[shakyle2906]

Hi

Just managed to book some seats down to Christchurch in mid September with grabaseat.

Any one suggest some nice places to stay and attractions to see ?

Our son will be 6 by then.

Thanks in advance

Sharon
xx

[sizzlingbadger]

The Gondola, museum, definitely Hagley Park to let him run off some steam :nice1 Sumner Beach is lovely, all around the Port Hills out to the gun battlements. Think there is also a Science museum which is cool, we went on a wet day and the kids thought it was brilliant.

We've been down quite a few times now to visit my auntie and Uncle and always get to do the touristy stuff :D

Sure there's a lot more to that we haven't done yet though !

[peebles16]

My boys loved the trams too :) Hagley Park defo and Science Alive brilliant if your boy likes that sort of thing :yes Plus you could always visit some of your forum friends :D

Karenx

[nippa&pippa]

Also next to hagley park, near art centre, there is canterbury museum that got a children's room upstair where you can chill-out for an hour or so while your boy can explore everything in here about fact of life (not body thing I mean :laugh, it about animals, tress, stones etc.. my 4 years old love it) just $2.

[Red Devil]

... the International Antarctic Centre is great too, our 5 year old son loved it :D

http://www.iceberg.co.nz/

With regards accommodation, we stayed at:

http://www.chateaublanc.co.nz/default.asp

Superb hotel, huge rooms, friendly staff and central location :)

Have a fab time :D

[Jennispink]

I was just there this weekend and personally loved the gondola, great views of Lyttleton and the mountains. You can get a combined ticket for that plus the trams for $30 for adult (not sure of childs price)and its valid for a couple of days so you don't have to use both tram and gondola on the same day.

Also useful to note is that on public buses you get one free transfer to another service within 2 hours of your ticket purchase:)

[Asli&Mark]

Sharon,

You can also come and meet all of us here :)

Asli

[Moorf]

September.. hmmm.... you could warm up in the Antarctic Centre's snow-storm room...

Or go up to a ski resort (bus from Chch)...

Or take the Tranzalpine train into the Alps

I know, bit of a snow theme there - but it's nearly time for the slopes to open so I'm all excited!! :raebanana

[djchicane]

Hey,

The Halswell Quarry is also a nice easy 45 minute walk, with some gardens from around the world, definately recommend the Port hills, Crater Rim Walk, accessible either by either the gondola, or slogging it up the Bridle Path :)(sections of this walk can be completed in a couple of hours).

Akaroa, Sumner, (Cave Rock at low tide always fascinates me!!), and Taylors Mistake, all good fun.

Also - places to stay - I can't recommend the Randolph Motel enough, based on Papanui Road near the intersection with Bealey Avenue, 15 minute walk into central - have stayed there a number of times, great host, great rooms, with laundry in the room. Not the cheapest on the block - but they get my vote.

Cheers for now,

Dave

[shakyle2906]

Can i just bump this thread up.............time getting on and no accomodation or plans in place yet.............we go mid september

HELP!!!!!!!!!


Sharon
x

[nippa&pippa]

Can i just bump this thread up.............time getting on and no accomodation or plans in place yet.............we go mid september

HELP!!!!!!!!!


Sharon
x

what happen to plan of staying at ashleigh court motel?

[peebles16]

Okay can't really help with accomodation unless you want to camp down with us :) However, we had friends and their 4 kids down this weekend and we did the following:

Saturday - just local park and garden
Sunday - Canterbury Museum which was fantastic with lots of touchy, feely stuff for the kids and not at all like stuffy museums in Scotland
Monday - Science Alive which when we paid for it it looked liked a big room with tons of kids but actually worked brilliantly. Had loads of hand-on stuff for the kids ranging from ages 3-7. Climbing wall, huge slide, giant kaliadiescope (no idea how to spell) and tons of other stuff - good day out :nice1
Tuesday - Ferrymead Heritage Park which was really great fun for the kids. They all seem to be doing 'where we come from?' at school just now so this fitted in fine. Gorgeous weather and lots of twee history stuff to take in - loads of exhibitions and the tram workshop is apparently 'really cool' :)

That and you'll have to meet up with your forumite pals Sharon :D

Karenx

[shakyle2906]

what happen to plan of staying at ashleigh court motel?

I emailed them for prices, but never heard from them unfortunately. I did another email last night..............so fingers crossed!

Sharon
x

[shakyle2906]

Okay can't really help with accomodation unless you want to camp down with us :) However, we had friends and their 4 kids down this weekend and we did the following:

Saturday - just local park and garden
Sunday - Canterbury Museum which was fantastic with lots of touchy, feely stuff for the kids and not at all like stuffy museums in Scotland
Monday - Science Alive which when we paid for it it looked liked a big room with tons of kids but actually worked brilliantly. Had loads of hand-on stuff for the kids ranging from ages 3-7. Climbing wall, huge slide, giant kaliadiescope (no idea how to spell) and tons of other stuff - good day out :nice1
Tuesday - Ferrymead Heritage Park which was really great fun for the kids. They all seem to be doing 'where we come from?' at school just now so this fitted in fine. Gorgeous weather and lots of twee history stuff to take in - loads of exhibitions and the tram workshop is apparently 'really cool' :)

That and you'll have to meet up with your forumite pals Sharon :D

Karenx



HI Karen

Thanks for those ideas.
Heard that Antartcia is good, not had chance to look at webpage, but guess would be pricey........
Like the idea of the trams too........
Found a few hotels/motels last night so waiting to hear from them.
Would love to meet up with you, will have to get something sorted. Shame we are down for such a short period, but as it was a 'cheap' deal, best could do........never mind, can always come down again for longer!

Speak soon

Sharon
xx

[nippa&pippa]

I emailed them for prices, but never heard from them unfortunately. I did another email last night..............so fingers crossed!

Sharon
x

Do you want me to help you as they are friends of mine, what date are you plan to go etc?

[nippa&pippa]

Just spoken to them, they got your email this time :nice1

[shakyle2906]

Just spoken to them, they got your email this time :nice1

Thanks!
I had mistakenly given them our UK email...............
Got there in the end though.

Sharon

[nippa&pippa]

I had mistakenly given them our UK email...............


:laugh:laugh i done that few times...

How long will you be in chch? when?

[shakyle2906]

:laugh:laugh i done that few times...

How long will you be in chch? when?

Just the 2 nights, 11 and 12th september

Sharon

[nippa&pippa]

If you want we can arrange meet up with some of us just for an hour or so while in chch at the cafe? It is all depend on what are you going to plan your trip.

[Jason2112]

Everyone else pretty much covered the major things to do in Christchurch (at least, based on what I was prepared for when my wife and I visited). I'm not sure what your hotel expectations are or what you are prepared to spend, but we stayed at Strathern Lodge http://www.strathern.co.nz/ It was everything we needed (especially after the disaster of the first place we reserved), walking distance to shops and restaurants, and the hosts were quite friendly and helpful. It's also a short walk to the free bus route around the city.

[aberdian]

No-ones mentioned Orana Park. Feed the giraffes! We've been twice it was so good :)

[nippa&pippa]

No-ones mentioned Orana Park. Feed the giraffes! We've been twice it was so good :)

Bit far out for her to travel there for a day visit? I am not sure if she is going to hire car or not, but yes it is good place and IMHO I prefer Auckland's after been there recent.

[shakyle2906]

Managed to book accomodation, couldnt believe we had enough for a night with our fly buys at the Chateau Blanc, so only had one night to pay for and had good deal.

Now for car hire............

Thanks all for your help

Sharon
x

[aberdian]

Bit far out for her to travel there for a day visit? I am not sure if she is going to hire car or not, but yes it is good place and IMHO I prefer Auckland's after been there recent.
It's just behind the airport, surprisingly close to town, but I don't know about public transport to there.