Nancy had the opportunity to visit Willowbank Sanctuary to glimpse the native (of course, endangered) Kiwi bird. They are nocturnal, and so are housed in a special Kiwi habitat enclosure where they think night is day and day is night so we can see them (after our eyes are adjusted to the dark). No flashes were allowed (of course), so instead a curious ostrich (a non-native) stood in for the photo op.
In Christchurch, we were booked at the Windsor Hotel - a fabulous B&B rather than the conference hotel. This was older, full of charm, wonderfully friendly and information-filled owners and tremendous breakie!
Every room even came with hot water bottles!
They must think it gets cold here!
NZ sheep - these guys are EVERYWHERE!
Fabulous gardens and old buildings -this is some official city building...
Once I was done with conferencing, we headed
out to the Banks Peninsula. Once again we are perched on the rim of an old volcano, this one submerged! We keep c close eye out for steam plumes, ash bombs, debris flows and other indications of impending doom. But this is NZ and things are pretty darn peaceful."Volcanic activity between 11 and 6 million years ago led to the formation of two overlapping volcanic cones. After this activity ceased, the volcanic complex became eroded to half its original height, and deep valleys formed. The present harbours at Akaroa and Lyttelton were formed when the valleys were flooded as the sea level rose to its present height about 6,000 years ago. (http://www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/Geology/GeologyOverview/7/ENZ-Resources/Standard/4/en)
An amazing pebble beach on the Kaitorete Spit. Steep beach face, cold water!! Hey, is that "the Ice" (Antarctica) over there on the horizon?)
Nancy found another wonderful backpacker accommodation in Barry's Bay. The Halfmoon Cottage is not like any backpacking facility I have ever seen! It too comes with.......
It is really amazing to realize how much noise we live with until you go somewhere where there are so few cars. You can hear the wind, and the birds singing, and the bugs buzzing (maybe even the bees...).
This place is somehow grounded in normal things, somehow real. Very different than the GC.
(Nancy on her morning run out onto the Onawe Island (Peninsula .. you better be done before high tide or it IS an island!)
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