Christchurch cathedral was the center of the city for all, whether religious or not - as kids its where parents would tell kids to meet if you they got lost, where you'd waste hours outside watching the Wizard or eating your takeaways from The Dog House - there was always something going on. Now in the US 28yrs, my first visit to the square post-quake was in 2019 when I returned after the mosque shootings to check-in with parents and attend the memorial. After the memorial a friend took me for a walk around the city, without specific buildings up, I was pretty much lost, until unbeknownst to me, we turned the corner to where the cathedral used to be. I was not ready for the emotion that engulfed my body upon seeing the broken down damage that was so much part of my childhood - instant tears. It felt like someone had ripped my heart out - and this is from an atheist who only ever went inside the cathedral to when we had visitors who wanted to look at the stained glass windows. My trip back last Xmas I got to see the rebuild in process and felt a little relief, most will usually argue what "the heart" of their city is, but in the case of Christchurch, their is no doubt the old cathedral was this to all. THANK YOU CURLS FOR VISITING CHCH!! XO

Thank you Curls for coming to our beautiful city!! It’s not quite the same as the old city but it’s charm is still working on me.

@JRB33

9 ай бұрын

How much of the old fashioned charm remains? As an Englishmen considering immigrating to NZ Christchurch has a lot of appeal, but I don't want to over romanticise a place that may not remind me as much of charming English towns as I expect. There is some appeal in becoming part of a rebirth and contributing to a place that has been through a lot, but I can't think what it must've been like to be a resident. My own city of Hull was the most bombed city in England after London in WW2, and many of the images I have seen of Christchurch since the quake remind me Hull's bombed out churches and Victorian buildings, most of the city had to be rebuilt- luckily the old town retained so much of its charm, is the same true of Christchurch?

@rad4924

9 ай бұрын

​​@@JRB33Sadly not much remains. The earthquake did a real number on the older Victorian style buildings and most have been replaced by ultra-modern ones instead (or sometimes just left to rot). I'd still recommend Christchurch but it's not the place it was, for better or for worse.

Yay! So so cool to see you wandering around my home city .🎉 Thank you for promoting ChCh and reminding us all to go adventure in the Central City 😊

@accuracy1

8 ай бұрын

Same!

Hope you enjoyed your time here mate, I met you in Riccarton mall and can I say what a lovely person you are and even gave me a solid dap up!

I was there in 2015 so glad to see it’s thriving ❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

As a Christchurch local, this made me quite emotional. Thanks for visiting Curls and come back again sometime.

@Jeremytonkin

3 ай бұрын

I agree...same feelings here

Im hoping to move to chch next year and this is making it hard to wait that long!!

Just love Christchurch, nothing wrong with street art

Love Christchurch. You could do a walking video of all the amazing street art and murals. They are worth it! And thanks for the stroll around Riverside Market-such a great place. Such a great city!

Great video you made me want to go back as it looks well recovered. I'm always emotional when I see videos of the Botanic Gardens as that was were I proposed to my wife 52 years ago.

Sadly not spent enough time in beautiful CHC - they do have a gorgeous city & some of the best NZ weather 🌦️ great tour - job well done Curls 🌸🩵

2:44 I think you may have missed the joke. The "Gerry Brownie" probably gets it name from from Gerry Brownlie, a National politician

@KylieMackLA

10 ай бұрын

*for those not aware Gerry Brownlie is the former New Zealand's earthquake recovery minister who failed the city, big time. Aside from all the botched EQC "repairs", from the get-go many like my parents were without running water or electricity for months. Many just had to leave the city as simple fixes on their homes were botched or took years to get approved so still habitable homes fell into worse and dangerously unlivable condition. For months, my dad (only partially mobile due to stroke) had to shuffle down their long driveway and all the way to the corner of their street to use the army-delivered portapotties. At the time I had a well-followed NZ quake twitter account and it wasn't until many started publicly addressing his failures via social media that people started seeing movement in the home recovery they needed. Even now there's thousands who never returned to Chch, they just took the loss and escaped dodge never to return :(

@carlystevenson950

10 ай бұрын

Also Rollickin Gelato has a thing for politicians, there’s a wall with pictures of them in the shop / autographs. Guess it’s a bit of a running theme

I've noticed recently that, when you're taking videos of yourself, everything is mirrored. It's a silly thing that all phones do but, can often be somewhat of a distraction on your otherwise awesome videos. There are ways you can fix it so it flips the footage back around the right way after filming, Just check your settings A minor thing I know but, it is one thing I really dislike about phone cameras 🤣

Glad you enjoyed your visit to my home town. I live out of the city but drive in every day to work. Great to see it through someone else's eyes. I often take for granted how many nice places there are to see around the city and suburbs.

the best coffee is at Riverside Market, look for Espresso Studio... the barista there has won 3 consecutive years! the Botanic Garden is way bigger than that... there's different gardens in there and i love going to the rose garden and the greenhouse.. oh! there is also a Museum right by the Botanic Gardens too... you didn't have a look inside the impresive library? it's the whole the building! also you must go to the Margaret Mhay family park too!!

@carlystevenson950

10 ай бұрын

We live a 5 min walk from Margaret Mahy and expecting a little one in March, can’t wait to take them there!

That little river is called the Avon river and I believe there's a river in England named after it... 😊

@KylieMackLA

10 ай бұрын

My childhood revolved around that little river, it followed us from home to our Nana's on Avonside road and so many memories, like Elizabeth the sea lion who used to visit the area and lay on its banks. I was back from the US last Xmas and visited the area, it was devastating to see my Nana's street was just a row of empty lots - it was such a special area, looked nothing at all like the area I knew so well, when mum said "do you know where we are?", it was only the deep profound sadness I felt that signaled to me were in front of what was previously home to four generations of family members. Absolutely gut wrenching :(

@Scell_

10 ай бұрын

That "little" river goes through the whole city lol

@DomingoDeSantaClara

10 ай бұрын

I believe they also named a town in England after Christchurch, bloody poms stealing all our names!

@jonlydon

3 күн бұрын

Pretty sure the ChCh river was named after The Avon in England.. Stratford Upon Avon is also a lovely town

Christchurch is really coming along! Haven’t been there for a few years, last time there were a LOT of road cones and my taxi driver was grumbling about how many roads were closed. Looks like I should pay a visit!

Disappointed you didn’t visit the earthquake memorial wall… but it’s lovely to see it has its beauty back! We had a family vacation in Chch the end of July 2010… not long before the first earthquake. Our accommodation was opposite the cathedral… our last night there we jumped on the tram, it’s last round for the evening and since we were the only ones onboard, the driver gave us a lot of history about all the beautiful old buildings. Was so sad to see the devastation following the quakes. Well done Chch, your city is strong and oh so beautiful 🥰

Christchurch is amazing I love it great video curls

Thanks. I live in Australia but Christchurch is my home town and I visit regularly. This makes me homesick. I love the new city

Enjoyed that, I had a juggling shop in New Regent St, fab memories and a great place to live, many cheers

Your vlog found me today, 05 January 2024, a Christchurch resident… thank you for this tour and loving what you saw! Will share it with friends who haven’t been here too recently. The Avon River waves its way through the city centre. There are a lot of throw backs to our colonial forebears, however I do appreciate your pronunciation of Te Reo, our indigenous language. Well done for paying attention to it. Kia kaha, stay strong. 🐑🐑🇳🇿🇳🇿

Thanks for visiting and making a video in Christchurch Curls!

When i went into Riverside Market for the first time a few months ago i was blown away by how many cool little food shops were in there

Christchurch has always been a beautiful city. It just has so many trees and good architecture. People are nice too.

You always have such a positive attitude, Curls. 😊I think that's why people are so drawn to your channel, aside from your awesome content.

Christchurch was always beautiful, so glad the earthquake didn't win, and its back to full glory.The Avon river is a stunner.

i am a native of chch but i have to admit i havent been in the city centre since before the earthquakes lol apart from june 1st when i went to the 10CC concert. That was compulsory though as i have a family member in the band. Nice to see the city centre now if they could concentrate on the east side of town which still is recovering.

@JRB33

9 ай бұрын

You live near the city but haven't been properly into town in over 10 years? Do you still live close by? Is there a reason you don't enjoy the city centre, looks 100x better than most of the cities in England at the moment (obviously I don't know about and wouldn't want to belittle the broader damage etc.)

@gilliantempleton3253

9 ай бұрын

@@JRB33 nope i was injured during the earthquakes, left with severe back issues so i dont really leave my suburb unless its for an appointment i e drs, etc. I did go to the 10CC concert, had to use a walker, taxi there and back, My cousin Rick is the guitarist and he supplied a ticket and backstage pass. It's just too hard getting around and taxis are expensive.

@simpleasflip

8 ай бұрын

​@@gilliantempleton3253 Have you tried Uber? probably cheaper tbh

Yeah boys in Christchurch vs men in christchurch

Been twice this year and have had a great time. People are so friendly and helpful.

Love our tough city. It is vibrant with street art, hagley park, markets and foodies dream... Proud of it

I moved from Christchurch 3 times - never really by choice - 77, 86, 87. I'd gladly move back for Summers - but you can have Winter!

Heading there in a few months... can't wait to explore the city!

Ty for coming to our city! I'm happy you enjoyed Rollikin Gelato (My Fav)

I'm impressed with Christchurch! Thanks Curls for touring around.

one of my favourite things about the city is the street art on the side of buildings.

I'm a kiwi living the American dream and have never been to Chch. Been to Nelson, but that's as far South I ever got unfortunately

A great presentation of the city, thank you!

yesss been waiting for this

You should move down mate, i'm from Sunderland originally. been here since i was 22 i'm 29 now. super chilled down here CHCH is awesome quiet, and all of the outdoors on your doorstep. Can surf, skate and snowboard in one day if you wanted to. i live right next to the port hills and im still only 8 minutes on cycle ride to the CBD. can ride my mountain bike to the adventure park on my lunch break since i work from home. its awesome

Christchurch is underrated

What a beautiful city! Would love to see you make similar videos for Auckland as well :) maybe some hidden gems.

My home ❤🖤 I loved this mate thankyou.

Christchurch is a beautiful place; the Garden City. Please explore Dunedin, too - it's overlooked so often, by-passed by tour companies despite being the first place settled by the early settlers, and named by the Scots as the "Edinburgh of the South". So much history, reflected in the architecture both in the city centre and at the Otago University. It is also home to a lot of wildlife that you seldom see elsewhere, with its own dedicated Wildlife Hospital. With several renowned breweries, chocolatiers and other foodie places, it's a city that deserves at least one visit, before you dismiss it in the way so many seem to - without real knowledge, I might add. (sadly the reputation is marred by incidents within a small minority) We also have some mind-blowing street art which deserves to be seen! I've lived here for well over 20 years (coming from Berkshire) and love it. Please come further South, Curls - see for yourself!

I left ChCh in 1988... my home city..so very different from the old pre earthquake city.. looks as though it is still the garden city....💖

the aftershocks went on for years, over 7000 mild ones in the first coupla years, you just ignored them unless they were over a 3 on the richter scale, it was a very shaky time.

Te Pae is a really cool place! I went to the smart chch expo, and ive never said this before about a building, but it was beautiful.

That market looked amazing! Can't wait to visit someday.

Can’t wait till you’re a Christchurch local Curls😉

Curls my guy judging by appearance we're the same age and both from Commonwealth countries. (Canada for me) I spent a year here in 2015/16 and honestly not a day goes by where I dont think about it. Was just curious what your travel plans may be ? Do you think you'll go home? Are you gonna go for the Permanent residency or something like that. I have a house in Canada now but I'd move back to NZ in a heartbeat! Its the wages there that really make things more difficult unfortunately.

wow I'm impressed Christchurch well done

I enjoyed your Tiki tour of Christchurch all that yummy food at the Market sold me 👍

You will be impressed with the christchurch library. Go in when you get the chance

@Scell_

10 ай бұрын

I agree. There was Ukrainian food on the ground floor today. He should've explored it

I still remember oh so well the Christchurch Commonwealth Games back in the 70s . As a young boy I pictured it as the centre of the world where things were happening. I wished that Brisbane was just like that - right in the groove !!! Terrible that the earthquake changed this place so much. I think though it will eventually be better than ever.

You should have rented a kayak at the boat shed and toured by the river

My hometown for many years before moving abroad. It used to look beautiful before the earthquakes. Autumn and Late Spring is beautiful. Hope you made it to the waterfront or the hills.

@JRB33

9 ай бұрын

Is there any particular reason you left, out of curiosity as someone considering making the leap to Christchurch from England? How much of that beauty was lost in your opinion?

@simpleasflip

8 ай бұрын

​@@JRB33 It's not too bad now, but my opinion is a bit off due to the fact I was young during the time of the earthquakes and only have slight memories of the city before it, although I do believe a lot of people are blinded by nostalgia of the city it's definitely not the same for a lot of people, but new people will probably like it just something different from a lot of peoples childhood so they aren't the biggest fans anymore, although I will say town is very night-life here to be honest, during the day it's good for food but that's really all, unless you have kids that may like the big park nearby or maybe the Museum & Botanical Gardens, not a Christchurch pro though, so I'd look into cost of living and stuff before anything, perhaps there is other cities in NZ that you'd like more, or Christchurch is set in stone for you, but either way it's fine maybe during rush-hour traffic and from 3-6pm on weekdays will be a bit busyfor parking and driving, but otherwise you'll be fine, just be ready to walk around a bit :D

Did I see u visit the bronze statue of the VC recipient: Henry Nicholas? In the river bank near the Bridge of Remembrance.

Thanks fantastic video/feeling bit homesick

You will have to come back and ride the tram, go punting and ride the gondola. I glad you enjoyed Christchurch

It’s a beautiful city! I’ve been here since 2019 and have loved getting to know Christchurch. So much that we recently moved into the city.

@Adony193

7 ай бұрын

In 2019 the mosque in Christchurch was attacked

@carlystevenson950

7 ай бұрын

@@Adony193 Yes it was. Very sad day. Christchurch is made up of some incredibly resilient people.

What, im here where exactly are you. Are you near the area where they're building the Rugby arena. I'm in the CBD. You have to checkout out the New Brighton Piere and the Piere library on the beach. I even saw a baby seal beached on the sand next to the library. Oh my gosh i was at the Turanga library just a few days ago to register to vote. I know that shopping centre too. You were literaly 3 streets away from me. Im on Hereford Street, CBD. Be at Wellington by wednesday. 😊

I loved this amazing city, I hope we can moving to CHCH soon

Hey have you checked out the University of Canterbury? It's a great place to walk through!!

There aren’t ever many people in the shops , it’s no wonder as everything is so expensive….

@RM-ti8nf

8 ай бұрын

Haha yes, I can't afford to eat there! Poor people get the library and botanic gardens and a sandwich from home 😂

There is a lot of awesome street art in Christchurch

Christchurch là một thành phố xinh đẹp và hiện đại, với nhiều điều để khám phá. Thành phố này là một điểm đến lý tưởng cho những người muốn trải nghiệm văn hóa và thiên nhiên của New Zealand.

Such a beautiful city to live. And hii from india 🇮🇳 Bangalore ❤

my hometown! Welcome!

Unlimited annual pass for tram and gondola is only about $70....well worth it!

Welcome to our lovely Christchurch. I have been lived in this city for 18 years but moved to Sydney last year.

@JRB33

9 ай бұрын

Was it a case for you of leaving ChCh or moving TO Sydney? Are there any particular reasons you left, curious as a someone considering moving there myself :)

I miss CHCH..Still love this amazing city ❤

heyy i live here i hope u loved it curls

Went there in 2018, loved it!

cool curls was hoping to see Latimer square and Cathedral named for my Tupuna the Oxford Matyr Hugh Latimer of the Oxford Three .

Well it was the November 4th 2010 one that did the most damage. The Feb 22 2011 one in my city of Christchurch killed 187 . Followed by YEARS not months of aftershocks😡 Then we got a 7.8 earthquake in 2016 in Kaikoura. Amazing how many forget that. Or the 11,000 aftershocks in the YEARS that followed.🙄 Those 'aftershocks' did a lot more damage over time than the initial quakes, as nasty as they were. My home too. I should know it's my hometown for the last 35 yrs, I went through all of them.

I visited church before earthquake. Pity that they took it down. I remember munching in one of those shops.

Church brother curls please come for a visit to my home town turangi and taupo

I was there last year, definitely an improvement hehe 😃!

Christchurch is already back to being a good city and it is the only city that keeps getting better every week as the city is still rebuilding with new buildings opening up all the time. Around 70% of the buildings that came down have been replaced now but the rebuilding will go on for another few years. The city now has a range of trendy new eateries that is better than Wellington and rivals Auckland. It has a lot of greenspace and beautiful gardens. And is it far more affordable to live in than Welington or Auckland and doesn't suffer from the traffic congestion issues they do. It is well on its way to being NZ's best large city.

I love living in Christchurch City ❤

One mall is much like another. Christchurch is lovely, but honestly, Curls... With you it seems to be all food and shopping. What is so beautiful about barbers, wine bars and designer coffee? Not a lot.

@itscurlsbaby

10 ай бұрын

You raise a very fair point Wendy! I guess growing up in the metropolis of London I have much more curiosity about urban areas and how it compares to where I’m from. But you’re totally right - I’m missing a trick by not showcasing more of the great outdoors in this wonderful country. All I can say is… summer is around the corner! ☀️

Come along way has Christchurch since the earthquakes

Will never give up my hopes of immigrating to new Zealand Its so beautiful, really beautiful peaceful place 😢😢😢❤

Dude you should come in winter it’s a whole different story and is the Avon river

That looked like an old Melbourne tram.

Broo pls pls pls pls go to tauranga pls thats where im from it is gorgeous 😮😊 then when u get to tga go Mt maunganui And go to memorial park Love ur vids bro Give us a shout pls too Douglas

Beautiful video of a beautiful city, BUT, why was footage of you speaking to camera, displayed in reverse direction - left to right, right to left? 0:30, 2:40 - 3:14, 9:18?

Glad you got a nice day. We had YEARS of aftershocks

its still a building site 12 years later

@Scell_

10 ай бұрын

It is cone city...

@carlystevenson950

10 ай бұрын

@@Scell_yeah gotta keep the cones out 😆

@JRB33

9 ай бұрын

It will recover fully eventually though surely, my own city was bombed to hell in WW2 and while I'm sure the immediate aftermath was dire it was all rebuilt in time, and was improved in places

I loved this city it is amazing place.

no people, midday, that's awesome!

hello curls

Next stop has to be Dunedin..

My mum and dad is from there

Great Memories

Thanks for taking my memo's through the city. I was there last year Spring time and it was an amazing experience, the streets was filled with pink cherry blossoms.....riding on the trams eating at Riverside....the botanical garden was breathtaking....the largest trees I have ever seen....whow...it was great and will be back soon...blessings from South Africa🇿🇦 🇿🇦

Yoooooo! Hope you enjoyed your time here

Christchurch is definitely best city in New Zealand 💯 had everything....

Christchurls!!!!

How sick were the meats?.