Our New Zealand Tour
After brief discussions we came to the conclusion that we wanted to spend most of our time on the South Island. Prior to leaving Australia we had booked a flight from Auckland to Christchurch. Upon arriving in New Zealand the cutest customs dog was in baggage sniffing all the suitcases. It was a site to see, it was amazing how fast it could run on the conveyor belt. The customs dog actually stopped at my backpack as I had cheese.
Auckland is the main gateway to New Zealand and the centre of commerce and industry. With a population of about one million, it is New Zealand's largest urban area. Auckland is located in the northern/central region of the North Island of New Zealand. The City lies across an 11km wide volcanic isthmus separating two harbours.
The ride into the City of Auckland from the airport was 20 kilometres. We arrived at the hostel just in time to check in and head out for dinner, and of course Dad had to have lamb. I hadn't reshuffled my bags before we left Australia, as Mom had, so we postponed our sunset tour of the SkyTower until the following day.
Auckland Waterfront
The America's Cup yacht races are being held in the Waitemata Harbour just off the shores of Auckland in 1999 and 2000. The Louis Vuitton Challengers series was held towards the end of 1999 culminating in a challenger team to do battle with the defenders' Team New Zealand early in 2000.
The majority of teams will be based at the newly built America's Cup Village in the Viaduct basin of Auckland Harbour.
Americas Cup
We had a short stay in Auckland and took advantage of it by having our own private tour with the van driver on the way to the airport. We called it the "Melba Toast Tour". We saw Mt Eden, One Tree Hill, Hospitals, the Harbour, and climbed the SkyTower,
see these views from the ground up, rode over famous bridges, through parks and past a museum. We arrived at the airport late as Melba kept us touring and touring. At the last minute I decided to leave some of my luggage locked in the International building a few minutes away. Mom and Dad had left theirs there the day before. We checked in and Michael and I have a very nice New Zealand woman drive us over to the other building. By the time we arrived back the flight had departed with Mom and Dad! We caught a flight into Christchurch an hour later.
The South Island, New Zealand
Upon arriving to Christchurch reality sank in that we couldn't travel as much due our short stay. After hours of deliberation, and flight price checks we decided to stay in Christchurch and tour from there, beginning with the TranzAlpine train ride to the western coast of the the South Island. What was surprising to us was the lay of the land, so many volcanoes and mountains, plus it was so much colder than Australia. We found our hostel and then Dad found an awesome "carvery" to have our dinner, a very typical New Zealand meal.
With a population of around 309,000 people,Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island. Often described as the most English city outside of England, this reputation reveals Christchurch's origins. Church of England settlers with a mission tamed, drained and carved wild swampland on the wide Canterbury Plains to build a better version of home. Many of their neo-Gothic stone public buildings still stand, now mellowed by the passing of almost 150 years, set amongst the many parks and gardens that were included in the plans of the city's founders.
TranzAlpine
Early our second day in Christchurch we caught the train for our ride across the South Island Alps on the world famous TranzAlpine. We sat back and relaxed as we journeyed through incredible scenery, unseen by road. The TranzAlpine, rated one of the world's top six scenic trains, makes a 230 km adventure across the South Island from coast to coast and back in the same day. In a remarkably short journey - little more than 4 hours - the train leaves Christchurch on the east coast, crosses the fertile farmlands of the Canterbury Plains, winds its way through the stunning Waimakariri Gorge, passes over massive viaducts, crosses New Zealand's greatest mountain range, the Southern Alps, and travels through lush beech forests and past serene lakes, before arriving in Greymouth on the beautiful West Coast.
Mt. Cook and Milford Sound
Our next adventure was an all day excursion on a privately rented piper across Mt. Cook and glaciers and then onto Milford Sound to see the Fiords. What an awesome ride, the terrain from one side of the island to the other changed immensely. The pilots said we couldn't have had a more clear day. Mt Cook National Park is home to all but one of the 3000m peaks of which 75% of the park lies under permanent snow and ice with the weather can changing rapidly - becoming severe even in summer. Avalanches and rock-fall are daily occurrences. The jewel-like turquoise colour of the lakes is caused by "Rock Flour", glacial silt from the large glaciers that grind through the mountains at the head of the lakes.
Milford Sound is the most famous and accessible of Fiordland's magnificent glacier carved fiords. Deep blue waters, cascading waterfalls, sheer cliffs, dense rainforest, towering mountains. Millions of years ago this deep inlet of the Tasman Sea was scoured out by a glacier, then flooded by the sea. It is part of Fiordland, a vast expanse of beech forests, mountain lakes and rugged fjords that is one of the world's largest parks.
Most notably is the trademark of Milford Sound ~ Mitre Peak which rises up 1691 metres out of usually calm and deep blue water.
Upon our smooth landing we were escorted a few minutes away to the Milford Haven which is one of the spacious, purpose-built vessels where we had excellent but cold, (35 degrees), viewing opportunities during a 1 hour 40 minute cruise of Milford Sound.
One of my favorite sites were the seals sunbathing upon the rocks.
Our last full day in Christchurch we caught the early bus to the Christchurch Gondola for
a birds-eye view of the city. The 945 metre gondola ride carried us in a four person cabin to the summit of the Port Hills some 500 metres above sea level. Unique views of Christchurch unravel as you climb gently to the summit complex which is located on the crater rim of an extinct volcano (15 minutes ride from Christchurch city) and offers a 360° panorama. You see unparalleled views over the Canterbury Plains to Mt. Hutt and beyond to the spectacular Southern Alps. The Gondola complex also features a walkthrough audio-visual "Time-Tunnel" depicting the history and geography of the region.
After the Gondola we caught the city bus and took the loop around the city ending back in the open city mall for lunch. We walked around the Cathedral square listened to the "Wizard" as he expounded his theories at Speaker’s Corner in front of Christchurch’s Anglican Cathedral, strolled through souvenir stalls and watched a huge game of chess on the ground. From there we went to the Arts Centre Market which featured local artisans work from wooden bowls and hand carved jewellery to stained glass window ornaments. Next we visited the Cantebury Museum housed in one of Christchurch’s finest historic buildings were we saw cultural and natural collections as well as creative and imaginative displays of geology, zoology, Maori, Asian and European collections. Bordering the museum was the Botanic Gardens with the large majestic trees and sweeping lawns with rock, water, rose and herb gardens.
After dinner at Beefeaters we looked at wool products, black pearls and ended up at the Christchurch Casino which offers twenty four hour Gaming Machines and a wide variety of Table Games including Blackjack, American Roulette, Mini Baccarat, Midi Baccarat, Tai Sai, Money Wheel and Caribbean Stud Poker as well as The Racing Game and Live Keno. I had never seen such a casino. We called it an early night as we were leaving early in the morning for Auckland and then flying onto Fiji that afternoon.
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