Classy Christchurch
Trip Start
Jan 13, 2010
1
12
26
Trip End
Mar 10, 2010
Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Next was Oamaru. This town grew rich from the gold rush and the first refrigerated plants for freezing lamb for sending to the UK. Those days are long past, but there remain stately stone buildings near the port, built of local limestone, so different from the mostly wooden structures to be seen elsewhere. The area is now home to typical tourist fare, antique shops, galleries, a pottery, etc. The girls had to buy a memento of course!
The road along the coast to Christchurch from Oamaru is busy but for a long stretch is seemingly devoid of habitation. The eating place we had planned to eat in was closed for Waitangi Day (national day) so we were on the look out for somewhere to eat. Out of nowhere this diner appeared. What a nice surprise! It was called Nosh and describes itself as ‘road side gourmet’. It was! Roasted veg salads, paninis, and many other interesting items were available, as well as wonderful coffee.
We had booked a B&B in the heart of Christchurch. It was a large modern house with large and pretty garden, run by an English couple. Everything was of the highest quality but our accommodation was too small for 3 people.
The weather was cool and mostly cloudy as it had been in Dunedin, except for the occasional burst of sunlight which raised the temperature markedly. Christchurch is the biggest town on the South Island (335,000) and clearly enjoying a growth spurt. Much larger and more attractive homes than we had seen elsewhere in NZ bordered the tree lined streets.
We headed for Cathedral Square, the center of the city. The World Buskers Festival was taking place while we were there. Street musicians, jugglers, magicians, entertained on the streets. This added a liveliness to a somewhat crowdless downtown. The Botanical Gardens, adjacent to the center, was a highlight of our visit. The longest and most varied herbaceous border we had ever seen graced the gardens. An outdoor concert was being presented in the gardens. A grand womens’ singing group was the featured performer.
After the wonders and excitement of Queenstown and the fjords, poor Christchurch did not compare. But it is a vibrant and growing city with much to recommend it. We headed north to Picton as we neared the end of our NZ odyssey.
Comments
Fascinating boulders! Lovely botannic gardens and smashing photos of roses! Isn't she the photographer?
Thank you John - on another planet seeing your photos (maybe Joan's), the blurb is good too - pity its coming to an end.
Most interesting as usual....Are you guys getting home sick by now or is your exploring appetite still going strong?