Aoraki / Mount Cook Mid-Winter Christmas
19-07-2021 to 26-07-2021
Day 1
19th July
The start of our holiday at Hamilton Airport. This is the aircraft for our flight to Christchurch. It has just arrived from there and the passengers have debarked.
Christchurch
20th July
This morning we woke up to this view from our hotel window of the Southern Alps foothills.
From our room we also had this view of Cathedral Square. On the left is the Cathedral under repair after the damage from the 2011 christchurch earthquake.
This is one of the Hop on Hop off site seeing trams. We had to be aware of them when we did our walking tour.
Part of the old Christchurch University after repair.
Before repair the buildings were held up by reinforcing.
By the Avon river in Christchurh is this memorial to all the people who lost their lives in 2011 earthquake.
This is a closeup of how the names appear on the wall.
Christchurch-Aoraki/Mt.Cook
21st July
Our first stop today, a comfort stop, was at Rakaia. It claims the best trout fishing in New Zealand.
In the afternoon we came closer to the Southern Alps foothills.
At Lake Tekapo we stopped to take some photos. As you can see from the white caps on the lake there was a wind from the lake and it was cold.
This is the Church of the Good Shepherd on the shores of lake Tekapo. It is one of the most photographed items in the country.
A view across lake Pukaki of the Southern Alps foothills.
And looking up lake Pukaki to the Southern Alps shrouded in cloud hiding Aoraki/Mount Cook.
Then the clouds clear a bit and we see Aoraki/Mount Cook.
Christchurch-Aoraki/Mt.Cook
22nd July
This morning we woke up to a winter wonderland. Overnight it snowed. The first time since September, according to the manager.
At breakfast we had this view from the dining room.
A view from our room balcony later in the morning.
This is a view from the passage behind our room.
In the late afternoon the clouds started to lift and this was our view.
At last we can see Aoraki/Mount Cook.
A telephoto view of the summit of Aoraki/Mount Cook.
The tables set up in the dining room for our mid-winter Christmas dinner.
This is our table. The small boxes contain two Christmas chocolates.
Hermitage-Oamaru
23nd July
Our final morning at the Hermitage hotel. A beautifully clear day and this is the view.
And here is the view we had while we ate breakfast.
After leaving the Hermitage for Oamaru we were still above the snow line.
After a short while the snow disappeared.
We stopped at this viewing spot for a last look at the mountains and take a group photo. But there was a layer of cloud obscuring the view. The man on the right in a red cap is the tour leader.
Another stop was to see Benmore Dam. It is the largest earth-fill water-retaining structure in New Zealand.
After lunch we visited the Vanished World Fossil Centre in Duntroon and learnt about the fossils found in the 20-30 million year old sand stone cliffs in the area. Then we went to the blacksmith demonstration. The lady was the blacksmith and the man operated the bellows.
These are some of the sandstone cliffs we saw.
A final photo showing what a great day it was. The contraption in the middle of the photo is a centre pivot irrigation system.
Oamaru-Dunedin
24th July
Today we start with a walking tour of Oamaru after a visit to the lookout overlooking the town.
Here was an opportunity to photograph our coach.
A few photos taken on the tour.
These are the Moeraki Boulders. They are calcite concretions formed about 65 million years ago. This was the day's lunch stop.
The view of Dunedin from Signal Hill.
Baldwin street in Dunedin. Officially the steepest residential street in the world.
Dunedin
25th July
The last day of the tour. These photos are of Olveston House. It was built for Mr David Theomin, fitted with all the latest conveniences: central heating, an internal telephone system, electricty, etc.
In the afternoon most of the group headed to the airport for their flights home. Colleen and I walked down to see Dunedin's impressive Railway Station which is purportedly the most photographed in New Zealand.
The weather was quite cold and so after having a quick look at the station we headed back to the hotel.
Dunedin
26th July
Our last day in Dunedin. Our flight is in the afternoon so we spent the morning at the Settlers Museum.
This photo is of a display of an accurate recreation of the steerage quarters of an immigrant sailing ship.
Here is a Cobb & Co. coach. In the 1860s the Cobb &Co. Coach line came over from Australia.