Day 19 – Kaikoura to Christchurch

Today was a travel day, a 4 hour road trip south along the coast to Christchurch.

What a difference a day makes–no more rain.  We peered out our hotel window at the crack of dawn and gazed at a blue sky and newly fallen snow on the Alps.

Before we left for Christchurch, we decided to go on a hike, but the track was blocked by two sleeping seals.

These buddies must have had a tough night at the local seal pub–they look hung over.

We thought Grey Goose was a vodka!

A lovely spot to jog, alongside a seal pool

This cozy cubby must be the seal pub.

We hiked up to the top of the track to look at the snow the storm dumped on the Southern Alps.

We took off for Christchurch, but stopped for a rest in Cheviot, a wine growing / farming  community in the heart of the Canterbury district.

Delicious selection of goodies at the Two Rivers Café / Art Gallery

We mainlined some cappuccinos and . . .

We split a sandwich as we mapped out our afternoon activities in Christchurch.

In Christchurch we parked near Christchurch College.  The city, which is the largest one on the South Island, looks so British in architecture and feeling.  It was named after Christ Church, Oxford, where one of the town’s founders went to college. Many heritage buildings are currently being retrofitted after the big earthquake in 2011.  Tourism here is beginning to pick up again.

We toured the Botanical Gardens in Hagley Park ( behind the college) to get the blood circulating in our legs once again.  This is the Rector’s House.

Lots of fall color and autumn produce in the Rector’s vegetable garden

Some folk drifting down the Avon River via punt (from the Antigua Boatshed)–very much like Oxford.

A young couple enjoying an afternoon on the botanical garden’s river

Autumn leaves, both artificial and real

Double-decker buses and cable cars reinforce the British ambiance.

We drove to the airport to return our car (because we were booked on the Tranzalpine Railway the next day) but decided to tour the Antarctic Centre beforehand, which is on the way.  Here is the departure point if you want to travel to the Antarctic.

The center takes you on a thrill ride in a Hagglund amphibious, all-terrain vehicle.

The driver strapped us in . . .

told us to hold on for dear life and . . .

took us on a hair raising ride up steep hills, over 3 foot crevasses and through a lake.  We were tossed around like dice in a crap game.

We want one of these for the LA freeways.  The vehicle would come in handy during gridlock.  We could also intimidate all those Hummers and Escalades competing for road supremacy.

Next we toured the center’s  Antarctic simulation exhibits.  We watched these blue penguins being fed.  Then we were ushered into a 4D theater that simulated a ride on an icebreaker at the South Pole.  We rocked back and forth, crashed into icebergs, blown by gale force winds, were sprayed with ocean mist & bird poop (we all screamed), were threatened by melting icicles and delighted by thousands of penguins.  Pete kept trying to wipe his 3D glasses, but could not keep up with all the water, wind, and scat.

Then Jill was outfitted in Arcticwear (replete with rubber booties) and walked into nan Arctic wind chamber to get a feel for the climate. BURRRRRR!

Pete had to make a few calls and came back to inform me that we had to leave immediately or we would have to pay an extra day’s fee for our rental car.  We wished we could have stayed longer.  What an experience!

So what is one of the hippest eating experience in Christchurch?  A Mexican restaurant, of course, called Mexicanos.  For the Kiwis, our street food must be an exotic experience.  It was packed, expensive, and full of chic young folk. We ate chips, salsa, guacamole, fish tacos and flank steak in a chimichurri sauce–all tasty.  East LA, eat your heart out.