Day #8 Auckland to Christchurch

We dropped the car at the airport. We drove 2015 km in 7 days. No dings, dents or close calls after a week of driving on the left. Then we made our way to our Air New Zealand flight to Christchurch on the South Island.

In Christchurch, we picked up another car Which we'll have for the next 15 days on the South Island. Our new KIA (I mean new, it had 9 km on the odometer) should meet all our needs. As per the folks at the rental desk, we were given a new car because they had 16 cars returned last week with too much damage to rent. No details were offered. Our room for the night is actually a small apartment.

We walked a half dozen blocks to the center of the city. Christchurch suffered 4 major earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. The city was devastated. They are still demolishing building that are beyond repair. The cathedral made it through the first quake but subsequent shakes toppled the steeple and the giant rose window. The city is in the process of rebuilding the structure with structural additions to reduce earthquake risk.

memorial to fallen soldiers
in central Christchurch

rebuilding the cathedral

artist rendition of the new cathedral

current cathedral

John Robert Cooley founded Canterbury in 1850
Christchurch is part of Canterbury

still demolishing buildings
damaged by the earthquakes

applying water to reduce dust

We enjoyed a meal from the market stalls at the Riverside Market.

Tomorrow, we are off to Akaroa to swim with the dolphins, maybe.