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Christchurch 1.-3.12. 2019

Undulating clouds over the Canterbury Plain.

These were once braided streams which can still be visible from the vegetation colour.

Christchurch is the largest city of the New Zealand's Southern Island.

New Zealand was colonised during the Victorian era. The statue is honouring this queen.

Floral clock without any flowers.

Ruins of the church of Christchurch. It was destroyed by 6.3-magnitude earthquake on February 2011, which killed 185 people.

They are planning to renovate the cathedral one day.

Statue of John Robert Godley that founded the Canterbury province, which is today's region of New Zealand.

The Chalice also known as Millennium Cone.0

Traditional wooden house in front of a more modern building.

"Because time's up" on the streets of Christchurch.

They are pushing tourists through Christchurch on Avon River on such boats.

Another way to drive tourists around.

Jet boat, bungy, rafting, ... I was not aware at that time what New Zealand's heavy tourism industry is about.

Watch out, flying cyclists.

Christchurch does not have only Christ's Church but also a Christ's College.

It is an Anglican, secondary, day and boarding school for boys.

A mural of skeleton of extinct moa holding not-extinct kiwi.

Peacock Fountain by the Canterbury Museum.

Through-the-park meandering Avon River.

Elm tree (Ulmus minor) that grew to everything but a minor size.

A new generation of ducks educated for begging.

Hagley Park. A hybrid between park, rugby pitch and golf course.

Native vegetation in the botanical garden. Can't wait to see a real one.

International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch.

This is where the SouthCOP pre-conference excursion started. Clothes for Antarctic expeditions are stored in the building behind. It contains gear worth several millions of euros.

American and Italian Antarctic programme have here there facilities beside the New Zealand's.

Conference organiser Megan Balks is presenting a model of New Zealand's Scott Base located on Ross Iceland.

We could try out their clothing.

Frajer and the clothing keeper, looking what is going on.

There is also a big facility for tourists with a wide range of adventurous activities.

Warning caterpillars.

The put us in Hägglunds Bandvagn, the same that they have in Longyearbyen.

Being tall is an evolutionary advantage. It comes handy to get a front seat, while others are squeezing behind :)

Driving over one metre wide "crevasse".

Bumpy snow simulator.

Steep road with a splash in the end.

Unloading passengers from the rear compartment after the ride.

A room with Antarctic snow storm simulator.

Those that were too cold went in to igloo.

There is no Antarctic without penguins.

Little blue penguins actually live in the New Zealand. One colony not far away from Christchurch.

3D cinema with chairs spitting water to your face in front of you.

More traditional part of the museum.