My boyfriend & I are going on a holiday to Christchurch, New Zealand in the middle of June.?

What is the weather like then %26amp; what should I pack? What are the best places to visit and things to do and what are the best places to eat at? Especially on the cheap. Has any one been on the TranzAlpine and is it worth it? Does it snow then? Is there nightlife there? What do you all recommend?

My boyfriend %26amp; I are going on a holiday to Christchurch, New Zealand in the middle of June.?
June is cold, although still alot of sunshine - so bring lots of jumpers!





I found this site good - http://www.chchattractions.co.nz/index.h... - go on the Gondola http://www.gondola.co.nz/index.html


http://www.christchurchnz.net/visitchch





The International Antarctic Centre is great also - near the airport http://www.iceberg.co.nz





Doesn't' snow in the city (although it did in 1990 when I lived there)





Not sure on the nightlife - am too old for that %26lt;grin%26gt;





For ski fields in the area go to http://www.snow.co.nz/areas/area_index.a...





Have fun








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I have just read "sebcue's" response below - and all i can say is what a load or BS - he is misinforming you big time, take no notice.
Reply:Kiwis are VERY friendly people dont listen to what other people say... go visit Pancake island and queenstown and june is a good time if u like snow then if u end up going in june then u can go up the mountain and go skiing but if u like fishing n stuff then go in december.. Report It

Reply:Hello, it will be cold here so pack some winter woolies! I can't believe those comments about new zealanders! I am an aussie living here and i love it here! truly the best country ever





Have loads of fun!
Reply:I have been to NZ for 5 years...I have some advice.....be very careful..although it looks safe you still need to be wise....do common sense....kiwis are very good at ripping off your money....because they have many years of experience doing this....as a small country their number one source of income is from tourists...foreigners and those ones who are not mainstream New Zealanders.....so try not to show that your are not a kiwi....do not simply let them to take advantage of you...their main characteristics are that they bring you down and show off themselves..because they have a green beautiful country and lab lab lab...there are lots of things for them to show off...don't get too impressed and do not participate in those kind of conversations.....lots of people will ask you where are you from? to you it means...where are you from but this question actually means...is the door open for ripping off or not?although it looks nice on the surface you need to live there to see deep inside....be careful not to get sick....their hospitals and health system is really bad....because of poor work conditions they do not have enough nurses and doctors...all hospitals are public and you will be treated by poorly paid overworked new graduates.....so in general be very careful not to mix up with them as such...you will be beaten but otherwise enjoy your trip.
Reply:June in NZ is the worst time of year! Come here in January when its summer time. Otherwise the country is kind of backwards. The road are pitifully bad. Even their best roads are not much more than gravel roads. Go to Austrailia instead, you'll have a better time. NZ is so over priced it's crazy. Service sucks. I am an American workig here on contract and have been here for two years, I can't wait to leave.
Reply:The weather will be cool with frosty nights. But Christchurch has low rainfall. The Tranzalpine is one of the world's great rail experiences. Pity they commercialised it and jacked up the prices. You used to get the same experience for next to nothing. Christchurch now has some interesting eating places; every cuisine you can think of. When I first went there you only had NZ and Cantonese. There's a good chance you'll get some snow in June. Take warm clothes. There's now some decent nightlife. Take a ride on the gondola. Visit the Antarctic Centre. Hire a car and drive to Akaroa, 50 miles away. It used to be a French settlement. I disagree with sebcue about our health services; every time my family has needed treatment it's been good. Costs? the NZ$ is exceptionally high at present, and top end of the market places are expensive at any time, but there's plenty of reasonably-priced accommodation. Compared with North America or Europe, NZ is reasonably priced.
Reply:hear it is very cold at that time.
Reply:Hi,





It will be very cold so pack lots of winter woollies and a hat and scarf as the southerly winds can be icy. I lived in Christchurch during the winter a few years back and it did snow while I was there. You don't get that much snow in the city but the Port Hills and the Banks Peninsula, which are the surrounding areas, and both very beautiful, get lots of snow.





You should definitely visit the Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park as they are stunning and go to the hothouse while you're there to warm up and see the exotic trees. There's a pub/restaurant nearby called the Dux Deluxe, which does really good pizza and makes it's own ginger beer, that's not too expensive. That whole area is worth a visit as it has lovely architecture, a market selling local arts and crafts, a plethora of cheap food stalls selling foods from around the world, and the art gallery (http://www.christchurchartgallery.org.nz... which is a must see.





Go on the gondola for amazing views out to sea and across the plains to the mountains. (http://www.gondola.co.nz/) but don't eat in the cafe there as the food is not very good and its very expensive. Sumner is a beach suburb that is definitely worth a vist: the beach is stunning and Sumner itself is a cute little village with some really nice, relatively cheap cafes. For a really cheap eat buy fish and chips and share them with the seagulls on the beach.





For a great breakfast go to Under the Red Verandah on Worcester St just outside the city centre. For great Turkish food go to Topkapi on Manchester St (http://www.topkapi.co.nz/); for delicious Thai food go to Manee, also on Manchester St; and for good Indian food go to the Tandoori Palace in Cathedral Square.





Definitely take a trip out to the Banks Peninsula and visit Akaroa (http://www.akaroa.com/fpnew/fastpage/fpe... if you're not hiring a car then you can get the bus from the centre of Christchurch (Ph: 0800 800 575 or Email: akaroabus@xtra.co.nz for details).





Nightlife is mainly centred around bars rather than clubs and there are a number of them gathered together along the banks of the Avon, as well as the Cashel St/Manchester St intersection. These bars have DJs and mainly attract a younger crowd. For a bar with a difference though, catch a bus to Lyttleton, which is just on the other side of the Port HIlls, and go to the Wunderbar (http://www.wunderbar.co.nz/) its really funky and different and gets a really laid back friendly crowd in there. Often there's also live music.





I never went on the TranzAlpine but some visiting family did and they loved it. (http://www.thetranzalpine.com/)





If you do hire a car then Cave Stream Scenic Reserve is definitely worth seeing (http://www.newzealand.com/travel/sights-... if the weather permits.





Hope this helps. Enjoy your holiday!
Reply:Christchuch can be pretty cold...but I would say the coldest days are 3 or 4oC..but thats not that often...


I would defeinately pack a jacket, scarf and gloves as it gets pretty crisp.


Best places to visit...well the Antarctic Centre, gondola has great views, the canterbury museum maybe....There is a new maori attraction...I am not sure where it is and I know its around $100 so its not cheap and probably too much?? I would say that there are things just outside of Chrsitchurch that are worth looking at too eg skiing...you can go reasonably cheaply.


Places to eat....well there are bar meals in some places worth eating...look out for signs in some pubs/bars. I guess it depends on what you like....my absolute favourite resteraunt is Kannigas Thai Resteraunt (there is 2 or 3 now...2 are close together on Papanui Road/Bealey Ave corner and the other about 100m away on Victoria street.....fantastic food around $13-15 for a main meal each. Love it.


There are food courts in malls which have some good deals for dinner...for lunch I guess its either buying it in supermarkets or looking out for those bar meals.


Tranz Alpine is pretty nice. I went in July when it had snowed. When we were coming back from Greymouth there is a tunnel just coming into Arthurs Pass...it was green forest when we went in and snow at Arthurs pass..the whole carrage went "ohhhh ahhhhhhh" very funny but it was a surprise....we had some fun throwing snow as they stop there for a few minutes. Its pretty dry chch side of arhurs pass and green on the other side...I would take it....I am not sure if they have a "backpackers" carrage..I know they have it on the Coastal Pacific (Picton-Christchurch) and its cheaper...so ask!!!


It does snow...I have lived there for about 10years on and off and it has snowed several times in the city..eg enough to build snowmen, but its usually gone the next day.


Nightlife...well there is one...with clubs (eg "the Strip") pubs and bars everywhere..I would recommend the strip....its off Cashel and Woster(shire)??/Gloster(shire) St near the Avon river..ask and it will be pointed out to you.


I'm actually pretty shocked that people say tourist are ripped off!! I agree that tourist shops are overpriced...if you want some cheap places to shop for things eg clothes..go to the warehouse (a large red shed style shop). I love meeting people from all over the world and I would say the majority of people are friendly and welcoming....some people...well you just can't help them!!


Have a great time!!