Like Queenstown, Christchurch has a gondola that takes visitors to the top of a local mountain, allowing them to enjoy views of the city and its surroundings. Having enjoyed our experience in Queenstown, we decided to try it here too. It was a mistake. The gondolas did get us to the top for a somewhat reasonable price, considering they have to maintain the observatory at the top, too. But that’s where everything falls apart. We were promised hiking trails at the top, but instead found paths that were overgrown and unlabeled, and no map.
We did try our hand at hiking a little, but stopped at the first lookout. We found that 33°C, 64% humidity, and next to no wind are ideal conditions for sweating. We barely walked 1 km total over something we wouldn't call a steep incline, and we were drenched in sweat. Clearly, a day of hiking in the sun was out of the question.
We decided that the weather was perfect for sitting on a terrace, drinking freshly brewed iced tea and reading a book and boy did we enjoy it! With a little more than 4 days left until we’re back to work, we’ll need all the relaxation we can get.
We found that it was really easy to eat great food in Christchurch. The selection of restaurants is abundant, and you can find specialized shops (like a cheesemonger with a walk-in fridge of local cheeses!). We’re clearly coming back with very happy bellies.
Tomorrow we take our first step in returning home by flying back to Auckland.