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semola
Jun 18, 2008, 9:15 AM
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Registered: Mar 26, 2008
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hi, my name is Alberto and i´m an italian chinse student,i was wondering about staying some months in new zealand (from november to jenuary) to improve my english...and climb as much as possible. is there somebody that could give me some advices about the places to stay? obviously i don t pretend to earn tons of money, just the money that permit me a cheap accomodation, food and climbing! the dream wuold be christchurch, to be as aclose as possible to the bouldering heaven... much tanks
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johnnie74
Jun 18, 2008, 10:01 AM
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Registered: Jul 3, 2005
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I'll there starting on January, so if someone's can help us, it will be awesome. Thanks in advance
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jp_sucks
Jun 18, 2008, 2:06 PM
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Registered: Oct 31, 2006
Posts: 240
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I lived and climbed in Christchurch a few years ago. It's really easy to find random work when you're over there. You can pick up a used car for really cheap to get you out to the climbing areas. My recommendation would be to just go there and find a place, car and job once you're there.
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semola
Jun 18, 2008, 2:20 PM
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Registered: Mar 26, 2008
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ok, sounds good. 2 more questions: i ll stay only four or five months, so i wouldn t like to buy a car..looks like wasting money.how are the public transports?and more:can i drive there with my italian driving license? where to sleep?can you tell me how much is renting a flat or...whatever, simply telling me the cheapest accomodation i can find! actually one more:when i ll be there how to find a job:shall i go to some part time agencies or looking on my own orf go to christchurch common or..dont know, some advices are always well accepted.. thanks so much!
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jp_sucks
Jun 18, 2008, 4:27 PM
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Registered: Oct 31, 2006
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Public transport is ok but not great. Definitely not as good as other countries. It'll be a real challenge to get out to climbing areas. I bought a great car for around $500 USD there. That seemed to be the average price, cheapest cars I've ever seen!! You can then resell it when you leave for a similar price. Can't remember what I paid for rent but it was probably only a couple hundred bucks a month. There are tons of transient flats with rooms for rent all the time. The best place to look for all of this stuff is in the main square in christchurch. You can go into the hostels and internet cafes and they have massive message boards with postings for rooms, cars, jobs, etc. There are also a bunch of temp job agencies that advertise there.
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Myxomatosis
Jun 18, 2008, 11:24 PM
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Registered: Jun 12, 2007
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Hey dude... Its quite easy to find work in CHCH part time.. especially during those months (busy time of the year, so heaps of companies hire temp's) A couple agency's are Allied Workforce, Kellys, Select Industrial, plus ton's others. Or you can look at http://www.trademe.co.nz or http://www.seek.co.nz for full or part tiem jobs. The pay is quite low for temps but still around $12-14nz per hour. I dont think finding a job will be a problem As for living, tons of flat's around looking for people. I think rent is usually between $70nz to $130nz (I pay $150 a week here in Auckland, but its much more expensive up here) for a room not incl exp. Food wise I usually spend $100 a week but I usually eat out or buy expensive things (eg scotch fillet steaks, fresh veg's) if you live on noodles you could probably get down to $50 Also have a look at TradeMe for flats.... You will definitly need a car to get to climbing destinations, as they are quite oftern off the main trunk line. Castle Hill is a good 3 hour drive from CHCH and most of the crags on the port hills are 30m-1hour drives. Also check out www.trademe.co.nz for cars or google "Buy Sell Exchange" which is the local rag for selling stuff. If you looking for climbing partners.. check out www.mojozone.co.nz
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semola
Jun 19, 2008, 1:17 AM
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Registered: Mar 26, 2008
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thanks so much for the infos! are there other places where i can climb in NZ that in your opinion have to be seen? i woluld love to travel a little! much thanks!!
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Myxomatosis
Jun 19, 2008, 4:16 AM
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Registered: Jun 12, 2007
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Depends what type of climbing you do.. CHCH has a long history and is mostly Trad climbing in the area (altho it has Britten Crag with easy to medium sport and "The Cave" which has 5.12a to 5.13+ sport routes). Bouldering... check out Castle Hill for the South Island and the North Island has Waitomo (half way up the North island on the left side) for all your bouldering needs As for some other places... well heres the low down on a couple of the most popular Wye Creek - Sport, forget the rock type, Its down near Wanaka, apparently some pretty stunning climbing. Also quite a few other crags in the area (I heard Arrowtown is the place to stay, little cheaper and more laid back than Wanaka/Queenstown) The Darren's - True Apline routes, trad, long hike in but some stunning climbing on granite faces 5-10 pitches. Heaps of poteintial for new routes and exploring. Paynes Ford - Sport limestone, its near Nelson (top of South Island) and is like a mini Thailand in NZ. Hangdog camp is the place to be over Xmas/NewYears, offers ton's of climbing. As for the North Island... well you got Waipapa which is climbing on Rhyolite rock, trad and sport routes right in NZ bush with easy approach. Some Nice climbing if you got trad gear but you run out of sport routes if you climbing under 20. Whanganui Bay is the same rock, trad and sport but is right on the shore of Lake Taupo. Its on maori owned land but the camping is cheap and the poeple are super friendly. Some nice big cliff's with ton's of climbing from easy to super hard. Awesome to wake up to the sunrise on the shore.. stunning place There isn't much climbing around Wellington or Auckland, most of the NI stuff is around Hamilton and Taupo area's. South Island is definitely the climbing paradise with alot more climbing.... Some really nice trad cliff's at Charlston and Mt Sommers plus plently of little crags scattered all over the Port Hills near CHCH Personally Id stay in the South Island and hit up Paynes Ford and Wye Creek... or if you on trad Charlston and Mt Sommers Shoot me a PM if you got any questions, the www.climb.co.nz website is quite out dated.
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kiwiprincess
Jun 22, 2008, 6:00 AM
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Registered: Oct 26, 2007
Posts: 307
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Queenstown ( wye creek, jardines) is a tourist town so speaking chinese and Italian you will be able to find work if you get a permit. There is no Public transport to any of the climbing area's in NZI know of, Except Paynes ford and The Quarry in Auckland. You can drive on a foreign licence for up to 1 year.
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