If you are thinking of relocating to Christchurch from Wellington, an exciting new life awaits you! With so much to enjoy, including new job opportunities and an abundance of outdoor activities, you will likely be counting down the days until you move. However, inter-island moving can be complicated, especially if you haven’t done it before.
Fortunately, Allied Moving Services are highly experienced in inter-island moving! Our Wellington moving team and our Christchurch moving team work together to ensure a seamless moving experience, so your relocation is taken care of from start to finish! Using our expertise, we’ve put together this handy moving guide so you have everything you need to know to move from Wellington to Christchurch.
Life in Christchurch
Once devastated by the 2011 earthquakes, Christchurch is once again thriving. Branded as a city of exploration, Christchurch offers the ideal combination of heritage and modern development. We break down what everyday life is like Christchurch and how it may compare to your old life in Wellington.
WORK & CAREER
Previously, the biggest industries in Christchurch were agriculture, tourism and manufacturing. In recent years, Christchurch has done significant work to diversify its economy with expansion into new exciting sectors such as aerospace and technology. Christchurch is a hub for the construction industry, with many of the biggest firms headquartered in the city.
HOUSING
Christchurch does have a more affordable housing market than most other New Zealand cities, however it has struggled to meetthe growing demand for housing. This supply was also impacted due to the subsequent earthquake damage to thousands of properties. According to Reinz’s (Real Estate Institute of New Zealand) Regional Property Report, Christchurch’s median house price in April 2023 was $660,000. This is compared to Wellington’s median price of $797,000. It is also cheaper to rent in Christchurch, with the average monthly cost of a 3-bedroom apartment in the city centre averaging to be $2,671 (compared to Wellington’s average of $4,236).
For those seeking suburbs which are close to the city, we recommend Merivale, Sydenham, and Philipstown. If you are a family, it’s best to look around Spreydon, Redwood, St Martins, and Halswell, as there is an abundance of parks and schooling options. For suburbs which are close to the sea and provide a quieter lifestyle, the eastern suburbs, such as Sumner and Redcliffs, are best.
CLIMATE
The weather is a highlight of Christchurch, as locals enjoy a temperate climate as well as less rain than other New Zealand cities. During the winter months, temperatures average between 2℃ to 13℃, and the mornings are frosty before becoming more sunny. In the summer, the average daily temperature may reach a high of 23℃ and a low of 11℃.
TRANSPORTATION
There are few options for getting around Christchurch, you can travel using a car, the bus system or by cycling. The public transport consists of a comprehensive bus network and ferry system which requires a Metrocard to use. Cycling is becoming increasingly popular in Christchurch, with many locals enjoying the various cycleways.
THE CULTURE & LIFESTYLE
A major draw card for relocating from Wellington to Christchurch is the extraordinary offering of outdoor activities. Choose from hiking, mountain biking, skiing and snowboarding trails available close to Christchurch. In the warmer months, you can surf and enjoy the beautiful beaches.
Need a break from sport? You’ll find the bustling nightlife and thriving arts scene in Christchurch exhilarating! From the iconic food and farmer markets, numerous art galleries, to the various cinemas, there is something to occupy you every weekend! Seeking something delicious? Merivale, Riccarton and Addington will help you discover a great pub, an interesting bar, or a quirky restaurant.
Planning your move to Christchurch
Wondering what’s involved in a move from Wellington to Christchurch? Here are the top considerations you need to be aware of!
PACKING BELONGINGS AND FURNITURE
As relocating from Wellington to Christchurch means your belongings and furniture will travel over 436 kilometres to reach their new home, you will want to ensure they are packed properly for the move. We recommend trying not to leave the bulk of your packing to the last minute and to take a more methodical and careful approach to your packing. Start with packing less frequently used and seasonal items. It’s best to use a moving checklist so you don’t forget anything! We recommend using a professional packing service so you can ensure your belongings are safe for the journey.
MOVING A CAR OR VEHICLE
As having your own car or vehicle in Christchurch is convenient, you may want to bring your current car with you from Wellington. You can either choose to drive your car yourself or use a professional vehicle transportation service. The drive from Wellington to Christchurch will take at least 8 hours and you’ll also need to take the ferry, so using a transport service can be a better option as it will take the stress off of you and enable you to focus on settling into your new home.
RELOCATING WITH PETS
Relocating can be highly stressful for pets so you want to ensure that they are well-prepared for their move. Before you relocate, take your pet to the vet for a check-up and update their microchip and collar information with your new address. To help reduce stress, we recommend using a pet transportation service. Professionals like the team at Allied will have the right expertise and resources to get your pet to their new home in Christchurch, safely and efficiently.
STORAGE
As you pack for your move, you will be unsure about what belongings and furniture you want to take with you to Christchurch. A secure storage service can ensure that your items are safe while you settle into your new home. For flexibility during the move, we recommend short-term shortage, otherwise longer-term storage can enable you to store items for as long as you need. Choose a storage provider, such as Allied, who is able to deliver your stored items to your new home in Christchurch when you are ready.
PROFESSIONAL MOVERS VS DIY
When moving from Wellington to Christchurch, you will need to decide whether you use a trusted moving company or try to tackle the relocation yourself. Usually, the deciding factor is whether it’s more cost-effective to use movers or go the D-I-Y route.
It may come as a surprise however using a moving company can actually be much better value than moving yourself. This is because handling the move yourself involves a large amount of different costs including petrol, packing materials, the time taken to pack and move yourself (including taking time off work), renting a truck or van, and any other incidental expenses. With professional movers, this is all factored into your quote which tends to be more worth its value than doing everything yourself. You can essentially save countless hours and headaches, plus save money on costs from potential injuries, accidents and unexpected events.
With professionals, you’ll also have more time and energy to settle into your home. A moving company will have the right experience, training and equipment to handle your relocation and carefully look after your belongings, not to mention they will be significantly more efficient than going with a DIY route.
In the case of using multiple moving services, using a company that can offer a variety of services such as pet relocation, storage, and transit insurance can help give you a more competitive deal than compared to using numerous service providers. With Allied, we offer a range of additional services that you can include in your moving service - meaning we can handle all aspects of your move from start to finish.