Some establishments encourage you to stay with children, others are really not interested in helping you and staying at these can make for a lower standard of holiday. There are seven things that are well worth thinking about before you do anything else when looking for family accommodation.

1. Are the Facilities Suitable for Child/ren – Check out exactly what facilities are available at the accommodation premises. Do they suit the age bracket of your children?

An example here is one place that we stayed when travelling with young children. It kept us on edge the whole time – the bedrooms were all upstairs and a child could fit through the gap in the railings around the staircase. Like all children they were attracted to the stairs!

What is the swimming pool like? Is it suitable for your child/ren and their swimming abilities?

2. Child Care When Travelling – When hotels say they provide child care, make sure you check it out first. Some only cover child care for a couple of hours a day. Other places only run if they have minimum numbers. Check out anyone caring for your child/ren – make sure they are reputable!

3. Cellphone – Take your cellphone and get access for the country that you are in just in case you are away from your child/ren at any stage. If your children are in care somewhere, it is reassuring for you and your children that you can be contacted.

4. Entertainment for Your Child – If the establishment has cable TV – do they have children’s channels? Some don’t. Do they have a DVD player and children’s DVD’s available for hire on the premises or somewhere close? You may even like to take some with you.

With school age children, finding a place where your children, the social creatures that they are can find other children to play with. You may be surprised at how quickly close friends can be made – you get the opportunity to meet other parents too. I have some long term friends that were met like this.

5. Cooking Facilities – Some times it can be more convenient to have cooking facilities at the place you are staying. Make sure you consider all your options.

6. Catering for Babies – Travelling with babies requires a full check list of its own. Stop for a minute and think about how you will deal with each aspect of looking after bubs on your journey.

7. Backups for Care in Place – If you have child care organised while you are away and you are going to attend something that is fixed while your child/ren are in care – have a back up plan in place. What will happen if your event goes on longer than was originally intended?

These are all points to consider when looking for family accommodation for your Christchurch New Zealand Holiday.

Technorati Tags: Christchurch New Zealand holiday, family accommodation, Travelling with Family

The Copthorne Hotel in Durham Street only opened recently following repairs and reinforcement after the 4^th September 2010 earthquake. Once again this hotel has been deemed unsafe for occupation at the moment.

The Copthorne Hotel Christchurch Central located across from Victoria Square had been issued with a restricted use notice. A more detailed structural inspection is required.

The Millennium Hotel Christchurch in the Square at the back beside the damaged Christchurch Cathedral has been cleared for re-entry once the cordons around the Central Business District (CBD) are lifted. At this stage there is no definite date for removal of the cordons.

The Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) run the Crowne Plaza Christchurch, Holiday Inn City Centre Christchurch and Holiday Inn on Avon.

This group have all sustained differing degrees of damage and remain closed until a detailed assessment can be undertaken by authorities.

An email address has been established for guests who were staying in the hotels at the time of the earthquake and who are now enquiring about the retrieval of their belongings. You can register your contact details along with the name of the hotel at the following address – Christchurch.Guests@ihg.com

Technorati Tags: aftershocks, CBD, Christchurch, Christchurch Central, City Centre, Copthorne Hotel, Crowne Plaza, Durham Street, earthquake, Holiday Inn, hotels, Millennium, on Avon

You can experience excitement, relaxation, sunshine and snow, world class sporting and cultural events, wining, dining and accommodation, unique attractions and activities – and all within two hours of Christchurch International Airport.

It is easy to get around Christchurch using the comprehensive transport system or you can hire a rental car and plan your own itinerary. For years I have spoken with tourists and a large number of them said they wished that they had allowed more time for the South Island of New Zealand.

Many tour planners allocate equal time between the North and South Island of New Zealand. I strongly advise you to spend considerably more time in the south. The South Island offers a contrast in scenery and all within a small area.

From Christchurch you can leave the dryness and flatness of the Canterbury Plains, through the rugged Southern Alps, and on to the west coast of the South Island with its wetter, more tropical scenery. The return trip can be done in one day, although I would not recommend it. It is a full day and you don’t get much of a chance to enjoy the scenery. Back to Christchurch and some of the things to do…

Christchurch Botanic Gardens

The Christchurch Botanic Gardens are located on one side of Hagley Park in the central city. They are a wonderful place to relax and unwind. They cover a 30 hectare (75 acres) expanse of introduced trees and shrubs, flowers, herbs and native bush.

The Gardens are a most spectacular result of the desire of the earliest settlers to plant the barren plains of Canterbury – a desire, as public and private gardens continue to flourish in the rich alluvial soil, which has earned Christchurch the label ‘Garden City’.

Christchurch Gardens

In spring and early summer, the Botanic Gardens are ablaze with blooms in the Rose Garden and with flowering alpine plants in the Rock Garden. There are four glasshouses providing a humid home for native plants, cacti, and carnivorous and tropical plants. There is an excellent children’s playground complete with a large paddling pool, or children’s swimming pool, available in the summer months.

Christchurch Tram

There is a special deal available – the Christchurch Tram and Gondola Combo. A discounted rate is offered to visit both attractions. There is an entertaining and informative Inner City Tram Tour. You can then explore the attractions that appeal to you on the main, tram route.

The tram route bypasses the Art gallery, Arts Centre, Museum, Botanic Gardens. On a warm summer day it is wonderful to go on the tram in the evening with the breeze blowing through the open sided trams or through the windows. Very relaxing and fun!

Christchurch Gondola

The Christchurch Gondola provides a gondola ride from the Christchurch suburb of Ferrymead up to the summit of the Port Hills. At the top there is the Summit Cafe for snacks and light lunches or the Pinnacle Restaurant for evening dining. There is also a souvenir store and the Time Tunnel ride showing some history of the region.

The summit is 500 metres above sea level and has a spectacular 360 degree view of Christchurch City, Lyttelton Harbour and across the Canterbury Plains to the Southern Alps. There are nature walkways from building at the summit.

Punting on the Avon

There are two places where you can go punting on the Avon River. Punting in the Park operates from the historic Antigua Boatsheds with trips going up the Avon into the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. You can take a wine along and soft drink for the kids. They provide the glasses as you are punted along in pure self indulgence. Make sure you take a camera and get the front seat – I recommend this one!

Christchurch Arts Centre

The Christchurch Arts Centre is a venue for retail and entertainment. It is set on a site that was once the University of Canterbury. There are distinctive gothic revival buildings forming the basis of the site. The Arts Centre can be found opposite the Botanical Gardens, on the tram route about five minutes walk from Cathedral Square. The site hosts a bustling weekend art, craft and produce market. This is a good place to go for that little gift.

Sumner Christchurch

Another favourite spot of mine is Sumner Beach and Village. The beach is a popular surf beach set around the interesting Cave Rock. On the other side of the rock from Sumner beach is Scarborough beach. For the chocolate fanatics among you, there is a lovely little shop tucked away at the bottom of the hills one street up from the beach.

Sumner Beach

It is well worth a visit! There is a walkway from Cave Rock along Scarborough beach to the bottom of the hills. This is a lovely walk and very popular with all age groups. Sumner village itself has a variety of interesting shops and plenty of cafes and bars.

Technorati Tags: Christchurch Arts Centre, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Christchurch Gondola, Christchurch Tram, Punting on the Avon, Sumner Christchurch

2 minute video of the sights of Christchurch New Zealand and surrounds, focusing on the corporate convention side of things. This is geared towards tourism and the corporate market. With audio and includes shots of the country side, central city, hotels, stadiums and attractions.

Duration : 0:2:4

Technorati Tags: accommodation, canterbury, Christchurch, Christchurch Hotels, corporate, tourism

Takes about 5 hours.

Technorati Tags: Christchurch NZ

The fastest trip duration from London Heathrow (LHR) to Christchurch (CHC) is 24h 15min with only 1 stop in Singapore Changi airport (SIN) onboard Singapore Airlines. This option is available everyday except Wednesdays.(London / LHR – Singapore / SIN – Christchurch / CHC)

Singapore Airlines flight SQ 321 departs LHR at 22:15 and arrives in SIN at 18:00 after a 12h 45min flight.You’ll have 1h 50min on the ground in SIN before SQ297 leaves at 19:50 and lands in CHC at 09:30 with a flight time of 9h 40min.(LHR – Hong Kong / HKG – Auckland / AKL – CHC)

If you decide to fly with Air New Zealand, the total trip duration will vary from 27h 55min to 28h 15min depending on the day of your flight. Air New Zealand flight NZ38 will fly from LHR to Auckland airport (AKL) with a stop in Hong Kong (HKG).Then you will take NZ525 for 1h 20min flight to CHC. (LHR – Bangkok / BKK – Sydney / SYD – CHC)

On QANTAS, the total trip duration will be 28h 20min with a stop in Bangkok (BKK) and Sydney (SYD) onboard QANTAS flight QF 2 & QF45. The actual flight time will depend on the winds, speed of the aircraft and the actual route the aircraft takes. All departure and arrival times of the flights are local.

Technorati Tags: air new zealand, christchurch international flights, qantas, singapore airlines

The Arts Centre Market comes alive with the sights and sounds of artists, musicians, buskers and craftspeople.  Visitors from out of town enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and it is a fantastic place to spend some time especially on a sunny day.

You will find over 80 stalls there with an ever-changing mix of top quality New Zealand-made goods, including jewellery, clothing, woodwork, ceramics, flax and paua work, soaps and glassware and a favourite – Fudge cottage.

The market is a great place to grab something to eat from the Market’s international food fair.  There is live entertainment in the Market Square, along Worcester Boulevard and in the south quad.

The arts centre is set on the old University site in an array of heritage buildings located between Worcester Boulevard and Hereford Street. The back of the Market is opposite the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, on the tram route and just over the road from the Christchurch Museum.

Christchurch Accommodation nearby includes a variety of bed and breakfasts (including quite a few heritage buildings), backpackers and it is close by to a selection of hotels.

When you plan your Christchurch New Zealand Holiday make sure you include some time to have a look at the Arts Centre Markets.

Technorati Tags: Arts Centre, Botanic Gardens, Christchurch, Christchurch Hotels, Christchurch Museum, Christchurch New Zealand holiday, market, markets, trams, tramway

Christchurch Population – 361,941 (2006 census)

Electricity – 230 volts AC, 50 hertz (3 pin appliance plug)  Most hotels have shaver plugs suitable for all international appliances of low power rating, which will supply 110 and 230 volts.

Telephone – Most NZ telephone systems can handle DTMF tone dialling, NZ pulse dialling is the reverse of most countries.  Digits are reversed producing a different number of pulses.  British Telecom 600 plus (not RJ-11).

Emergency Number – 111 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)

Temperatures – Average from 32 degrees F to 74 degrees F or 1 degree C to 32 degrees C

Warmest months – January/February

Coldest month – July 

Planning Your Holiday Wardrobe

Spring (September to November) – Rainwear and a light jacket.

Summer (December to February) – Light clothes, swimsuit, sunscreen, light cover.

Autumn (March to May) – Heavy jacket and warm sweaters.

Winter (June to August) – Thick coat, hat, gloves, scarves and very warm sweaters.

Technorati Tags: Christchurch New Zealand holiday, facts about Christchurch

A look at some fun and interesting things to check out for your New Zealand Holiday.

http://www.WatchMojo.com

Duration : 1 min

Technorati Tags: New Zealand holiday, Travel"

To view video, click on the post title

Christchurch New Zealand Holiday – Arthur’s Pass

Recorded January 15, 2007. Arthur’s Pass is a mountain pass in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand. It marks part of the boundary between Westland and Canterbury, 87 miles from Christchurch and 59 miles from Greymouth.

The pass lies in a saddle between the valleys of the Otira River, a tributary of the Taramakau, in the west and the Bealey River in the east. State Highway 73 passes over Arthur’s Pass and is the highest of only three roads crossing the Southern Alps.

Previously prone to be blocked by landslides or avalanches, the road on the western side of the pass has seen extensive civil engineering work in the late 1990s. Most notably, the impressive Otira Viaduct, near the settlement of Otira and spanning 440 metres of unstable terrain, was completed in 1999.

This video covers my road trip across the Southern Alps of New Zealand. I begin with a jetboat trip through the spectacular Waimakariri River canyon after which I cross the pass and end the video at the scenic Otira Viaduct. From: http://timvp.com

Duration : 0:6:30

Technorati Tags: arthurs-pass, Christchurch, holiday, new zealand