Canterbury
Many of you who hear "Canterbury" will think immediately of Christchurch and, subsequently, of the earthquakes that devastated the city in 2010 and 2011. Even five-plus years later, the city is still recovering, rebuilding, and restarting in a very visible sense. While we witnessed that extended recovery firsthand, we also witnessed a sense of renewal throughout the city, evidenced most by things such as the Re:START Mall and a plethora of art installations throughout the central area. To us, Christchurch was much more than a city in recovery, but a city redefining its identity. Similarly, Canterbury was much more to us than New Zealand's most earthquake-prone region. It was home to majestic, snow-capped mountains, enchanting Russell lupin(e)s, and Gatorade-blue glacial lakes. Take a look below to share our view of Canterbury from Nov. 30 - Dec. 8, 2016, and click here for a blog post on Ch'ch.
The Re:START Mall was by far the best representation of Christchurch's ability to repurpose, rejuvenate, and recover.
While the decision to demolish the Anglican Christchurch Cathedral (above) has been controversial, attempts to salvage other structures like the one to the right have required immense effort. Below, clockwise from the upper left, is the permanently damaged Christchurch Cathedral, the nave of the Christchurch Transitional Cardboard Cathedral, a before and after comparison of Knox Church, and two photos of the very ligneous interior of the Cardboard Cathedral.
Right behind the Hamilton Gardens, the Christchurch Botanic Gardens were easily one of our favorite "city day" strolls. Not only did the gardens and open spaces offer a cloistered sense of peace of mind in an otherwise hectic and disarrayed concrete jungle, they smelled great! Below, Kelsey takes in the sweet scents of sylvan serenity.
Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula were another natural escape from the urban life of Christchurch. Mountaintop hikes with views of the ocean - yes please!
The Inland Scenic Route and State Highway 79, the route from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki, is one that takes you from a place devastated by nature's power to a place elegantly forged by it. It takes you into the heart of Mackenzie Country. Perhaps it's best to say it is a drive from God's city, into God's country. Along the way, make a few stops to appreciate this glacial valley, its peaks, and the controversial lupines that line the roads and lakes. "Controversial?" you ask. Scroll down for more.
Even if you're not an anthophile, or even a casual gardener, it's hard not to be mesmerized by the Russell lupin(e)s that line the roads and riverbeds. Although if you are a native plant advocate, you're probably appalled. The Russell lupin(e) is an invasive species in Aotearoa. Introduced in the 50's, this flower threatens many indigenous species. Rumor has it, tour operators spread seeds to sustain the crowds. All those buses might be proof. :-/
One of the great things about New Zealand, and Canterbury especially, is that even on the grey days, no amount of overcast can block out enough light to fully hide the vivid, natural colors or the majesty of the South Island landscapes. Not even a deluge of rain could stop us from exploring the glaciers of the Hooker Lake area just south of Mt Cook. After drying off (and rice-soaking some of our camera equipment), we drove back to the sunshine to take advantage of the abundant salmon and sparse crowds of camp in the Pukaki area.
Well, relatively at least.