Christchurch Quake Update
New Zealand is Open and how to By Pass Christchurch

Visitors please note that New Zealand is open and fully operational as are some services in Christchurch city.

Last night (Tuesday June 21 2011) at 10:35pm Christchurch and the immediate region was again rocked by a 5.3 event. This in conjunction with the earlier quakes this month has efectively set things back in some areas. To date there have now been 29 events of magnitude 5 or above since the September 2010 7.1 quake.

Please remember one of the ways we can all help the city and it's people is to utilise those 11,700 beds available in the Canterbury region that have not been impacted at all by earthquake activity, the damage caused by the quake is localised and most of the region is unaffected, so there is no reason to postpone or cancel your holiday.

Christchurch Airport is Open

Christchurch International Airport is also open for transit within New Zealand and too other destinations.

By Passing Christchurch

There are a number of routes you can take to by pass Christchurch City if you so desire.

Canterbury Foothills SH72

State Highway 72 will allow you to follow the inland route travelling north or south. The added bonus on the northern section of this route is the Waimakariri Gorge crossing and visiting North Canterbury townships like Oxford and Rangiora.

Following SH72 you can skirt along the foothills between Waikuku in the north and Timaru in the south. Thus by passing Christchurch and the immediate region altogether.

Travelling East Coast to West Coast

From either north or south of Christchurch if you intend to drive to the West Coast via Arthur's Pass we suggest following SH72 to the junction with SH73 at Waddington, just east of Sheffield on the Canterbury plains. Following this route you can by pass the City and it's environs.

Main Trunk Route SH1

Follow the signs to by pass the city on SH1 between Belfast in the north and Yaldhurst on SH73 and Templeton on SH1 in the south. This route will keep you on SH1 or there abouts, by passing the City as you pass between the Airport and the City en-route.