Farewell NZ

Beautiful Lake Tekapo

When we left Lake Tekapo to go to Geraldine and the pristine nearby Peel Forest we also left the beautiful, rugged MacKenzie Basin behind and found ourselves back in more densly populated farmland. We had a very relaxing day in the forest, taking short walks to giant trees ( though not as giant as our old friend Tane Mahuta up north) and to nice little waterfalls (though not as nice as on the west coast) and going for a work out swim in Geraldine's cute pool (this was really the best pool we've been to in all of NZ - but it was also the only one).

After this it was time to say goodbye to Rolf. After 42 awesome days and about 7500 km we dropped him off in Christchurch, where we stayed for a couple of nights. Boy it was weird to be back in a hostel, having to carry around all our luggage all the time...What a great luxury a Campervan can be!
In Christchurch we stayed in the newly reopened YHA very close to the city centre. After the devastating and deadly earthquakes from February 2011 most of the centre is still a ghost town. It is closed for the public and everything is spooky quiet around this huge area. One can see the badly damaged buildings, cracks in the ground, offices and homes that were left in a hurry, clocks that still show the time of the quake.

Collapsed Christchurch Cathedral

Windows are broken, posters still promote events from early 2011, the once beautiful cathedral is left destroyed. To walk along the fences and catch these glimpses of the no-go zone gives you shivers and you can't help but feel pity for the Christchurchers. But walk around the next corner and your pity turns into respect when you see what all they have done and keep doing to get back on their feed and into a new future. The Re:Start area is only one of many examples: Colourful shipping containers make up a whole new quarter next to the centre with heaps of shops, cafes, nice restaurants, libraries, free internet etc. Next door, the centre is slowly being rebuilt after great new plans that include research, medical, museum, sports and many other quarters. Step by step the city centre will be reopened this way, and hopefully life will come back to it.

Since life isn't there quite yet, we spent most of our time in the Botanic Garden and wandering along the Avon River. We spent a great sunny Sunday afternoon in the park together with thousands of Christchurchers at the 'Lazy Sunday Picnic at the Gardens'. A great band performed super music, families sat on the lawn listening and enjoying a picnic, kids played in the trees, teenagers hung out with their friends and we just sat in the middle of it all and enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere (and the best chocolate-orange muffin ever).
After some very relaxing days in Christchurch we started our lengthy farewell from NZ by boarding a plane back to Auckland where our trip (at least this part of it) started many great weeks ago. We spent a day there running errands and sitting in an internet cafe to finally let people know what NZ looks like. We definitely needed that day of nothing touristy whatsoever.
And then, very early the next morning, we took the second and final step to leaving a wonderful little country behind and boarded our flight back to the tropics. Australia here we come.