Info on Oxford????

[nickydwuk]

We are moving near CHCH in Sept and would like to live in a small village/town within commute of Chch. We have looked at a number of areas but one we keep coming back to is Oxford. I understand this is about 45-50 minute commute to Chch. Can anyone fill me in on shops in the area, buses, what the high school is like etc... and any planned development that might affect the area. Thanks.

[kokopeli]

It's a nice place - handy for the mountains and the Waimak if you like tramping, kayaking and skiing. We know a few people with bachs out there. Great for a weekend, but would you really want to live there?

It's a typical rural Canterbury town with about 2,000 residents and just enough shops to get by without having to trek into Chch every day.

You can get info about the school on the ERO website - ERO - Kia ora - welcome to the Education Review Office - Te Tari Arotaki Matauranga

[nickydwuk]

Thanks Koko - just as I thought. We really want to live somewhere away from it all but so I can still get to work - even if it is a bit of a drive This seems to tick all our boxes at the moment.

[kokopeli]

In that case, Oxford would certainly fit the bill. And house prices are cheaper once you get that far away from the city. You'll find new 4-bedroom places that would be over $500,000 in Chch for under $400,000 in Oxford.

Remember that it's north of the Waimakariri River, so you'll have to contend with the northern route into Chch. I know I'm like a stuck record on this and people who live over that side will tell you it's not that bad, but it's not gonna get any better once people start living at Pegasus Town.

Have you had a look on the other side of the river? Places like West Melton, Kirwee and Sheffield are rural, but close enough to commute. You'd probably get to Springfield in about an hour if you put the pedal to the metal and used the Old West Coast Road to avoid the Cops!