We took the inland scenic route from Geraldine to Christchurch, which is the second largest city in New Zealand with 380,900 inhabitants. In 1850 the settlement was ordered by the Church of England due to the fertile farming land. Christchurch was meant to be a model of class-structured England in the South Pacific, not just another scruffy colonial outpost. Churches were built rather than pubs, and wool made the elite wealthy. Only 5% of the Maori in NZ live on the South Island, as it was settled a few hundred years later than the North Island.
Earthquake
We went to the iSite to get a current street map as many roads were blocked off or made one way streets due to construction and repairs after the 6.3 magnitude earthquake at 12:51pm on February 2011. At that time people were working or on their lunch break when the earthquake happened just 10 km from the city. Around half of the 185 death occurred when the Canterbury TV building collapsed. The affected part of the city was a sad sight, but the city is well on the way to recovery, the residents have embraced the change, and there is a positive energy in the city.
Re:Start Mall
This mall is a colourful labyrinth of shops based in shipping containers, and was the first retail activity after the earthquake.
A Taste of Denmark
We stayed in a campground in Papanui 5km north of the city center, and stumbled upon this store!
The bakery was established in 1987, and the ryebread and the spandauer tasted just like in Denmark - lucky me!
The Coolest Fun In Town
We had finally reached summer temperatures again after the much colder south, and then we visited the International Antarctic Centre! NZ's Scott Base on Antarctica is only 4.5 hours flight away, and most employees fly in and out of Christchurch. Antarctica is the coldest, direst and windiest place on earth and more than 98% is covered in ice. We got to experiences a -18C windchill, and it was cold! Respect for the people working there!
We spent a couple of hours in the informative, interesting and interactive museum, and had some fun too.
Did you now dinosaurs and penguins are related....?
Antarctica is the only place on earth that is till as it should be....
Time defrost in the sun with a cold beer and some pork scratchings.
Life is great!
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