As we drove north from Dunedin to Christchurch (our final destination in New Zealand), we stopped for a few hours near Moeraki. First we checked out the Moeraki Boulders, which are large spherical boulders scattered along a stretch of beach. They're made of concentrated calcite and formed about 65 million years ago.
The boulders were OK, but our primary reason for stopping near Moeraki was to eat lunch at Fleur's Place. This restaurant had rave reviews in guidebooks, and a couple of locals also urged us to stop in Moeraki just to eat there. The restaurant is situated on an old jetty and gets its seafood straight from the fishing boats that come by.
As we waited for our meal, the boys were interested to watch one of the staff members prepare the fish.
We had a fantastic fresh seafood lunch and accompanying scenic view on the upstairs deck.
The water was served in old liquor bottles, which amused both boys.
After lunch, we walked closer to the water and found this guy just hanging out on the rocks!
A couple of hours further north, we made a short stop in Oamaru, which is known as the "Steampunk Capital of the World". Emmett described steampunk as "a lot of rusty stuff sitting around".
The city is also known for its well-preserved Victorian architecture. Walking around the city center, it looked and felt like England.
On our first day in Christchurch, we visited the Cardboard Cathedral. The earthquake that devastated Christchurch in 2011 badly damaged the city's original cathedral, and this one was built as a temporary replacement. It has now become an attraction of its own for its architectural ingenuity and as a symbol of the rebirth of the city.
Much of the cathedral is made from cardboard, including reinforced cardboard tubes that form the roof and are used for furnishings and the cross. There are also cargo containers that are used as walls.
We also visited a memorial to the 185 people who died in the earthquake, which happened on February 22, 2011. There were all different types of chairs, including a wheelchair and an infant carrier (there were quite a few children who died). The artist who created the memorial was tending to the lawn--he's in the picture below. We spoke with him for a few minutes, and he told us about a dear friend who was killed in the earthquake. He also showed us the chair that the deceased man's family donated in his honor. It was a conversation that turned a previously far-removed tragedy into a strikingly immediate one, and it was a chance encounter that I won't forget.
The effects of the 2011 earthquake are still evident throughout the Central Business District (CBD), which is abuzz in demolition and construction. About 50% of everything in this district, which is the heart of the city, has to be rebuilt. Everywhere you looked, there were buildings being taken down, new roads being constructed, and buildings going up--both temporary and permanent ones. This temporary-turned-permanent shopping area, made of shipping containers, had lots of small shops and restaurants.
Nearby there were ping pong tables that were free and open to everyone, so we took a break and played for a bit.
We walked past the original cathedral, which still shows the scars of the 2011 earthquake.
One of the rebuilt areas of the CBD had a lot of great shops and a trolley car that runs right down the middle of the street. You could almost touch it from the sidewalk tables.
And when you find a giant gorilla statue on a park bench.....well, as 10 and 7 year olds, you just have to pretend to pick his nose.
This was one of the COOLEST things I've ever seen in a city! It was part of a "gap filler" project, meant to bring life and people to empty spaces in the city. This "Dance 'O Mat" had a large dance floor, complete with speakers, a disco ball, and an audio system set up in an old washer. We put in coins, plugged our iPhone into the provided cable, and BAM--instant dance party with music playing and disco ball turning! Such a cool idea!
We all danced around a bit, but Colin got into the music the most.
On our walk through the Botanic Garden, we found an Air New Zealand 737 trainer that was setup for the public to try out. The boys had a blast pretending to fly it, though I wouldn't want to be a passenger on this flight.
There was a fabulous, brand new playground that had opened in between the CBD and our rental house. It had water features and lots of cool playground equipment, and we went there twice.
At one point, the adults came to join the boys at the zip line......a few minutes later, we realized the kids had moved on and it was just the adults still playing on it.
Mamama and Dadada got some pushes on the swing from Colin, too.
On our last day in Christchurch, before we headed to the airport, we went to the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve with the primary goal of seeing a kiwi. Before we got to the kiwis, though, we saw a lot of other neat animals first.
There was a pukeko, which can easily be confused with a takahe.
These guys looked like geese who'd woken up with bed head (bed feathers?).
We saw our first wallaby, who was quite curious and came right over to check us out.
Here is a Cape Barren Goose.
These Golden Pheasants were amazing! They looked like nature's attempt to use up all the colors and patterns left over from other animals.
And this pig! So ugly she was adorable.
This mama hen was protecting her babies from the loud humans.
And this guy just wanted us to feed him.
This speckled rooster was also very distinct looking.
It was a cold and drizzly afternoon at the wildlife reserve, and there weren't many other people walking around. One of the park workers gave us a huge bucket of feed for the goats and sheep, and we all had fun feeding them for a while.
Last, but not least.....the kiwi! Kiwis are quite hard to find in the wild, so the Willowbank Wildlife Reserve was the surefire way to see one. They are nocturnal birds, so we saw them inside a darkened house. This guy is looking for bugs to eat.
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