New Zealand-Day 9

After a nice run through the botanic gardens with Brian, Beth & Sudip (we actually got quite a few runs in during our trip…so nice having Grandma there to mind the kiddos!), we packed up and headed into the city to see the amazing Cardboard Cathedral.

The Cardboard Cathedral (the Transitional Cathedral used since the original Christchurch Cathedral was badly damaged in the Christchurch earthquake in February 2011). is the world’s only cathedral made substantially of cardboard.  The stained glass windows were beautiful and the interior was amazing with all of the cardboard used as well as shipping containers for offices…a very cost conscience way of building during this interim period.

                                     

                                     

Standing on a vacant lot in the heart of Christchurch, 185 white chairs represent the 185 lives lost in the earthquake.

It is unbelievable how much damage, rebuilding and closed down roads there still are almost 4 years after the earthquake! Here is the original Christchurch Cathedral which survived the 2010 earthquake, but did not fare as well in 2011.

                                   

The Bridge of Remembrance which commemorates the gunners from Canterbury who served in World Wars I & II.

The Re:Start Mall was built after the earthquake devastation and houses retailers, food outlets and entertainment venues in brightly colored shipping containers.

                                     

We grabbed lunch and headed northwest to Hanmer Springs to visit the Thermal Pools & Spa.  This place was awesome, consisting of 15 thermal and freshwater pools of varying temperatures, as well as private pools, waterslides and a children’s waterslide and activity area. We spent several hours here and had a blast!

Several of us got to spend some time on the 3 big waterslides and it was great fun!

Enjoying the lazy river

The kids had a blast here!

                                     

                                   

                                   

                                   

It was nice getting some adult only time as well!  This was the soothing, mineral-rich (read: stinky sulphur) pool. 

Relaxing rock pools, therapeutic pools with an array of water jets and bubbles, and a beautiful sunny day…perfection!

We had a great dinner (even better that we got to enjoy some adult conversation while the kids did this! Genius!) and then went on our way to our next destination…Kaikoura.

New Zealand-Day 8

We work up to a very foggy, cloudy morning. We weren’t sure if we would get a chance to actually see Mount Cook today. (we were happy we at least saw the peak briefly on the drive in)  We decided to go on the 2 hikes that we had planned on and even had a local tell us that the sky would not clear up for us to see it.  Despite the fog, we enjoyed our hike up to the Terminal Lake Lookout.  It was a tough climb, but it was definitely worth it!

View of Terminal Lake and the Tasman Glacier-we enjoyed climbing on the rocks and taking fun photos!

Tasman Glacier Face

Boat rides through the icebergs

                                     

After our first hike, we headed over to another trail and caught our first glimpse through the breaking clouds of the peak of Mt. Cook!

                                     

It was still quite cloudy, but some of us continued on the hike (with Hallie taking a snooze on my back), while others waited up on the viewing platform.

The clouds finally parted and we had some amazing views of the mountain peaks!  That local was SO wrong and we were thrilled!!!!

Then we had some fun playing with the iPhone’s panoramic options!

On to the next stop while still taking in the stunning beauty of the highest peak in Australasia and the surrounding vibrant blue waters.

From here we made a pit stop at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Lake Tekapo.

The kids liked the bronze statue of a New Zealand Collie Sheepdog. The statue is in recognition of the role of the sheepdog in their livelihoods.

                                     

Hallie and her rocks!

We made it to our hotel in Christchurch in time for take away Thai food, hide and seek and a dance party!