Earthquake Tourism in Christchurch

I spent today observing Christchurch through tourist eyes - the earthquake damage, the rebuild, and also the artistic efforts to beautify a city in transition.

The tour took an hour and from the perspective of a double decker bus, the view was quite different to the one I'm accustomed to. I could see over walls and was eye to eye with the first floors of some buildings. The guide pointed out the ruined Christchurch Cathedral and explained how many buildings collapsed on the 22nd February 2011. The city centre is a mixture of new buildings, wide open spaces where structures have been demolished, and a large number of cordoned-off ruins. Many spaces have temporary "gap-fillers" which have been put in place to attract people into the CBD and also to add charm to the city.

Hassle-Free Tours operate the above and their guide was informative and engaged well with their passengers.

The Restart Mall

                                                                       The trams still run in the city centre

                                                   New Regent Street has been restored and the shops are open

                                                                   Christchurch Cathedral is still in ruins

                                                                          The Catholic Basilica is also ruined

                             185 white chairs stand  as a memorial to the 185 people who died in the earthquake

                                             The yellow sandy area is the site of the CTV building that collapsed in seconds

Exploring Lord of the Rings Territory with Hassle-Free Tours

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy was filmed in various parts of New Zealand. Hassle-Free Tours in Christchurch offer an eight hour experience that includes visiting Mount Erebor, aka Mount Sunday, four-wheel driving, and a picnic lunch. The scenery is spectacular and the tour guide knowledgeable. He brought the movie to life with his anecdotes and willingly answered questions. The tour includes several videos that give details of how the Mt Erebor location was chosen and the logistics of filming over a period of several months. It was a fascinating experience and one I would highly recommended - especially if you are a Lord of the Rings fan.

Punting on the Avon River in Christchurch

The River Avon winds gracefully through Christchurch central in New Zealand and a top attraction is Punting on the Avon. For a reasonable price, you can enjoy a half hour trip along the river with a commentary on the sights and history of the area. The punters engage well with visitors and call out cheery greetings to people in canoes and paddleboats. The punts are appealing with padded seats and are constructed out of local wood types. As you pass under low bridges and admire historical buildings and the Botanic Gardens, you can almost imagine you’ve been transported back in history. A must do activity when visiting Christchurch.

Pearls from Shanghai

Shanghai, China is renowned for the quality and abundance of pearls produced in the area. In 2015, I visited a pearl outlet as part of guided tour and found it fascinating. Before entering the showroom, a staff member gave us a demonstration and showed us the difference between a freshwater and saltwater oyster. The different colour of pearls was also explained with the black colour being caused by sediment. The showroom was amazing with showcase after showcase of glistening pearl jewellery. Strands of white, peach, pink and black pearls lay in silk cushions and earrings and bracelets were also available. Truly a miracle of nature.

Fine Silk from Shanghai

As a child in Zimbabwe, I kept silkworms for many years. Decades later, it was fascinating to visit a silk factory in Shanghai and see how the cocoons were unravelled and the fine strands combined to make a silken thread. Not only that, whole cocoons were wet, stretched, pulled, and stretched again, until eventually they were very thin and wide. These fine layers were then placed on top of each other to from duvet inners. The guide explained that silk does not have filaments and because it is a natural fibre, is allergenic, does not hold dust and breathes well. The showroom included ranges of duvet inners and covers, sheets, pillowslips as well as a range of beautiful silk clothing.  

Fred and Myrtle's Paua Shell House

The Paua Shell House as it came to be known, was situated at 258 Marine Parade, Bluff, near Invercargill in the far south of New Zealand. Over the years, Fred and Myrtle Flutey decorated their home with thousands of paua shells and became a famous attraction in the area. On their death, their grandson purchased their home and loaned the collection to the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch. The house was recreated within the museum and using photos, the collection was repositioned as it was in the original home. The display is free to enter and includes a short film about the Flutey’s and their unusual hobby.

Botanic Gardens Christchurch

The Christchurch Botanic Gardens are well established and date back to 1863 when the first oak tree was planted. Well known features of the gardens include the Peacock Fountain, the rose garden and the hot houses. Displays in these conservatories range from orchids, to cacti, to ferns, to tropical plants. The rose garden is home to 104 beds and a profusion of climbing, standard and Hybrid Tea modern garden roses. The RiverAvon winds its way through the gardens and a pond attracts ducks and other birds. A tearoom offers refreshments and it’s the perfect place for a family outing or a romantic date. The gardens are open from 7am to 9pm.