NZ Day 27 and 28. Christchurch

The morning in Lake Camp Campsite showed 2 other campervans on a huge wooded site by the lakeside. A lovely place to stay and the rain was over! Headed back to the blacktop and then on to Christchurch, our terminus in the S. Island. The central area where Mt Sunday lies is a huge wild area, much of it ‘Pott’s Station’ for sheep grazing. Just at the end of the gravel road we came across another historic building, an old sheep station, I thought it was for Erewhon station but can’t find the proof!
Christchurch was devastated in an earthquake in 2011 which resulted in 187 deaths and the destruction, or semi-permanent evacuation, of most of the city centre. They are still reconstructing throughout the city, repairing damage and bringing structures up to a higher earthquake resistance standard. We followed a walking tour through the city centre, seeing the damaged buildings, the temporary ‘Container Mall’, temporary Cathedral (the historic one is badly damaged and the subject of discussions about whether it is better to repair and reconstruct or to demolish and build a new one. Is it an opportunity to make a statement for the future, or a tribute to the past?) The temporary cathedral was designed by a Japanese architect who has made a name for himself with disaster buildings – simple and quick solutions with a decent lifespan, 50yrs in this case.

Storage Container Mall, Christchurch	The Empty Chairs memorial. Each family provided a chair and they are all painted white. I found this a powerful statement.	Inside the cardboard tube cathedral!	The cathedral from the outside.
The old Cathedral, Christchurch	One of the old buildings downtown that survived. The one next to this had to be demolished.	Christchurch Streetcar	Christchurch mural.

We camped in New Brighton. Even the campsite had been affected as the service blocks – washrooms, showers, laundry etc. were closed from damage sustained in the earthquake and replaced by portacabins.
The final day we spent in the Christchurch Botanical Gardens. These were the best Botanical Gardens I have ever seen, They are imaginatively laid out and they have a huge assortment of trees I had never seen before, and some that I didn’t expect to see there, particlualry Giant Redwoods! Then it was off to the car rental, drop off the van, get to the airport and fly to Auckland. In Auckland the transportation options across town are numerous and we had planned on the airport bus downtown and then perhaps ferry onwards. However when I checked out the airport limo service the driver quoted $65 each door to door, which would have been more than a taxi. In the end he haggled down and took us both for $50 – a fantastic price for Auckland! I suspect he had 2 seats left to fill and that we might have been on his way home! So back to Innes and Rita’s and a chance to have a couple of days where we didn’t feel we had to DO things.