I AM FINALLY IN CHRISTCHURCH!!! After a year of planning and so I finally visited New Zealand, one on my bucketlist! New Zealand is my 35 unique country in the world. I have long wanted to visit this country after hearing so much about the scenery. We are going to spend 10 nights in the country! I did wish that I could extend the trip but sadly flights were all full. I will be focusing on the south island for most of it. While Christchurch wasn’t originally on my plans, we were just flying into Christchurch, I figures that it might be worth staying a night to check out the city and be well-rested before starting our road trip. With that let’s check out Christchurch!
Car Rental in Christchurch
I rented a car for our time in the South Island and we got a rental from Europcar for a week. Sixt and Europcar are my go-to companies for car rental. I also have mid-tier status with both of them. After comparing the rates, Europcar was cheaper and we got the entry-level rental for 703 NZD with basic coverage. This comes up to around 611 SGD. Prices seem a little higher than expected. Perhaps it is due to the holidays. We just opt for the basic coverage with a 4500 NZD excess. My travel insurance covers up to 2500 SGD and as such I was quite comfortable with it.
Collection at Christchurch Airport is straightforward. The Europcar Branch can be found immediately after exiting the belts. You will see the sign straight on the right. There was only one person in the line ahead. I was greeted by a very friendly associate. He just tick our names off a list and take our passports as well as a credit card. There is no other registration which turns out to be a hassle down the road. We have our keys in no time and he pointed us towards the direction of the rental parking. This is a stark difference from my other car rental experiences. We didn’t even get an invoice.
No upgrade was available and we got a Swift Sport in a nice chic red. As usual, we went around the car to check for damages and snap some videos and pictures before getting ourselves comfortable.
Driving in Christchurch
Driving in Christchurch is pretty straightforward and it is similar to Singapore. After all, we are all modelled after the British system. We drive on the same side and the road markings are similar. New Zealand is one of the easiest places to drive. The low density and well-maintained roads make it much better. Parking is easy around the outskirts of the city. Within the city centre, it is harder to find complementary spots. You can still find parking facilities or just pay the parking meter by the road for roadside parking. It pays to compare the prices a little as they can be pretty different. Do note that some lots only allow you to park up to a certain time. Parking roadside is complimentary on public holidays.
Do download the app online to check the prices and find the cheapest option around the city. Gaspy is very useful! I find BP and Caltex the most expensive when driving in New Zealand. For the big brands, you can sign up for their membership to enjoy some savings. Most of the major stations are manned and you can pay in the store inside. You have the typical brands that you know. In contrast to the situation that we are used to, petrol stations are not open 24 hours so do check the operating hours before heading over.
While we might think that New Zealand is a generally very safe place. Do still take the usual precaution. Don’t leave bags or valuables on the seats where they can be seen and lock the doors. We saw a car broken into at Hagley Park leaving the tourists scratching their heads. It isn’t even a quiet spot but rather parking with plenty of other cars and people walking around.
Christchurch
Port Hills!
Check out this cute cafe at the top!
Christchurch City Centre
Trams
Riverside Market
Hagley Park
Autumn Colours
Eating in Christchurch
Riverside Market offers tons of options!
Conclusion
So glad that I decided to stay a night here in Christchurch. It is a pretty quaint and nice city! The surrounding areas are pretty nice. I enjoyed driving around the Port Hills area. It is only a short drive away. The views are impeccable. This city will be perfect for a day or two before or after your flight. Christchurch airport is one of the main getaways to New Zealand, especially if you would like to head to the South Island. I love the Riverside Market too. Christchurch could be a nice base to explore the northern part of the island.
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