by Ron Largent | Feb 14, 2018 | Australia, Australia and the Rain, Dunedin, Milford Sound, New Zealand, Rain Forest in Cairns Australia
The day to Christchurch started off with a tender into the small port town of Arcola where we caught the bus for the one in a half hour drive to Christ Church before the 2011 earthquake the cruise ship would come into a port about 20 minutes from the city center of Christchurch. Since the earthquake all of the cruise ships come into the port and are then bussed to for 75 kilometers into Christchurch. The road goes along the water and then immediately heads up over the mountains on a very dramatic trip with magnificent views coming over the mountains and down into valleys and the flat plains that are extremely rich with Agriculture sheep cattle and orchards. As we started to approach Christ Church the driver started giving us more detail has to the earthquake and what transpired immediately after and then in the 7 years since.. initially the town look very normal and as we approach the downtown area we found that the epicenter of the quake was nearby and follow this straight line into the downtown Cathedral area. Then as we got downtown from started to see the buildings that have been ruined and it was very evident that the quick get some of the major buildings in the downtown area. What was done immediately was $0.02 off the entire downtown area that had been affected by the quake. They then started a process of the evaluating the damage putting all building that were in the destroyed area into three categories yellow amber and red. Today there is a great deal of construction reconstruction repair and rehabilitation going on all over the downtown area. Much has been done in these 7 years almost to an amazing degree especially with Canterbury University buildings. The Cathedral
itself is there is still about 1 3 totally destroyed but they have not been able to repair the balance due to issues with the church and the city. We took the tram around the downtown area and it is a hop on hop off arrangement for about $20 a person and well worth it as it gives you a ride around the town. We had both coffee and lunch and buildings that have been hit and then repaired and are fine now.
After the tram ride we walked around the key Cathedral grounds and then back down to the museum and the museum was exceptional and definitely a must see. The Botanic Garden is adjacent and very beautiful and well maintained and in full-bloom today..
The photos show that destruction and the work this thing done to repair but also shows the construction on the new library as well as other downtown going areas that were hit by the earthquake
We met back at the bus at 3 for the 90 minutes ride back over the mountain into the port ..
and into the tenders
Christ Church should be a must see on any New Zealand trip and the drive is well worth it over them out as you get to see the real New Zealand farms keep cattle as well as the magnificent fields and varied agricultural programs going on in this part of the country.
This part of the world is unknown many but in reflecting back this is one of the most beautiful areas we have ever seen the people are very friendly they have a great outlook on life are hard working and they’re very very proud to be a newsletter
I think my talk on this part of New Zealand should be very practical on what you should you do and see in the time that you have using a lot of photos.
by Ron Largent | Feb 14, 2018 | Akaroa and Christchurch, Australia, Australia and the Rain, Christchurch, Dunedin, New Zealand, Travel
After the tram ride we walked around the Cathedral grounds and then back down to the museum and the museum was exceptional and definitely a must see. The Botanic Garden is adjacent and very beautiful and well maintained and in full-bloom today..The photos show that destruction and the work that has been done to repair but also shows the construction on the new library as well as other downtown areas that were hit by the earthquake.We met back at the bus at 3 for the 90 minutes ride back over the mountain into the port ..and into the tenders.
Christchurch should be a must see on any New Zealand trip and the drive is well worth it over them out as you get to see the real New Zealand farms keep cattle as well as the magnificent fields and varied agricultural programs going on in this part of the country.This part of the world is unknown many but in reflecting back this is one of the most beautiful areas we have ever seen the people are very friendly they have a great outlook on life are hard working and they’re very very proud to be a newsletter.I think my talk on this part of New Zealand should be very practical on what you should you do and see in the time that you have using a lot of photos.
by Ron Largent | Feb 14, 2018 | Akaroa and Christchurch, Australia, Australia and the Rain, New Zealand, Travel
The tender from the ship into Akaroa is about 15 minutes. Here then go directly to the bus and there were about 10 buses waiting at that time. To drive for about 10 minutes through the little town of a Akaroa then start the trip to Christ Church initially you go through some hills but then follow the bay around and great photo shots and then up the mountain
For many years I have heard that Christ Church and the South Island was the most beautiful area of New Zealand circling this trip over to Christ Church verified that it is a slow trip over the mountain but then when you start down you start seeing the beautiful filled with sheep and cows and trees
Christ Church was the epicenter of a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in 2011 followed by some major aftershock. The earthquake lasted 45 seconds and has cost billions of dollars to rebuild the downtown area. The area that was most damaged was in the center of town where the Cathedral was located. Immediately after the earthquake rebuilding and rehabilitation and reconstruction of the downtown area began. Except for the cathedral which got caught up in a political battle between the church and the city and probably the state l of Canterbury. The result is that it remains fenced and in the same condition as when it was damaged. The part of the cathedral that collapsed was the main bell tower or alter tower as some of the building maybe one half of it is still standing. There are various memorial for the 180 that were killed around the downtown area and those killed were primarily in one building. Did happen midday so many workers were downtown.
The two buses drop off right at either the art museum which is very very modern or the Christ Church Museum which is in one of the buildings of the original Canterbury University that moved to another location in 1974
The old University buildings were damaged and evidence of the repair and renovation work is very obvious
When the university moved to another location various other organizations took over the building mainly for government use. Some of these buildings are behind the fence and others are being used that as the Information Center. The city tram is adjacent to the bus stop and is a good 20 minute round trip but you can get on and off as at the stops.
When speaking about Christ Church prepare travelers for the 90 minute bus ride to and from. Prepare them for the new construction and the new modern building. Prepare them to see how they have repaired the old Canterbury University prepare them for the fences and the board fences that’s around the mini damage buildings
There are many cafes and bars especially along Victoria Street which is a tram stop and there are small cafes near the bus stop we went in one of the small restaurants across the street from the museum and we’re very pleased with their food and prices
If you do not take the tram there are some local private companies that will offer a city to ER and there is the hop on pop off but also the red double decker bus
by Ron Largent | Feb 14, 2018 | Australia, New Zealand, Travel
This is the port city from which we boarded ordered the buses for Christ Church we tendered in and it took about 15 minutes and then got on the buses for the 90 minute ride over the mountains into Christ Church
Akaroa is a small French village town very picture is very true restorative but it quaint little town..
There is virtually no town or time before you board the buses but there is some time when you get back to look at the shop and do some souvenir shopping.
by Ron Largent | Feb 12, 2018 | Australia, Australia and the Rain, Dunedin, Milford Sound, New, New Zealand, Rain Forest in Cairns Australia
Dunedin is a remarkable little city in that it is about 100000 people and then there are about $25,000 in the university we went in in the morning for a walk around got to see the railroad station the beautiful church octagon square and it was her a worthwhile and including going to Cadbury the railroad station is one of the most famous photo spots definitely a requirement when you’re in Dunedin. We came back to the ship for lunch then. On our tour bus took is to the Olveston house which is an old 1850 home builtby at least businessman that came here and it is a remarkable house and gardens and of course and rolls Fiat 1921 Potter so well worth it to go through the house it so it one of a number of towards that are offered but the oldest in house and tour is great. We then came back by the Dunedin Botanic Garden and if it were in bloom would be spectacular but according to one of the workers the lake heavy it heavy eat that they have recently almost killed a lot of the flowers and they’re just now coming back for their second blooming … and should last through early April. We concluded the tour buy a nother drive thru to needing to see the downtown area and back to the ship the Scottish history of Dunedin is significant as easy as report childless and definitely a day when one of the two should be taking the railroad to repair it is quite good based on the brochures and is one of the options
by Ron Largent | Feb 12, 2018 | Australia, Australia and the Rain, Burnie, Cairns, Hobart, Holland America Cruise Lines, International Travel, Kuranda Classic Train in Cairns Australia, Manley Island in Australia, Melbourne, Milford Sound, New Zealand, Port Arthur, Rain Forest in Cairns Australia, Sydney Australia, Sydney Opera House, Tasmania, The Rocks in Sydney, Travel, Uncategorized
After a day at sea we are approaching Milford sound at 7 a.m. in the morning it is raining first impression is that Rihanna back and has appears of Norway with rapidly rising huge mountains and narrow waterways which would mean the same characteristic as the Fjords in Norway with very deep channels for the shipdto go up. We were also told last night that be yours in South America as you go towards and article are also very majestic like pigs the difference at this point with these years in Milford sound and Norway is no snow on the top of these at least that I can see now
