Christchurch Getting there & around

Getting around

Public transport

The Christchurch bus network (Metro; 03-366 8855; www.metroinfo.org.nz; 6.30am-10.30pm Mon-Sat, 9am-9pm Sun) is inexpensive and efficient. Most buses run from The Crossing, with its pedestrian entrance on Colombo St opposite Ballantynes. The exchange has an information desk here; alternatively, get timetables from the i-SITE. A cash fare to anywhere in the city costs $2.50. Metrocards allow two-hour/full-day travel for $1.90/3.80, but the cards must be loaded up with a minimum of $10.

For information on the following two services, contact Red Bus (0800 733 287; www.redbus.co.nz). The big yellow Shuttle (fare free; 7.30am-10.30pm Mon-Fri, 8am-10.30pm Sat, 10am-8pm Sun) is an inner-city service (as far north as Peterborough St, south to Moorhouse Ave) with about 20 pick-up points. The After Midnight Express (fare $5; hourly midnight-4am Sat & Sun) operates on five suburban routes, most of them departing Oxford Tce.

The Best Attractions Shuttle (0800 484 485, 03-384 0999; www.chchattractions.co.nz/shuttlebus.asp; 24-hr pass adult/child $15/10) links major attractions such as the International Antarctic Centre, the gondola and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve. It departs Cathedral Sq every 1½ to two hours daily.

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Car & motorcycle

Hire

Major car- and campervan-rental companies all have offices in Christchurch, as do numerous smaller local companies. Operators with national networks often want cars to be returned from Christchurch to Auckland because most renters travel in the opposite direction, so special rates may apply on this northbound route.

Some smaller-scale companies:

Ace Rental Cars (0800 202 029, 03-366 3222; www.acerentalcars.co.nz; 237 Lichfield St)

First Choice (0800 736 822, 03-365 9261; www.firstchoice.co.nz; 132 Kilmore St)

New Zealand Motorcycle Rentals & Tours (03-348 1106; www.nzbike.com; 301a Blenheim Rd) Also does guided motorbike tours; see p718.

Omega Rental Cars (0800 112 121, 03-377 4558; www.omegarentals.com; 20 Lichfield St)

Pegasus Rental Cars (0800 354 506, 03-365 1100; www.rentalcars.co.nz; 127 Peterborough St)

Purchase

If you want to buy or sell a car, do some homework, shop around and ask the right questions. Check out Backpackers Car Market (03-377 3177; www.backpackerscarmarket.co.nz; 33 Battersea St), Backpackers Bazaar (03-379 3700), or the weekly Canterbury Car Fair (03-338 5525; Wrights Rd entrance; 9am-noon Sun) held at Addington Raceway; seller’s fee is $20. Turners Auctions (03-343 9850; www.turners.co.nz; 1 Detroit Place) buys and sells used cars by auction; vehicles priced under $6000 are auctioned at 6pm on Tuesday and Thursday.

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Local transport

Taxi

Christchurch’s main taxi companies:

Blue Star (0800 379 979)

First Direct (0800 505 555)

Gold Band (0800 379 5795)

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