DAY THIRTY -- TWENTY SECOND OF SEPTEMBER -- CHRISTCHURCH

Today was our last day in Christchurch. Difficult to come to the end of your holiday, especially one where we have seen and done so much.

We started the day with a trip up to Tussock Hill winery...not open today but the views of the city were spectacular .

Then a visit to Brighton Pier. Again the area was not very busy but the area was interesting.

A couple pop hours in the Air Force Museum and then we returned to the motel. Henry and Gary returned the car and tonight we pack and leave at 3.30a.m to head home.

Beautiful holiday but time to come home.

DAY TWENTY NINE -- TWENTY EIGHTH SEPTEMBER -- CHRISTCHURCH

We began our day at the International Antarctic Centre. It was so interesting, well worth the visit. A great 4D experience, penguin information and feeding, experiencing an antarctic storm, other information and videos and an exciting but very bumpy ride in a Hagglund. All this and a hot cuppa and sandwich in the cafe.

Afterwards a visit to the "Quake Centre"... a little reminiscent of the 9/11 memorial. Very well done especially the first hand videos of people who had been involved in the recovery process (as helpers or trapped themselves) and the same people interviewed 10 years later.

 

DAY TWENTY EIGHT --  20TH SEPTEMBER -- LAKE TEKAPO TO CHRISTCHURCH

Our last stop at a lookout as we were heading towards Christchurch.

We stopped at the town of Geraldine ( a bit like Berrima) and had coffee and a look in some shops.

We then went into Christchurch and with a little help from google found our motel units fairly easily.

It was a relatively warm day and an afternoon nap was welcomed.

Henry and I went to an English pub within walking distance and had a nice dinner, a good chat to some locals and a beer. and yes mine was green...flavoured with passionfruit and mango.

Our motel is comfortable. We have been extremely fortunate that Gary researched the accommodation so well as we could not complain abut any of the places we have stayed. I think they are actually of a higher standard than those equivalents in Australia.

 

 DAY TWENTY SEVEN --  NINETEENTH SEPTEMBER -- OAMARU TO LAKE TEKAPO

Leaving our motel we again travelled through beautiful countryside, knowing why New Zealand is famous for its sheep and cattle. Dairy and beef cattle and lots of baby calves. Our first stop was elephant rocks, an interesting phenomenon, on private farmland but we were free to explore. Stunning snow capped mountains around us most of the day.

Next stop Maori rock drawings at Takiroi.....lovely area but drawings rather the worse for time. Rock formations interesting though with birds galore nesting in them.

drove to Omarama where we had lunch and a very welcome first coffee of the day. 

Then a lovely drive with snow capped mountains, green fields and the most beautiful blue lake Pahaki which we stopped at a lookout to admire and photograph.

 of the fire for me tonight.

we drove on to Mt Cook but buy then the clouds had started to descend and although we took lots of photos....not quite sure which one was Mt Cook. Overall though stunning views.

Then on to Lake Tekapo, again a gorgeous clear blue. Before we went to our home for the night we visited the Church of the Good Shepard and admired the statue which is a tribute to the Working Collie dog.

Our house is luxury with a "gas" log fire. Helen made a lovely pasta dinner and its a shower and in front