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Published: February 3rd 2010
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Mount Cook
As seen through the bus window. Mount Cook is New Zealand's highest point. I told a number of people about my plan to head up to Christchurch and spend one and a half days there. “That’s more than enough. There’s not much there. Stay in Queenstown longer.” is what most said. So I opted to add the whole day to Queenstown and just do Christchurch for an evening. The advice proved to be worthwhile.
I woke up early this morning to depart Queenstown. After grabbing some peanut butter and strawberry jelly on toast at the hostel (I just now discovered they had a free mini breakfast) I headed off to catch the Naked Bus - that’s the name of the bus service and has no bearing as to the appearance of the driver or passengers - a few minutes from the hostel.
The bus ride to Christchurch would last about nine hours, with several passenger stops along the way. A few of these allowed for passengers to stretch legs and use the facilities and the one in Tekapo lasted a half hour for lunch. The Tekapo stop overlooked a lake with the most vivid baby blue water I’ve ever seen. It almost crossed into a type of neon.
Along the way
Lake Tekapo
The vivid blue lake where we had our lunch. I noticed numerous hitchhikers along the sides of the roads just outside of each town center. Apparently hitchhiking isn’t illegal here, or at least it’s not enforced. While I wouldn’t be comfortable doing it myself, I say if they want to hitchhike, let them. They know there’s a risk. For the price it may very well be calculated as worthwhile. Why should government interfere?
We made it to Christchurch around 5:30. I got off the bus and asked the driver if she could point me in the direction of Bealey Avenue, where my hostel is. “Hop on. I’m dropping another passenger there. It’s on the way to the airport stop.” So I got back on and instead of a mile walk I got a drop off within 50 yards of the hostel.
Tonight I ventured into the Christchurch CBD. Christchurch is actually New Zealand’s second largest city but it appears to be very much a working CBD, with limited things for tourists to see. However, I did walk through Hagley Park, down a street with numerous shops and restaurants and up past the cathedral. In less than two hours I had covered most of Christchurch CBD. The only
Old mill
This replicated old mill is on Old Mill Island, symbolising a time since passed. thing I’ll really be missing out on are any day trips outside town which could have been appealing (though the only one I could think of would have been a wine tour). It’s not a bad city; just not a great one for tourists unless they’re doing day trips and dining at nice restaurants.
Tomorrow I’m up very early (4:00 am) to catch a flight to Melbourne. There I start my Australian tour.
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