Day 1 - Christchurch

It was reasonably nice in Auckland this morning as we left, but when we arrived in Christchurch it was wet, and it got worse. However, we’ve just seen a warning for Auckland that sounds absolutely dire - thunderstorms, heavy, heavy rain, a warning for people to stay inside and not drive. We’re beginning to think that Christchurch isn’t too bad after all.

We caught a bus, train and another bus to the airport, taking 1hr 6mins door to door. We checked in our bags at the kiosk and then left them at the bag drop. Very smooth. When we arrived in Christchurch there was a metro bus, so we caught that into the city. Our friends, who were travelling from Napier and due to arrive in Christchurch at the same time (1:20pm) as us had their Napier-Christchurch flight cancelled, then were put on a flight to Auckland and the Auckland-Christchurch delayed, delayed, delayed. They’re now due to arrive in Christchurch at 9pm. They’ll be exhausted. Apparently, the reason for our friends’ delayed flight was the danger of lightning strikes as it left Auckland.

We’re going to a café that opens at 6:30am for breakfast and will be picked up from there instead of from our motel. We’ll leave our bags with our friends to go in the van when they’re picked up. We have a briefing in the city, then are dropped off at Godley Head from where we walked to Lyttleton and catch a ferry across to Diamond Harbour, where we stay tomorrow night. It’s only 12kms tomorrow, so if the weather improves it shouldn’t be too bad a walk.

The collage shows Mr MacD as we waited for the Tamaki Link bus this morning, the train station, on the train, the Air NZ magazine, a game of chess at Christchurch airport, some interesting sculpture pieces hanging about the bag reclaim, and decorations on either side of the lift door to Hali Restaurant (inspired by the ocean).