co.nz/timetables-maps/3-sumner.html?route=3

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Update February 2011

Due to earthquake damage, the company relocated from 248 St. Asaph Street to 58 Manchester Street, more or less around the corner.



This is the perfect company if you plan to start and finish your NZ trip in Christchurch or if you just want to explore the surroundings of Christchurch like the Summit Road, Banks Peninsula (Akaroa) or attractions (like Orana Park) that cannot be reached by bus. Or if you just want to get around fast in your limited time without bussing back to the Bus Exchange.

The company is owner-run and Nigel Cooper lives with and for his cars and it is centrally located in Manchester Street, just one block south of St. Asaph Street, at the corner with Southwark Street (towards Moorhouse Ave). You can easily walk there from Cathedral Square or the Bus Exchange.

The rates are great, and we have tested a car ourselves and visiting friends who hired cars there were also very satisfied with the quality of the cars and the rates.

An example:
If you rent for a minimum of four days you get a compact car for 24 to 49 NZ $, depending on the season. Such hires include unlimited kilometres.

Nigel also has convertibles (89 to 109$), people movers and campervans (both 69 to 104$). One of his fun cars is a red Mazda X5, if you want to spend a few dollars more.

Email contact:
rentals@affordablecars.co.nz

Save on activity expenses and buy the tripple pass to see Christchurch from a romantically different perspective: punting on the Avon, riding the tram and floating to new heights on the gondola!

Individually, these activities tote up to a cost of $57 per adult, or $50 for the triple pass. Purchase from the tram driver or any of the friendly ticket sellers at the Cathedral Square stop.

The tramway is an ideal way to explore the inner city, looping from Cathedral Square along Worcester Street, Rolleston Avenue, Armagh Street and New Regent Street. The station is at Cathedral Junction in New Regent Street, but you can hop on and off at any of the stops along the route. It is very convenient to visit top attractions such as the Christchurch Cathedral, Centre for Contemporary Art, Christchurch Art Gallery, The Arts Centre, Christ's College, Canterbury Museum, Hagley Park and the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.

Punt on the Avon from one of two locations: the Antigua Boatsheds next to the Botanic Gardens at 2 Cambridge Terrace or from the city right next to the Worcester Boulevard Bridge. It is a very relaxing experience punting on clear, shallow water beneath weeping willows, peering out at ducklings taking to the water or the sedate pace of Christchurch life.

Wary of a cruise ship docking at Lyttelton Harbour, we tried to make a booking for early the next morning at the city venue, but were told they did not take bookings for the following day. Unperturbed, we went to the Antigua Boatshed location where a young gentleman had no trouble booking us in at 9am the following day - for the city location!

The Gondola is about 8km from Cathedral Square at 10 Bridle Path Road, Christchurch. The 4-berth cable car takes you on a 945m ride 500m above sea level - providing spectacular 360 degree views of Christchurch, Lyttelton Harbour and the coastline. Relax with a latte at the Summit Cafe.

With rental vehicles it is important to safeguard yourself against unscrupulous businesses by making a careful record of any pre-existing damage to your vehicle. You do not want to find yourself at the conclusion of a lovely holiday fighting allegations you damaged the vehicle in some way.

A good option is to photograph the vehicle's exterior and interior, keeping a pictorial record of all pre-existing damage. Peruse any documentation provided by the rental company on noted damage and verify that all damage is fully recorded. If not, ask them to rectify their records.

Also make sure you and they agree on the amount of fuel in the tank. Don't necessarily expect that the vehicle will be supplied with a full tank of petrol. It may be only half full, and if not noted as such they may expect the vehicle back with a full tank!

I was very satisfied with the honesty and professionalism of the vehicle rental company we used, but it does not hurt to take precautions...

Most vehicle rental companies offer the facility to waiver vehicle insurance excess (which for a sedan may be a $1000 but varies according to the vehicle) on payment of a fee, for example $10 a day. In other words, if you pay say $25 per day for vehicle rental plus $10 to waiver the insurance excess, your total outlay will be $35 per day. Over an 18-day period, covering the excess will cost you $180 in this example.

Before you agree to pay the rental company for this facility, consider that your credit card may include insurance excess cover. It may not cost you a cent! Investigate this with your bank before you decide.

If your credit card does not include this free insurance, it is a much better option to purchase comprehensive travel insurance that will include vehicle insurance excess. For example, you could purchase comprehensive travel insurance for about the same amount as what you would pay the vehicle rental company for vehicle insurance excess alone!

Our GPS performed an indispensable role in navigating us through New Zealand's south island and adding greatly to our enjoyment of the occasion. I used a Tom Tom and downloaded the New Zealand map prior to our departure date. Pre-loading destination addresses and/or GPS coordinates was easy and resulted in smooth and worry-free navigation wherever we pointed our vehicle.

A function we used a lot during our trip was "itinerary", which included a list of our destinations and way points (places we wanted to see while travelling between destinations), which the GPS automatically ticked off after each visit before directing us to the next location.

Other outstanding functions we used often included the location of shopping centres (particularly for supermarkets), petrol stations, tourist attractions and scenic lookouts. The GPS also told us the location of automatic teller machines.

We could change the preferences on our GPS to advise on foot or bicycle directions as well, and the GPS is small enough for us to have taken it with us when walking from sight to sight in Christchurch and Dunedin.

The GPS also assisted greatly in time management - telling us the distance and travel time between destinations.

In our 18 days on the South Island we never got lost and zoomed effortlessly past motorists poring over dog-eared maps!

I can recommend Omega Rental Cars who provided us with a four-door Mazda Familia sedan at $450 (NZ) for 18 days around the South Island. Easy and reliable communication via email. Tip top service in arranging for after-hours collection of vehicle from Christchurch International Airport upon arrival. Had to pay for airport parking, which was reasonable.

Found vehicle in clean and roadworthy condition. Had absolutely no mechanical problems throughout our trip to the South Island. Vehicle had sufficient boot space to take big (65 L) backpack, standard suitcase, shoulder and camera bag.

Equipped with radio, air-conditioning and cigarette lighter (to power GPS unit). Seating was comfortable.

Fuel tank was rather small, which required regular top-ups (...never a problem).

Omega provided a spare key, just in case...

Dropped the vehicle off at their depot near the airport, which was quick and painless. Omega arranged for a complimentary shuttle to the airport free of charge.

Excellent and trustworthy service.

If you plan to shop till you drop, the Orbiter is the bus to go with. It connects all the big shopping malls in Christchurch, which are:

Westfield Riccarton
Northlands
The Palms
Eastgate

This bus route also services Barrington Mall which is more for the daily needs, not a mall to spends hours in.

Other points where the bus passes are Princess Margaret Hospital, St. Martins and the University.

It is part of the Metro System, so with a Metro Card you would only pay $4.20 (as Aug. 2008) to get around the whole day. Single fare $ 2.80.

If you are in the city centre, I would take a red bus from the Bus Exchange to Riccarton Mall, and then get on the Orbiter to the other malls.

Bus lines to Riccarton operate every some minutes, for example routes 5 (Hornby), 19 (Burnside), 21 (Ilam), 81 (Lincoln), 83 (Hei Hei) and 84 (Russley). They all depart from platform B (downstairs) of the Bus Exchange.

Also route 3 (Avonhead) passes at Riccarton Mall, but this one departs from platfrom C.

You get to most places by bus, and if you plan to stay several days the cheapest way to get around is getting a Metro Card at the Bus Exchange (Lichfield/Colombo Streets). If you want to apply for a card do not forget a piece of identification (passport, drivers licence etc.).

The card is free, you just have to load 10 $ at the start. By paying with it in the bus one trip costs only 2.10 instead of 2.80 NZ-Dollars, and you will not pay more than 4.20 $ per day!

If you buy a single ticket for 2.80 $ this is only valid for one transfer within two hours. This is already cheap but the cost with the Metro Card is a lot cheaper if you plan do do more than two trips per day, and you have unlimited transfers within the first two hours.

Also the trips to the airport and the ferry trip from Lyttelton to Diamond Harbour have cheaper fares with the Metro Card.

Within the inner city there is a free bus service on a one-way-route. The buses are easily recognisable, they are yellow, and the name is "The Shuttle". They have their own stops which are not far away from the stops of the Metro system.

There is no bus service to some few attractions like Orana Park but there is the "Black Bus" which offers (rather expensive) roundtrips to major places of interest. If you want to travel on the Summit Road you need a rental car. See my tip about Affordable Cars.

Update 31 March 2008
The Metro service have just announced a new bus service that passes at the Willowbank. Bus #11 from the Bus Exchange (in front of Ballantynes), towards Northwood.

Update 23 August 2008
The bus fares have gone up, I have updated them in my tip.

2 more images

After landing at Christchurch airport from Sydney we immediately picked up our rented car, but was pleasantly surprised. We booked an ordinary sedan, a Toyota Camry but was given a new Toyota RAV! It was really brand new, the interiors smell of new upholstery, new cd/mp3 player, etc.

Driving around South ISland proved to be the best decision we have made! It was heaven! The road signs are clearly visible most of the times an d there was n o traffic at all! Drivers are not crazy compared to LA or even Sydney!

My hubby was very happy that he was not very much stressed though he was careful not to get the car scratched. Since he is an Aussie, he was not required an international drivers' license but other tourists/citizens of other countries must surely need it. We have the same way of driving as the Kiwis. So it was a pleasant ride for all except when we need to find restrooms or foods/drinks.

Once, suing the scenic route, hubby found our car almost near the edge of a cliff as we drove on a winding road without barriers at all and one wrong move and we could have plunged hundreds of metres down! But that was just once on the road nearing Queenstown.