Party atmosphere rules in the earthquake city
I remember a particularly painful unprovoked smack to the face I received at a fish and chip shop round the corner from the old Warners Hotel in Cathedral Square. This trip has been all smiles. In fact, I’ve been here for a week now and I haven’t even been called a “f****** Aucklander’’ yet.
Christchurch is just 90 minutes from Mt Hutt. No other New Zealand city has a ski field so close. You can check the weather in the morning then fang on over if it’s good. Plus it’s a great field. The Summit Six chairlift will take you to some of the longest, widest runs in the country. In a onein-a-million freak accident it broke down last week leaving people hanging for an hour or so.
Christchurch is missing a central party hub but that is kind of cool. You can blast around town from place to place. On Friday we started at the Carlton Papanui Rd, then nipped over to the Chinwag on Victoria St, then JDV, then off to The Cuban, St Asaph St, then back to the Carlton then over to Smash Palace on High St, then back to The Cuban.
Great bars, great food, great people, great times. Plus Christchurch taxis
The other day I saw Kieran Reid, Brendon McCullum and Kev from Tradestaff. Huge names.
are cheapish and the local drivers are way less racist than they used to be. Win, win.
Christchurch is home to the best buffet breakfast in the country — Bloody Mary’s at the Rydges Latimer. Tasty, varied and well thought out. There’s even a bottle of vodka on hand so you can make your own loaded morning drinks. Admittedly a member of the 2015 Pakistan cricket team claimed the place was haunted. I’m not so sure. In fact I haven’t seen a ghost in here all week. Not one.
However, I did see some big names. Christchurch is full of superstars. The other day I saw Kieran Read, Brendon McCullum and Kev from Tradestaff. Huge names.
Everyone knows Christchurch has been through a difficult time. John Campbell went on about it for years. But despite everything and despite what some people say the place can be really fun. It’s got all the bars, big names, restaurants, skiing, refreshing drinks and vodka breakfasts you could ask for and there are way less ghosts and racists than you might expect.
Best of all, unlike Aucklanders, Christchurchians don’t spend 99 per cent of their time blabbing on about property prices.