One of my favorite places to spend an afternoon is at the Re:START mall. What a creative way to…read morekeep businesses alive in the wake of such devastation to Christchurch. The entire mall is designed out of shipping containers that are easily portable should their temporary locations be purchased for new buildings (though I hope the Re:START mall will never be built out of the CBD!). From athletic stores LuLu Lemon and Kathmandu and designer stores Storm and Ruby, to New Zealand Gift Shops to Scorpio Bookstore and home decor, the Re:START mall has something for everyone (including plenty of food trucks for all of the pickiest eaters). I, myself, prefer Base's woodfired pizza or Liberty Dog's Upper East Side while my husband loves Fritz's Wieners. I'm looking forward to exploring the new dumpling and taco trucks. Whether you've lived here for years or are just passing through, make sure you make time to explore all of the nooks and crannies the Re:START mall has to offer (which also includes FREE WiFi and restrooms).

Re:Start is an incredible example of the creativity and resilience of the people of Christchurch…read more Not wanting to wait the many years it would take to restore city centre shopping centres damaged or destroyed by the devastating 2011 earthquake, Christchurch created a mall made mostly out of shipping containers. You'd think such a construction would be ugly and unpleasant to use. That is not the case. The businesses have painted and customised their containers and the surrounding space to create a colourful, inviting and practical place. In the centre of the mall there's sculptures, seating and plants. In the containers you can find big name fashion brands, indie boutiques, a convenience store, cafes, a post office and even multiple banks. I enjoyed coming here more than I do most normal malls.

Large outdoor shopping center and my destination today was the supermarket but there are also…read morerestaurants and shops and beauty salons and more. It's interesting with the outdoor design, laneways under tall buildings and escalators to higher floors. I did see security which is always important and it does appear to be lighted in the evening hours. [Review 391 of 2024 - 44 in New Zealand - 21424 overall]