We said farewell to David and Melissa in the morning. Them we made a picnic lunch and played in the pools at the botanical gardens and in the rain. Then walked around the gardens, smelled the roses and saw a green house. We saw the Avon river, with trout, Mona Vale, and Deans Cottage, the oldest building. We had a delicious lamb dinner with the Viney's
Donna and I explored the city center, saw the wizard in the cathedral square, toured the cathedral and walked along the Avon river. Took the bus back and forth from the house. Then went to our first rugby game, Canterbury Crusaders vs. Otaga Highlanders (51-14). We saw the coach for the All Blacks in the stands. A popular player named, Marshall played. We would see him on TV a lot. At the sart of a Rugby game the All Blacks would perform the "Haka", a traditional Maori war dance. It was an exciting game with lots of injured players that were carried off the field.
Mrs. Viney drove us to Akaroa. First settled by the French in the 19th century before New Zealand was officially claimed by the British. Akaroa is a popular resort town, set on a beautiful, sheltered harbour and overlooked by craggy volcanic hills. The name Akaroa is Kãi Tahu Mãori for 'Long Harbour'.
We had cheese at a cheese factory and saw a museum. We walked along the harbor and saw some old houses and streets with French names. We had lunch on the waterfront and then walked to the lighthouse.
Akaroa is the South Island’s oldest town. Nowhere else in the country has such a compact, complete record of New Zealand’s domestic architecture. The town’s churches and other public buildings are also notable examples of New Zealand’s colonial architecture. European whalers began frequenting Akaroa Harbour regularly in the 1830s, not long after the harbour had seen the North Island chief Te Rauparaha attack Ngai Tahu settlements on its shores. The town gained distinction in 1840 as the site of the only attempt to plant an organised French settlement in New Zealand. People of British and other nationalities soon outnumbered the French even in Akaroa, but the town still celebrates its French origins.
Through its long life, Akaroa has played many roles – including a fishing port and a farm service town. Before the road over Hilltop was improved most goods, and many visitors, came to and went from Akaroa over its wharves. Since the 19th century, Akaroa has also been a holiday resort, its main role today. People have escaped their day-to-day worries and preoccupations in Christchurch and other cities by coming "over the hill" for a day trip or for holidays from a few days to several weeks.
On the far side of the harbour from Akaroa is the holiday settlement of Wainui, where families own "baches" (holiday cottages) that have provided several generations of the families with fabulous childhood holidays. The road to Wainui passes through French Farm, a name that recalls the farm established by the French navy when they had ships stationed in the harbour (with the agreement of the British) in the 1840s. Today French Farm is also well-known for its winery. The French brought the first vines to the Peninsula in 1840. Today, the small quantities of wine produced on the Peninsula are highly regarded and sought after.
That evening we ate pavlova, a traditional New Zealand desert, kinda like a meringue with, you guessed it, kiwifruit on it.
I walked into the city center on my own. I got a haircut and had a meat pie at a museum cafe. I saw a good display on Moa birds and the Maori culture at the museum. Canterbury Museum is a cultural and heritage masterpiece. Housed in one of New Zealand’s finest historic buildings, at the head of Christchurch’s Cultural Precinct, its rich collections and the important part it has played in Canterbury life and science since 1867 give it special significance.
I then went to the library and used the internet. I found a great wood carving at some souvenir shops. That evening, Donna and I cooked lasagna for the Viney family.
Donna and I went to the Arts Centre, Canterbury Museum and outdoor concert.
At the museum we listened to the New Zealand Puffins and looked at the Antarctica display. Canterbury Museum’s Sir Robertson Stewart Hall of Antarctic Discovery celebrates over a century of Antarctic exploration. This internationally significant Antarctic collection is unique. The Museum has always given support to Antarctic explorers and many pieces in the collection have been donated in return, including items from Scott, Shackleton, Amundsen and Hillary. Canterbury Museum also holds one of the world's leading collections of Antarctic photographs and archives including photographs by Herbert Ponting and Frank Hurley, and many expedition members' photographs not held or available anywhere else.
That afternoon we saw the "Hunter and the collectors" concert. There were 30,000 people in the crowd for the free concert. Later we saw the waterfalls of Christchurch.
We went to church with the Viney family in the morning and then went to Sumner beach. Sumner Bay is the first bay on the northern side of Banks Peninsula and faces Pegasus Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The estuary at Sumner Beach is a popular recreatioin area, ideal for surfing. We played in the sand with the kids and explored Cave Rock. A sea wall and wide esplanade have been built the length of the beach to prevent coastal erosion.
This was our last day in New Zealand. The Viney family dropped us off at the airport. We were very appreciative of all their hospitality and eternally grateful. We had a nice flight to Brisbane, Australia.
