Hi Guys,
We live in Halswell, which is about 6 kms south of Chch - far enough out to be peaceful, close enough to get into the CBD in ten minutes or so.
Duane - Lyttelton and Sumner are nice enough, especially on a sunny afternoon with a mochaccino and a cake at a nice coffee shop. You're spot on about the hill thing though. The ground is hard rock, so I don't think either would be my first choice as a gardener. At this time of year, the low sun and big hills mean the houses there only get half a day of sun - whether you get am or pm depends on which side you choose. Housing density is quite high out there, so the sections out there seem to be quite small and the houses tend to have smaller gardens. If you find a house with a big garden in Sumner or Lyttelton, it will probably cost a fortune.
Looking to the south of the city, Halswell and Lincoln have a 'suburban feel' with wider roads, open spaces and slightly lower density housing (bigger plots). This gets less noticeable as you get closer to the city. Cashmere for example, is a nice place, but feels very urban - high density housing, busy roads etc. Some of the smaller places a bit further out feel very 'villagy'. A lot have got a domain (sports ground), shop, petrol station, school etc and are still within easy reach of the city amenities. Tai Tapu for example is about 15km from the CBD and has loads of nice wineries, cafes etc.
KC - if you've got PR and the bikes are newish, I'd bring 'em, especially the CBR. Those sweeping bends and hill roads are crying out for a good scrape with the knee pads. If you haven't got PR, you'll have to pay import duty as well as GST on current value and shipping costs, so it probably won't be worth it. There are a lot of Jap import bikes here and I reckon you'll find something newer and faster for less money! The bikes would have to be crated in the container, so Moggy makes a good point about space. A forty foot container costs a heck of a lot more than a twenty footer. On a practical level, you'll probably get more money if you sell the bikes than you would for your domestic goods and furniture.......
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