Monday, December 28, 2009

Exploring Christchurch





Exploring Christchurch

On our first day on the South Island we recognized some distinctions from the north island which is much closer to the equator. It is definitely cooler by about 5-8 degrees on average and the terrain is much more mountainous with the New Zealand Alps reaching impressive heights. The mountains are most impressive along the eastern seaboard where you can take the Franz Joseph Alpine train and see the landscapes which were filmed in Lord of the Rings.
Once we got settled in the house we set off to explore, get groceries and see the area. Tracie and Nicholas ventured off for groceries while the girls unpacked and Christopher and I tried to set up a dial up connection via one computer so that they could do some homework in the mornings. When Tracie returned we piled in the van and headed for Christchurch. We parked near the core of St John’s Anglican cathedral. We bought tickets on the scenic tram which is like a pass that you can jump on and off for the same price all day. We explored the Museum of Modern Art which was weird at best and then we explored an outdoor flea market 2 blocks away. From there we went toward the University and did the botanical gardens and the museum of history which was largely celebrating the settlement of New Zealand and the Mauori culture of the south. There was a really wierd exhibit at the museum which was a couples house who had recently passed and they resurrected it inside the museum.
The weird part was that the house was 100% decorated and constructed with shells

Christchurch, Erwywell, Arthurs Pass and the South Island of New Zealand Nov 14-21




Christchurch, Erwywell, Arthurs Pass and the South Island of New Zealand Nov 14-21

November 14- and we discovered that we had made an error with our flights. When we had first landed in New Zealand we arrived in Auckland however we supposed to depart out of Tauranga 4 hours drive away. The vehicle however had to be returned to Auckland so Emily and I drove to Auckland in the morning while the others took a flight. We met them in Auckland after an early morning drive and breakfast at one of the amazing bakeries, returned the van and checked into the airport and then flew together to Christchurch. We arrived in stormy skies and cold fresh temperatures of 6 degrees. Thank god for the Merino wool sweaters we bought in the North Island.
We had a house booked North of Christchurch in the community of Eryewell, which was a 3000 square foot ranch style bungalow with 5 bedrooms 5 bathroom house complete with laundry, a triple car garage, a billiard room and large eat in kitchen. We were not slumming it by any means on this one.

Evening Glow worms



Evening Glow worms

Later in evening Tracie and I returned to the Waimarino kayak park to go on a romantic kayak trip to see the glow worm caves. When we arrived there, we met the two guides and they had two kayaks loaded onto a trailer and we all drove to McLaren Falls which was at the head of the falls and our debarkation point. When we arrived we enjoyed some wine and cheese, then got suited up to go on the kayak. The weather was a cool 8 degrees Celsius, but the water was still and the moon cast a glow across the lake. I has been about 20 years since Tracie and I shared a kayak so we were a little rusty but after 5 minutes we were paddling in rhythm and heading towards the rapids and river to the glow worm caves. After a little navigational error we found the caves which would have been pitch black except for the millions of glow worms emitting their phosphorous glow from their tails. As it turns out they weren’t really worms at all but spiders. In any event it looked like the we were in the middle of the milky way galaxy travelling through space.

The Water Blob
















The Water Blob

The blob is an air tube that floats in the water. Directly above it is a 30 foot high platform which extends out ward towards the water. The idea of the blob is that one person sits on the blob at the closest end to the water. One or a couple of people climb and jump from the 30 foot high platforms aiming to land on the nearest end of the blob which launches the other person or flyer who is waiting at the other end of the blob into the air and who lands ultimately into the water. Now for those of you who study physics and the conservation of energy when a 130lb person jumps off the platform and lands on the blob the other person sitting on the blob will pick up the kinetic energy of the falling person and get shot up 66% of the original persons height or in this case 20 feet. Now the boys figured this out very quickly and decided to solicit two people to jump off simultaneously and launch them. In Nicholas’ case he found two healthy Kiwi Schoolgirls weighing in at about 140 lbs each fo 280lbs in all to launch him. Nicholas is only about 130 lbs. if you did the math you would calculate that he travelled about 60 feet in the air after being launched. Christopher decided to do the same thing. Here is their flight pattern.

Waimarino Kayak Park










Waimarino Kayak Park

We had no idea how the day was going to unfold today when we woke up. The kids did their homework by 10 o’clock they were anxious to roll. We heard about a white water rafting place and decided to check it out. When we arrived we discovered a private Kayak park with kayak water slides, obstacle courses, and climbing walls. The kids noticed school bus after school bus of other kids being dropped off for a field trip and they were invited to join right in with the classes. They had a great day and met a number of New Zealanders.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

The Zorb




The Zorb

Have you ever gone down a mountain inside a massive beach ball filled with a second beach ball and then filled with water? If you have then you have Zorbed. The kids saw it and begged and pleaded their way into getting a ride each. They loved it so much that they decided to spend their own money and buy an additional ride which is not cheap but perhaps something they would never get a chance to do again.

Sheep, sheep and more sheep










Sheep, sheep and more sheep

If New Zealand is known for the Kiwi Bird and Kiwi Fruit, it is also equally know worldwide for its sheep industry. We couldn’t come here and not experience this agricultural phenomenon. There are approximately 65,000,000 sheep in New Zealand and only about 17,000,000 people. Of the shep being farmed there are over 20 different varieties. We had a chance to see them all when we visited the Agridome south of Rotorua. Lizzie participated in the show as a surrogate Ewe, feeding the lambs by bottle. The most famous of all the sheep varieties is the Merino. The Merino wool is the best in the world and Tracie and I treated ourselves to a couple of sweaters.

Hiking Mt Maunagua







Hiking Mt Maunagua

Tauranga has a very notable mountain called Mt Maunagua (say it three times fast). Once at the top it gives you a view of the Eastern shores of Tauranga. I have taken quite a few shots of this place and if this doesn’t get you booking your tickets nothing will.