Christchurch Earthquake Update
Posted on 06. Sep, 2010 by Campbell in Inside New Zealand, What's New?
To all our clients currently visiting New Zealand, and to those that have planned an upcoming trip – no need to worry! Relaxing Journeys is operating as per usual and we have not been affected personally as our offices are located in Auckland & Australia. We’d like to thank those clients that have emailed or contacted us to express their concern for our fellow Kiwis. They bred them tough down South and we’re sure Cantabrians will pick themselves up quickly, especially with so many fellow Kiwis providing support during this period.
Relaxing Journeys are receiving constant updates from affected tourism businesses, operators and accommodation providers, so we can ensure alternative amendments to your itineraries are put in place if it’s likely you will be affected by the quakes aftermath. We will contact you personally if this is the case.
The good news is the airport is open and the vast majority of hotels and accommodation providers are operating as normal. Parts of the city are cordoned off and this affects pickup points in some cases, but as mentioned above we’ll let you know if this affects you, and will be in contact.
The clean up will take sometime, and we’ll keep you all briefed here if there is a fundamental change in access to the region.
If you’d like more information on what’s happening on the ground, you can follow the latest developments on the link below:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10671666
Update 7th September 2010
All coach tours, self drives and activities are currently running as per normal including those starting and finishing and travelling through Christchurch. The media is enjoying this opportunity to increase their advertising revenues, but the reality is, all hotels in Christchurch are open (with 1 exception) and operating as per normal. The same can be said with regards to tourism activities operating in the region. There are a couple of exceptions however we will let you know of any changes to your itineraries if you are travelling through the region over the next few days. The airport is also fully functional and operating as per normal.
Update 10th September 2010
Tourism New Zealand and Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism are encouraging international visitors not to put off travel plans, through daily updates on Tourism NZ’s website. They are stressing that only a small part of the region has been affected by the quake and inviting travellers to experience Christchurch, gateway to the beautiful South island.
Update 24th September 2010
Christchurch is returning to normal after a serious earthquake hit the City on 4 September. The state of local emergency in the Christchurch region was lifted a week ago. Visitors are being welcomed back to the City and a travel advisory against non-essential travel was lifted on the 10th September. Only a few isolated areas of the central City, and some buildings, remain cordoned off for safety reasons. All tourism operators are operating as normal.