Day 5 - Akaroa / Christchurch

This is a back blip.

I will have to wait a few days more before I can properly check in on blippers’ journals and respond to comments.  Our day was very full again today.  I’m starting to sound like a broken down record now!!

We started the day with a delicious breakfast at Bully Hayes, where we had a meal last night.  By the time we’d had breakfast, finished packing and filled in our evaluation forms it was time to hop on board our shuttle once again.  Somehow there just wasn’t time to have a proper wander around Akaroa which, of course, gives us an excuse for another visit.

It was a beautiful morning and our first stop was the Montgomery Park Scenic Reserve, where we climbed up some 500 metres to visit a giant Totara.  It was quite a specimen and the light in the forest was rather lovely.  Once back in the shuttle it was full steam ahead for Christchurch, where we were dropped at our accommodation.  We checked in, left our luggage and walked into the CBD for a coffee and a light bite to eat. On our way we passed the Transitional Cathedral, which is constructed of cardboard and was designed by the Japanese architect, Shigeru Ban - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardboard_Cathedral.  Opposite the cathedral, in Latimer Square, is a sculpture by Neil Dawson (https://creativenz.govt.nz/News-and-blog/2022/06/15/02/25/10/New-Christchurch-sculpture-inspired-by-Cathedral-spire). The four of us decided we would be reluctant to sit immediately underneath it as the couple in the photo are doing.

We returned to our accommodation to relax for a while before walking back into the city to meet a friend for dinner at the Mumbaiwala Indian Restaurant. We had a delicious meal, lots of chat and an enjoyable evening before the four of us returned to our accommodation for an early night.

Main blip: early morning Akaroa, forest walk, giant Totara
1st extra: Transitional Cathedral, Spires sculpture
2nd extra:  Mumbaiwala Indian Restaurant