Originally Posted by
PsiFighter37
I have to disagree with these points. CHC - at least when I visited in 2015 (the starting point for my 2-week NZ excursion), was the least interesting place we were at the entire time. I also can’t think you can claim CHC it close to Queenstown when it’s nearly a 6-hour drive to ZQN, and another 3 hours beyond that to drive to Milford Sound.
That said, the points on transferring alone would make flying something like SFO-CHC-ZQN far more appealing than going via AKL.
Originally Posted by
rankourabu
I think we have a different definition of close... Milford Sound is at least a 10 hour drive (750+ km)
If one is heading really south, it makes to difference to arrive via CHC or AKL to ZQN.
I lived in Christchurch for a year before the earthquake and may have agreed with you back then that it was worth a couple days. We did a 4 week NZ roadtrip in January, and Christchurch is nothing of its former self, quite a disappointment, and glad it was only a couple days at the end. Although Arthur's Pass and Akaroa are great close trips to the city.
Originally Posted by
uanj
The drive to Akaroa is incredibly beautiful if the weather is cooperating. Before going there I was unaware of the French attempts to settle the South Island.
Akaroa is one of my favorite places.
But even closer, the hills around Lyttleton and then across the bay around Diamond Harbour are stunningly beautiful. You can either take a ferry across or rive around. You can also go out to Godley Head and look at also the coast to the north as well.
That's why I've stayed in Christchurch every time, just to go to that whole area as well as to Akaroa.
Food scene is okay in CHC as well, otherwise, yes very little to see in the city itself, though the Botanic Gardens are worth a look and they have those boats where you stand up to go down these little canals.