So Long New Zealand
Well, K and I had to say goodbye to lovely New Zealand yesterday. It was a wonderful 3 week trip around New Zealand. We had so much fun and it was an adventure of a lifetime we'll never forget.K and I often measure our feelings about a country we visit by answering a simple question: if you had to live there, how would you feel about it? In the case of New Zealand, I can categorically say - I would love it. What a beautiful, clean, safe, socially advanced, ecologically advanced, and good-natured country. Anyone considering a trip to New Zealand - do it! I know the trip is a long one from the U.S., but you will not regret it. Our only regret is that we did not have more time to spend there.
Christchurch Wrap Up
On our final day there (Wednesday - March 12), we did a little more touring of Christchurch and then flew to Auckland for our flight out to Australia the next day.
It's tough to find a straight lamppost or flat/smooth sidewalk or street in Christchurch.
K looking pretty depressed and confused at this situation! It reality, she was caught off guard by the fact that newspapers, glassware, plates, etc. were still sitting in the coffee shop - probably in the same position they were left the day of the earthquake - locked in time.
As you read in my last post, it was emotionally hard to tour Christchurch. However, I must say the strength and resiliency of its people is shining through the devastation. We visited the Christchurch Cardboard Cathedral. This is a church literally created from cardboard tubes and other reusable materials - right down to the pulpit. It was set up as a temporary church on the destruction of the cathedral after the earthquake - again quite a site and demonstrates the people's ingenuity.
We also visited the 185 white chair temporary memorial to the 185 people killed in the earthquake. Small but powerfully moving. It takes a page from the Oklahoma City bombing memorial (they even mentioned that in the small little marker).
Finally, we visited the Christchurch Earthquake Museum. This is a little museum set up next to the Re:START mall and it was excellent. It showed the story of what happened in the two earthquakes but also provided a lot of human interest and stories related to the earthquake. They also showed a small video of Christchurch as it was, as it is now (about 80% of the current downtown has either been demolished or about to be demolished in the next few years) and the rebuilding plan (with computer animation showing the final results). The city was absolutely beautiful, and based on the plans, will be again.
A NZ Itenary
On our last dinner in NZ, K and I reviewed our trip and asked each other if there was anything we would have done differently now that we knew more about NZ. We both think that the areas we covered and things we did would still be on our list if we had to do it all over again. We could easily have spent a few more weeks in NZ seeing places we had to miss (Waitomo Caves and the glow worms, the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel Peninsula ) or spending more time in places we loved. So I would not begin to tell people what itinerary to take when you come to New Zealand, but if you want to get a good overall flavor of this wonderful country - ours was a good path to follow or use as a template.Hotels in NZ
K did an absolutely wonderful job of booking hotels in New Zealand. I am sure there are a lot of fabulous places and since we have no way of knowing the competition, all we can say is that the following list of places were each excellent. I gave each a rank of 1-5"K" stars. Again, each was incredible (nothing less than a 3 in NZ), but some out did K's expectations and deserve even extra credit.- Auckland - CityLife Auckland (right downtown, convenience and amenities) - 4 "K Stars"
- Rotorua - Tuscany Villas (nothing fancy but very cute and clean) - 3 "K Stars"
- Taupo - Beachtree Suites (again convenient, wonderful staff, and right across the street from The Brantry - best restaurant in town). - 4 "K Stars"
- Napier - Art Deco Masonic Hotel (historic hotel right on the ocean - little bit of street noise but very nice and a wonderful staff) - 3 "K Stars"
- Wellington - Bolton Hotel (a K favorite for amenities - a little bit uphill from the city center) - 5 "K Stars"
- Richmond - Kershaw House B&B (outside Nelson - Pete is a great host and very helpful/knowledgeable about all of NZ as he does tour guide videos of the country) - 4 "K Stars"
- Fox Glacier - Lake Mathison Motel (again not fancy, but very convenient to everything and clean) - 3 "K Stars"
- Queenstown - Scenic Aurum Suites (lovely place, although the road noise is a bit heavy) - 3 "K Stars"
- Dunedin - Bluestone on George (K's favorite - attention to every detail) - 5 "K Stars"
- Christchurch - The George (a bit pricey and the room was on the small side but the staff and hotel restaurant is amazing - K loved the teddy bear they give to each guest). - 5 "K Stars"
- Auckland Airport - JetPark Airport Hotel (very convenient to the airport, clean, nice staff, huge room) - 3 "K Stars"
Hello Australia
As I said, we spent our last night in NZ in a hotel just outside of Auckland's airport as we had an early flight the next day. We are in Adelaide now and already enjoying the people and sights of Australia. (Aussie Aussie Aussie - Oi Oi Oi!) More on Australia coming up soon.
Water Swirlies
As a wrap up to today's post, I was able to finally find a place where a sink or toilet had a swirly to demonstrate the Coriolis Effect above and below the equator. Before leaving home, I video taped the toilet when flushed. In the northern hemisphere, the Coriolis Effect causes water to rotate (swirl) in a clockwise fashion. Most toilets don't flush in a swirling motion in NZ, but I did find a sink in our last hotel that did swirl when it drained. Notice that when you are below the equator in the southern hemisphere, the rotation goes counter clockwise (my apologies to physics teachers out there if I got the name of the effect wrong here). I was asked by a few friends (and my own curiosity) if the water really did rotate in the opposite direction. Well, here is the proof. K is groaning at this geeky side of me reporting on this effect :)
Above the equator
below the equator
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