A SOUTH PACIFIC soujourn
Before picking up the motorhome we had hired to explore New Zealand, we spent a pleasant day in Christchurch, a city on the South Island that is largely defined by its earthquake-ridden history.
The aftermath of the latest two events (2010 and 2011) is clearly visible, the starkest reminder being the cathedral, still standing but with a gaping hole where the nave and spire should be.
Quake City, an information centre dedicated to the story of the earthquakes, was a memorable experience, but there were other highlights, too: the Botanical Gardens, a trip on a 1930s tram, the futuristic Christchurch Art Gallery and The Cellar Door, where you can taste the local wines.
The following day, we picked up the ’van and set off for Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula, 90km east of Christchurch. The route took us past the peaks of extinct volcanoes covered in golden vegetation and green trees, rising from turquoise lakes into the clear blue sky. It was a promising start!
Akaroa had a distinctly French air – many of the early inhabitants were settlers from France – but the main attraction
