[Tim G]

With the possibility of a job offer in Ashburton, could anyone please tell us what it's like as a place to settle in?

So far from what we've read it sounds pretty nice. Has it got a useable beach?

Is there plenty to do for 8 and 11 year olds?

Many Thanks,

Tim & Michelle.

[Pookeko]

Hi Tim & Michelle,

OH is from Ashburton! Back then (15 years ago) it wasn't that great really although for kids the age that you have would still have been ok (for teenagers, not really ideal). Anyway spare me the history lesson I hear you say :D well we sometimes get back to visit friends there and on the whole I'd say that Ashburton is tons better than it used to be. It's still pretty quiet and if you ask me they have some funny ways there :laugh (they're Cantabrians after all heehee :p ) but it's definitely nicer than it used to be. =D

A lot of money has come into the town since the boom in dairy farming. The problem way back when was that farming had crashed and this had had a huge impact on the town - since it is a rural farming-support town. So hopefully the current boom in farming will continue to have a positive impact on the town for some time yet.

There is one College and one Intermediate (I think that's right, but you will want to double check for yourself) and plenty of primary schools.

The newly built lake (Lake Hood) seems to be offering some new and interesting opportunities - I see for instance that Ashburton College now has rowing teams. Anyway, it probably offers some water & waterside recreational opportunities. As for beaches, as far as I can remember the nearest ones are wild and woolley windswept affairs =) (which I happen to like). It's not a very beach town though. The main focus before the lake was the mountains i suppose, of which you get the most excellent views from many if not most of the huge wide open streets there.

The Ashburton Guardian newspaper site (http://www.ashburtontoday.co.nz/) has some links which might help.

I don't know what you're used to but Ashburton is small town rural farming-focused NZ. If farmers are your kind of people you should be fairly happy there :D

On the plus side, Christchurch is about an hour's drive away =D

If your kids like to make their own adventures then I'm sure they'll really enjoy it.

I hope someone who has more recent experience of Ashburton will be able to help you, but do feel free to pm me if you think I can help. =)