We all slept well and were eventually up about 8am to set off and find some breakfast down the road at Westfield Shopping Centre. Of course there was nothing open at that time of day, but a kind security man pointed us towards Drexel’s just around the corner. This was obviously a popular breakfast establishment as it was packed. The kind lady, however, finding out that we had only landed last night, said she would see what she could do about finding us a table, instead of sending us on our way. Sure enough, after a ten-minute wait, we had, a table and a great breakfast.
We were now only a few blocks from Hagley Park so we decided to walk the rest of the way into town. Hagley Park was pretty amazing. lots of English trees, including acorns. From the park we crossed the Avon River into the Botanical Gardens - another amazing spot. Lots of water and lovely gardens.
At the end of the gardens, near the museum, we even got to sit in the cockpit of a Boeing 737, part of the museum display for New Zealand Airlines.
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| Christchurch Botanical Gardens |
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| Air New Zealand Museum feature |
From there we hopped on the Christchurch Tram (restored vintage trams which rattle around the Christchurch CBD). Very cute. As we headed east the extent of the earthquake damage became obvious. While Christchurch is slowly rebuilding, there is still lots to do. We hopped off at Cathedral Junction and headed on foot a few blocks east to the Cardboard Cathedral. What an amazing spot. Constructed with lower walls of 8 containers, the high ceiling is made with cardboard cylinders with an outer roof of clear polycarbonate sheet.
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| Downtown Christchurch |
Back towards the CBD, we again hopped on the tram for a circuit back to a lunch spot at New Regent Street. Before lunch, however, we had to visit the playground we were told about. What a great spot. Lots of slippery dips and other climbing and swinging apparatus as well as an excellent water play area. Both Aylee and Nate had a great time.
Lunch turned out to be a double ice-cream/sorbet before catching a taxi out to Willowbank Wildlife Park. We were booked in for the Kiwi Tour and Ko Tane Maori performance and dinner from 4:30 but went earlier to have a look around. We had a great time. Highly recommended. The highlights were feeding the eels, the lemurs and the New Zealand natives, particularly the Kea, the Kaka and the Kiwi.
The 4:30 tour gave us the opportunity to revisit the natives with lots of commentary. As there was only about a dozen of us in the group it was excellent, as was the following introduction to Maori life. For dinner there were only 7 of us. We 4, plus another Australian couple and a German chap. Dinner was enjoyable, and we got to feed the deer as a bonus.
The 4:30 tour gave us the opportunity to revisit the natives with lots of commentary. As there was only about a dozen of us in the group it was excellent, as was the following introduction to Maori life. For dinner there were only 7 of us. We 4, plus another Australian couple and a German chap. Dinner was enjoyable, and we got to feed the deer as a bonus.
A taxi back to the Christchurch Motel and it's time for bed. It was an exhausting (in a nice way) day.
