Christchurch and surrounding area

[KC]

Thanks for that. We hopefully will be coming with PR, although house commitments here are delaying us from submitting applications.

Cheers

K

[Melza7]

Hey there, hi from WONDERFUL Christchurch!!

[KC]

Hi,

Do you have any recommendations on where to live around Christchurch?
It seems, from all previous posts, a very nice place to live.

Cheers

K

[nolasmom]

I've just stumbled upon this thread as we are looking for a long term rental in ChCh near the University of Canterbury. We've been renting a furnished cottage in Richmond since our arrival a month ago. It was described as a "mixed" neighborhood and they weren't kiddin'. My husband's convinced a prostitute and/or meth dealer lives across the street. I would avoid anything east of the city center. While you may run across some nice pockets, what we've seen is dicey at best. We're looking at Ilam, Upper Riccarton, Fendalton, and Burnside. If anyone has any other suggestions, we'd be most obliged.

*Funny note - Our car salesman said he knows of no other city where the desirable neighborhoods are near the airport and the ghetto is beachside.

[KiwiHopeful]

Originally Posted by nolasmom

*Funny note - Our car salesman said he knows of no other city where the desirable neighborhoods are near the airport and the ghetto is beachside.

I have to laugh ... I've heard that at least once a week since we've been here!

Of course, I was driving through Sumner this morning, and I think it makes a lie of that joke.

As for neighborhoods, it is difficult to say, because as you've pointed out, there seem to be pockets everywhere. We live in Waltham, and our street is mixed, though I refer to it as 'up and coming.' What's interesting though is that some of the run down houses on our street belong to clearly middle class people. I think they put everything into buying the house and are saving up to fix them up.

Beckenham, which is between Waltham and the Port Hills, is very nice. I don't think it's likely you could find a rental there, though.

We almost rented a place near the Uni, but I'm kind of glad we didn't ... there was an article a week or so ago in the Press about how residents near the Uni have had issues with vandalism, theft, etc. due to drunken students. :shrug:

[pianist1]

During the last 12 months that we have been here in Chch (yes, it is shocking that a year has passed!) we have lived in Merivale, Ilam, Linwood and New Brighton. As everyone knows, Merivale is the "posh" part of town with all the "old and cold" houses. Ilam tends to get run over by university students; Linwood can be less than desirable. We bought our home here in New Brighton (although we are nowhere near the beach, located just across the street from QEII park) and this whole area northeast of the city is simply booming with new construction....places like Queenspark and along Travis Road. So far, no boy racers or petty crimes that we know about. We are quite happy here.