A Day in Christchurch

Walking Tour 

After a very comfortable sleep we leave the car at our Airbnb and head to our morning walking tour of Christchurch with Green Kiwi Tours.

Christchurch is a very modern city that is still in the process of being rebuilt after the February 22, 2011 devastating earthquake. Almost 50% of the buildings were damaged or destroyed. Demolition of damaged buildings is ongoing and there is a lot of new construction occurring. The city decided that new buildings cannot be taller than 6 floors. There are areas where whole blocks of buildings were torn down and the lots remain empty or were turned into parks or carparks.

Since the earthquake, Christchurch has become well known for its street art.

New Regent Street Precinct

We check out the New Regent Street Precinct which is lined with art deco buildings (which have been restored after the quake) that house shops and restaurants.

Temporary Places to Enjoy

After the quake, the city put together temporary places where people can enjoy themselves in places where things had been levelled by the quake. This dance floor surrounded by street art is just one of them. People can connect their phone playlist to the speakers. Although it is still morning, people are already dancing here and our tour group joins in.

Piece of the Berlin Wall

We stop at a painted piece of cement that came from the Berlin Wall. One side is painted to commemorate the massacre of over fifty people in two Christchurch mosques, the other side commemorates the Berlin Wall.

Memorials

We head to the Bridge of Remembrance which is a war memorial. This arch was built in 1924, refurbished in 1989 and restored after the 2011 quake.

We go to the Oi Manawa National Memorial to the earthquake victims. There are still many floral tributes there since the anniversary of the quake was February 22. Some of the notes on the tributes are heart wrenching.

Along the Avon

We walk along the Avon River and see the boat sheds and the punters poling tourists in boats on the river.

Botanic Gardens

The walking tour ends at the Botanic Gardens that John and I visit. A large fountain sits at the front of the gardens. I notice that there are tons of Canadian geese…we just can’t seem to get away from them.

We check out a large tree near the rock garden, the beautiful, fragrant rose garden and the conservatory with its spectacular display of begonias.

Art Centre and Riverside Market

We cross the street and check out the beautiful Art Centre before heading to Riverside Market for lunch. There is so much food to choose from. John gets his lunch from a Sri Lankan place while I get grilled fish and a salad from a fresh fish place. I am embarrassed to admit it, but it was so good that I go back and get a tuna poke bowl…and then go to another stall and get a decadent, very large chocolate and salted caramel dessert bar.

We check out the eels at the river. I find out that the native eels are protected. So much for BBQ eel in New Zealand.

City Trams

An old fashioned tram runs through the city. It is really just for tourists but uses some of the original tracks from when it was an actual form of public transit.

Quake City Museum

Quake City Museum is our next stop. I remember watching about the earthquake on the news but this really brings home the devastation. They have videos where people talk about their experiences during and immediately after the quake. One lady talks about her hand being trapped and when she was being rescued by the fire fighters, he asked if she could feel her fingers, she said no. Then when they removed the debris she saw her fingers fall off. They saved her and kept the fingers to reattach.

Cardboard Cathedral

The last place we go is the Cardboard Cathedral. This church was built on the site of the destroyed St. John the Baptist Church and was supposed to be a temporary structure but they decided to keep it. They call it the cardboard cathedral because it was constructed with 86 cardboard tubes and metal from shipping containers form the walls.

My feet are tired so we walk back to our Airbnb, do laundry and have an easy night.