Lake Tekapo
Before heading out of Christchurch, I paid a visit to the Quake City Exhibition. In the heart of what once was the Central Business District, this exhibition explains the background of the earthquake in 2011 (and the historic ones), the science behind plate tectonics, liquefaction, sand volcanoes… But it also gives a human touch to […] Read More
Pallet Pavilion
I came back from Akaroa in time for sunset in Christchurch, and wanted to have a second look, in beautiful weather instead of yesterday’s rain. Alas, it’s just as depressing. I’m still speechless. Christchurch is inventive though. If your shopping mall is a ruin, create a temporary one. This one became so good, it might […] Read More
Bonjour, Akaroa
If things would have turned out a bit differently, I might speak French in La nouvelle Zélande, aujourd’hui! I took a day trip out to the Banks Peninsula, that sits on the middle of the East coast, a bit south of Christchurch. Formed by two massive volcanos, the peninsula is mountainous, rugged, and possesses several […] Read More
New Brighton Beach
Needed a quick coffee in the morning and headed to the beach in New Brighton – where I have my B&B. It’s a little suburb of Chch, as the locals tend to call their hometown. The little street towards the beach was also struck by the earthquake. Lots of empty spaces, parking spaces, art, park […] Read More
Christchurch
In the late afternoon I drove into the city center of Christchurch. Sure, I heard and read about the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes that killed 185 people… However I was totally unprepared to what was waiting for me. I had not expected to see a city that devastated. I imagined buildings standing, damaged, cracked, maybe […] Read More
NZ Road Trip
I have been busy planning my road thrip through New Zealand in the past weeks, and I think I am pretty close to sorting it all out. It’s prime travel time in NZ, the backpackers are everywhere and the hotels and hostels are pretty full, that’s why it took some time to plan it… It’s […] Read More