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Situated on the southeast coast of New Zealand, Christchurch is one of the most unique destinations in the world – where urban regeneration and innovation meet heritage and culture.
Built to the east of the Canterbury plains, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and beautiful rolling hills that offer spectacular views wherever you choose to call home. With green leafy streets, beautiful gardens, and parks scatted through the city (over 700), Christchurch earned itself the coveted title of the Garden City.
The Avon River flows through the city centre providing a beautiful backdrop for all the shops, businesses, and restaurants in the area.
The rule of thumb is the further south you go the colder it gets. In saying that, Christchurch has an incredibly mild climate. In fact, compared to Auckland and Wellington, Christchurch has fewer rainy days than the other major cities.
While the climate might be dryer, Christchurch does have frosty conditions in winter with the average daily temperature between 3-14 degrees Celsius. At night it can even drop to below zero! However, generally, these cold days are met with clear blue skies.
In summer, the daily temperature ranges from 12-24 and daylight can last up to 9:30 pm. What’s more, in the hilly suburbs of Christchurch snow can be expected once or twice a year.
Christchurch has seen rapid growth in the last few years following the rebuild efforts after the devasting 2011 earthquake.
Today over 360,000 people call Christchurch home, making it the largest city in the South Island and the third largest in New Zealand behind Auckland and Wellington. The largest percentage of locals are NZ European (77.9%) followed by Asian (14.9%) and Māori (9.9%) and 27% of residents were born overseas with the majority from Asia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Europe.
One of the main reasons many kiwis and expats are making the move to Christchurch is because of its lower cost of living. Compared to other major cities Auckland and Wellington, Christchurch is significantly more affordable.
For a family of four, the estimated monthly cost excluding rent is roughly $4,905 and $1,350 for a single person according to the Numbeo Cost of Living Index. That is 11.9% lower than Auckland and 5.17% lower than Wellington. The average household income in Christchurch is roughly $86,405.
Are you looking for a smart inner-city apartment? Or a spacious family home with a big garden? How about a serene lifestyle block on the outer edge of the city? In Christchurch the choice is yours! Whether you’re looking to rent or buy you’ll find the perfect housing option to suit your needs.
The median house price is $783,764 and $480 a week renting; however, the house prices do vary based on the suburb.
According to Core Logistics, Christchurch’s most expensive suburb is Fendalton with the median house price sitting at $1.6m and Philipstown the most affordable at $428,200.
Some of the most popular Christchurch suburbs include:
Merivale is a popular spot with families and working professionals due to its close proximity to the city centre and array of facilities including great schools, medical centres, sports clubs, and a large shopping mall.
The seaside suburb of Sumner is another popular neighbourhood. The laid-back lifestyle and easy access to the beach are two of the major draw cards. Only 15 minutes from the city it has a charming atmosphere and beautiful homes with even more beautiful views.
If you prefer more cosmopolitan living then Riccarton is a great choice for you, with a range of apartments, townhouses, and character homes you can find the perfect place to suit your needs and budget. The booming dining scene is a large draw card for young professionals while families are attracted to the green space, good schools, and safety of the neighbourhood.
Useful resources if you’re looking for a home/rental:
Trade Me
Homes.co.nz
Realestate.co.nz
There are roughly 145 schools in the Christchurch region, including a mix of public and private.
Some of the more popular private schools include St Andrews, a co-ed primary and secondary school, Rangi Ruru Girls School a girls-only secondary school, and Christ’s College a boys-only secondary school.
Popular state schools include Christchurch Girls High and Christchurch Boy’s High.
It is important to consider what your preferred schools are when choosing a suburb to settle in. Most schools are ‘zoned’ meaning that if you live in the catchment area your children are automatically offered a place in that school. If you live outside the catchment area it can be harder to secure a place.
Job opportunities are in abundance in Christchurch. The rebuilding efforts after the earthquake have seen sectors such as construction and manufacturing have an increase in demand for workers.
Christchurch is also home to a high number of start-ups, as is paving the way for global health, tech, aerospace, transport, food technologies, and high-tech solutions.
Other popular sectors include manufacturing, IT, hospitality, and tourism.
To see current job availabilities, visit:
New Zealand has a world-class health care system that is heavily subsided by the government and most hospital services are free or at a low cost if you’re a resident, citizen, or have held a work visa for more than two years.
The city’s main hospital ‘Christchurch Hospital’ is the largest tertiary, teaching, and research hospital in the South Island. In addition to this, there are 14 other specialist hospitals scattered across the region.
Whether you’re an active relaxer, a history buff, or an adventure junkie, Christchurch has plenty of activities to keep you entertained all year long.
If you want to truly see the magic of the Garden City, then the Christchurch Botanical Gardens are a must! Over 21 hectares of colourful and fragrant gardens to explore.
If the weather is a little warmer, then a trip to New Brighton’s beach is a must. You can stroll the famous pier, have fun on the water, relax in the hot pools, or watch the kids in the playground with a coffee from a beachside café.
For the foodies in the area, you’re in luck… there are so many options you’ll never have trouble finding a delicious place to eat. Miss Peppercorn is a popular Asian restaurant while Francesca’s Italian Kitchen is popular if you’re craving homemade pasta.
There is so much to do in Christchurch we’d simply be here all day. Here at 75 more things to do in Christchurch.
Overall, Christchurch is ranked as one of the best places to live in NZ. 87% of locals say they have a high quality of life and 83% say Christchurch is a great place to live.
What’s more, a further 65% are satisfied with their employment and 62% are happy with their work life balance.
Ready to make your home in Christchurch, New Zealand? Get in touch with us at The Moving Company for a free no-obligation quote. With over 35 years’ experience a dedicated fleet of purpose-built furniture trucks and a global network of accredited partners, we have helped thousands of kiwis and ex-pats move to Christchurch, New Zealand. Get in touch today: 0800 668 464
In addition to moving your household goods we can provide a complete range of moving services including safe and secure, short or long term storage, moving insurance, vehicle shipping, pet transport and much more.
Our team’s goal is to deliver a standard of excellence that surpasses customer expectations and delivers on service, quality and value. You can place your trust in our professional team to remove the stress and make your move easy.
The Moving Company utilises a broad range of moving boxes and packaging materials designed for optimum protection, cushioning and strength during the moving process.
The Moving Company is your furniture removal company for major house lots and relocations from New Zealand to around the globe.
The Moving Company has long and short-term secure storage options at all of our locations in New Zealand at super competitive rates.
The insurance industry recognises The Moving Company as an experienced professional team within New Zealand’s moving industry, allowing us to offer a full range of comprehensive all risks moving insurance.
The Moving Company provide complete door-to-door local furniture moving and long-distance removals and storage services, to and from every postcode in the country.
The Moving Company have partnered with Xe money transfer, a trusted global payments and foreign exchange specialist to provide highly competitive exchange rates and tailored currency advice to both private individuals and businesses alike.
Shipping your car may also be part of your relocation. The Moving Company are shipping cars to and from NZ often and know the processes involved. This ensures the smooth and competitive shipment of your vehicle.
The Moving Company provides pet transportation and pet boarding using the services of specialist pet transport companies anywhere in NZ or the world.
One of the last tasks of moving is to spring clean the empty house after we have loaded everything, or before you move into your new home.
Woburn International offers guidance packages and immigration assistance for migrants settling in to their new lives with a cultural awareness programme in New Zealand or the country of destination.
Our Ultimate Moving House Checklist is to assist you prepare for your upcoming relocation and assist with a hassle-free moving experience.
Request a ‘In Home Appraisal’ and one of our professional Move Consultants will survey your household and personal effects and establish any special packing needs that may be required.
The Moving Company NZ has been in business since 1987, moving kiwis everywhere, with a reputation built on repeat customers and satisfied customer recommendations.
The Moving Company has long established memberships with the best moving industry associations worldwide, and is proud to have achieved prestigious accreditations in the international moving industry.
Moving soon? Here at The Moving Company we understand that you might have some moving questions when preparing for your upcoming relocation.
Here are some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQ’s) by our customers.
Whether you’re moving to or from the top of the north, the bottom of the south, or anywhere in between, we have the capability and resources to move from and to any location in New Zealand to anywhere in the world!
It is a good idea to book your move as soon as possible. If you are moving internationally to Australia, we recommend booking in 8-12 weeks before your move date.
Know your moving dates? Give our friendly team a call, they’re ready to help: 0800 668 464
There are many factors that contribute to the length of your move these include the uplift location and delivery destination, the volume of items being packed and moved, shipping dates, and customs clearance (if applicable).
Based on the information provided our friendly Move Managers will be able to provide you with an approximate timeline.
Every move is unique, we will provide a quotation for your moving needs.
You can get a free moving quote by a submitting quote form online or calling our team on: 0800 668 464
The Moving Company utilities a broad range of custom packing materials designed for optimum protection during the moving process.
Porta-robes are a popular carton with customers as your clothes remain on the hanger crinkle-free.
Priority Cartons are also popular as these cartons are used for important items such as bed legs, remote controls, and everything you’ll want to access first when arriving in your new home.
To find out more about the moving boxes we use and our packing materials click here.
We understand that no move is the same and therefore have tailored solutions to meet your moving needs.
Our standard professionally packed service includes the packing of all your household goods using the latest packing material and moving boxes.
We also prepare a detailed inventory that meets both custom and insurance standards.
We will then uplift, stow, transport, and deliver your goods to your new home.
The Moving Company – NZ Best Movers are here to help with any queries you might have about relocating within New Zealand or international moving. Get in touch with our friendly team using the form and we will get back to you as soon as we can. We’d love to help you get moving!
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