24 Apr 2024
Loved our tour with Scotty. What a great tour guide and driver.
After leaving Lyttelton, travelled via the inner bays of Lyttelton Harbour to Governors Bay via Dyers Pass to the Sign of the Takahe. Hike for a few minutes to enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the City of Christchurch and the Southern Alps which are snowcapped for up to 9 months. The Scottish "castle" is so charming.
Next stop was the Mona Vale Gardens which was renamed by Annie Quayle Townend after her mother's house in Tasmania. Annie inherited one million pounds as the sole surviving child in her family. This made her the richest independent woman in 1905. Mona Vale was originally called Karewa when it was built in 1899-1900.
Townend added the gatehouse, more land and gardens and a Fernery to the property. Ferneries are quite popular in New Zealand.
After her death, the property went through several owners including the Church of Latter Day Saints. When the church tried to sell the property to a private developer, there was a major public outcry. Community fundraising helped to turn the homestead into a beautiful public park and gardens open for all to enjoy.
Our guide, Scotty dropped us off at the Fendalton Road gatehouse. So nice to able to walk along the Avon River enjoying the weeping willows and the agapanthus until we reached the rose garden.
The rose garden is gorgeous. Love all the different varieties. Also interesting to visit the Fernery which seem to be quite popular in New Zealand. So many different varieties of huge ferns. Loved seeing the purple cardoon, artichoke thistle, and large yellow garden dahlias.
Spent a couple of hours exploring Christchurch which is still recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2011. Amazing to see how the city is rebuilding historic landmarks and adding green spaces.
Want to explore Antarctica without actually stepping foot on the continent? Visit the International Antarctic Centre to get an overview of what happens on the frozen land.
So easy to get to the International Antarctic Centre with our guide Scotty. Booked a great tour of Christchurch and the International Antarctic Centre from the Shore Excursions Group.
Adorable Little Blue Fairy Penguins. Hagglund Field Trip. A blizzard in the Storm Dome....and the cutest huskies!
Started with a very bumpy ride on the Hagglund Field Trip. Sit back, buckle up and hold on. Get an idea of what scientists experience on the all-terrain amphibious vehicles designed to explore the icy crevasses on Antarctica. Up, down, over and through.
The little blue fairy penguins are so cute! Since they usually are out hunting fish during the day, they are hard to find in the wild until they come back in a parade at night. So nice to be able to see the family of tiny penguins that are native to New Zealand who have been rescued due to physical ailments or injuries. Adorable!
Brrrrrrrrr.....
Feel the chill of an Antarctic Storm up close and personal. Bundle up in a long coat, put on shoe covers and enter the Storm Dome. Every hour, an Antarctic Storm drops the temperature from minus 8 degrees Celsius to minus 18. Amazed at how well the coats provided keep you comfortable. But still, so cold!
Explore Antarctica in the galleries. Watch the 4D movie. The 360 gallery had such beautiful images of the continent, penguins and whales. Loved learning about the research that happens with international cooperation and how the scientists prepare to live in Antarctica.
Huskies!!
Who can resist playing with huskies? So cute and so friendly. My parents especially loved this part. A great way to end the day at the International Antarctic Centre.
Support the center with a purchase in the gift shop. They had a sale on two tea towels for $2 NZD. We also grabbed some magnets and beanies for friends and family back home.
On the return to Lyttleton, Scotty drove by the estuary and the beach suburb via Evans Pass which was closed for more than 7 years following the Christchurch earthquake of 2011 due to cliff collapse. Imagine the devastation, but nice to see how the community has banded together to help each other.