[KiwiHopeful]

According to the map MB posted, it's 62km and it'll take 47 minutes.

No way. Not gonna happen.

I have a GPS that I use when I drive around here, mostly so I can track where I take my pictures and post them to Google Earth if I want.

Driving from Chch to Timaru and back to Chch, the better moving average of the two legs of the trip was a hair over 70 km/h ... and that's on what is probably the straightest, widest, and most-passing-lane equipped road on the SI.

To make 62 km in 42 minutes, you'd have to be able to do better than that ... and I doubt you could on those roads and through all the little hamlets you'll pass.

On top of that, the part within the city limits is most likely going to take about 15-20 minutes on a good day. On a bad day, you could sit on Riccarton for that long.

70 minutes seems much more likely, IMHO.

From Whitecliffs, your closest amenities are going to be in Lincoln or Chch itself. (I think there's a grocery store in Lincoln, but don't quote me on it.) There is a small grocery in Methven, but that looks like it's a decent haul itself ... and you probably wouldn't want to do your weekly shopping there.

Again, I haven't been all the way out there, but I've been through to Kirwee (on my way to Aurthur's Pass). Maybe Koko has? :shrug:

On edit: I see the other website says it's a 40 minute drive to the outskirts of town. All I can say is, 'Yeah, right.' :P