Days 66 & 67: Christchurch

The Avon
see all photos »

From the first few minutes wandering around Christchurch it feels very comfortable and homely, somewhere you could happily live. The city has a very English University (Oxbridge) feel to it with Victorian era buildings, punts on the river Avon meandering through the heart of it and landscaped on either side by beautiful parks and monuments. We have 2 days here and during day one we:

Grab a city tour map and enjoy the sunny day following the routes suggested, including visits to the main square, the Cathedral and Cranmer Sq where some ‘thought provoking sculpture’ of a wooden ship hanging from an industrial crane provided social commentary on the city. Rubbish.

Boat on a crane, fat Scot & fire, warm and icy (couldn't think of a tag line)

Peguin feeding time
see all photos »

Hired a couple of kayaks and paddled our way round the Avon through the Botanic Gardens before continuing on foot

Visited the weekend market at the Art Centre where I tried to win $100 by climbing a suspended and unsupported rope ladder at some fair ground ride (basically falling off after only a couple of rungs each time)

Stopped to watch a fat, half naked street entertainer in a kilt who swallowed fire, swords and the moving blades of an electric carving knife. He was funny and entertaining, but it looked really painful when he did some jumping on broken glass routine.

Dive dive dive
see all photos »

Passed an evening competing in a local pub quiz, finishing mid-table around 12 points of the lead (but convinced that if it weren’t for the NZ & Aus biased questions .......)

Spent most of our second day at the International Antarctic Centre, which is in Christchurch by virtue of 70% of all people going to Antarctic departing from here. Really good museum with lots of detailed info on expeditions, flora and fauna as well as some more interactive and visual exhibits.

The best bit though was the Hagglund ride, an off-road run in a pivoted, 2 carriage, amphibian, caterpillar tracked ATV as used to traverse the ice. Despite being so capable (carries 16 people at speeds of up to 55km/h and in temperatures as low as -40 C) it hardly impacts the environment on which it travels, exerting only half the ground pressure of a human foot. The ride was just as amazing as the vehicle, starting more like a rollercoaster without rails flying up and down steep slopes before crossing crevasses and a mini lake. We went twice!

Hagglund
see all photos »

One of the centre’s main attractions are the 16 rescued Little Blue Penguins housed here who tend to hide away but come out for feeding. Very cute, these ones being only 45cm tall versus the traditional Emperor at well over 1m.

Something that particularly caught my eye was the golf rules for Scot Base station, New Zealand’s permanent research station out on the ice of Antarctica, including

Birdies can be claimed if you hit a Skua . There are no Eagles in Antarctica, however an Albatross might be considered.

Crikey!
see all photos »

The use of artificial stimulants during the game, whilst not compulsory, is strongly recommended.

A causal knowledge of the rule of the Royal and Ancient Club of St Andrews is permitted. However any player found applying their “own” rules shall be disqualified.

This club discourages foul language, except in the following circumstances: (a) Out of bounds, slicing, topping, etc; (b) Loss of ball in crevasse, blizzard or water hazard; (c) To discourage curious ball avarian species which get in the way?

Concerned Jane on Hagglund
see all photos »

A little sad to be leaving Christchurch so soon, but really looking forward to our Heli Hike in a couple of days time in Franz Joseph.