[H & Rick]

Whilst hunting for jobs for we discovered that most of the jobs for OH seem to be based in Christchurch.

We were just wondering what are the nice areas in Christchurch and the areas to avoid?

Ideally we would like to live on the outskirts and have a small piece of land for a few animals. :D

Has anyone got any suggestions?

[veronica]

would advise that you wait til you get here and have a good look around. A lot of UK families have headed up towards Kaipoi and Rangiora so that they can have more of a lifestyle block, others out towards the west Darfield and west Melton way.

[sidcarter]

What kinda jobs is your OH looking for, if you don't mind me asking :)

Sid

[H & Rick]

OH is looking for jobs in Electronics....Design, Calibration, Servicing etc.

Spent the last week looking for companies on the internet....as far as South Island is concerned most are in Christchurch.

Fingers crossed.. :D

[sidcarter]

Good luck with your OH's job search.

:cheers

Sid

[Aydon]

It also depends what you want - Lifestyle, Subdevelopment, Townhouse. Do you want to be by the sea, by themountains, on the plains. Do you want to walk to the Centre or be 30-45 minutes away by car?

Lots of things to think about :)

[H & Rick]

Really looking to be on the outskirts, either by the sea or by the mountains.

Ideally we would like a bit of land to have a few animals. :D

Been looking at houses in areas around Christcurch but it's difficult to tell how far we would have to commute until we find jobs.

Schools are no issue for us so we don't need to be in certain catchment areas.

Any suggestions?

[Ant&Eve]

I guess you’d rent for a while first?

I think that commuting into Christchurch from north of the Waimak (Rangiora, Oxford, Woodend etc) is a bit more painful than coming in from the west (Halswell, Rolleston, Darfield, West Melton etc.).

Rolleston area for example, is about 20 mins to the airport and 26 mins to the Hagley park end of Blenhiem road during commute hours. Lifestyle blocks (typically 10 acres) start around Halswell/Prebbleton to the west.

For renting, the Wednesday and Saturday editions of the press contain the listings. I’d suggest looking at Halswell, Taitapu, Rolleston, Prebbleton, West Melton, Lincoln, Darfield to the west, and Rangiora, Oxford, Woodend, Kaiapoi, Cust, to the NW.

[Moorf]

There's often places to rent, some are even lifestyle blocks, in the Darfield area and they are listed in my local community newsletter. Would be happy to pass on the details to you if you think you'd be interested. I can also give you an idea of where it is in relation to Chch/Darfield etc.

Darfield could be a good starting point and it has, I have heard, a good High School and, I can testify, a good community. There are a couple on the forum who are currently renting lifestyle blocks (10 acres) near Darfield as a sort of try before you buy... I think it's a great idea, you get to see if you can cope, or if you enjoy the "lifestyle" before you commit yourself to a huge chunk of land.

If you prefer to buy then here's a few on the market at the mo.... I just had a quick look, there'll be loads more.

If you fancy 100 acres that's do-able! http://www.open2view.com/Property/132830/?back=true

Here's another - I know this area, it's round the back from us and it is beautiful - on 5 acres http://www.open2view.com/Property/130736/?back=true (hmmm if you don't, I might! :D )

Want a serious lifestyle block but near Chch? http://www.open2view.com/Property/129908/?back=true

Southfork? I shudder to think how much this one is - Kirwee is becoming the new West Melton - sort of a rural millionnaires row... lots of expats in big, flash lifestyle blocks... some gorgeous places...bit to ritzy for my taste... http://www.open2view.com/Property/129050/?back=true

From your comments re wanting a bit of land and perhaps some animals, but near to commute for Chch, you'd probably be quite interested in this... http://www.open2view.com/Property/123940/?back=true Kirwee is approximately 25-30 mins to Hagley Park (central Chch) with a nice 100kph run for about half the distance.....

Anyway, if I can help drop me a line. :)

Moorf