Christchurch and Akaroa

We've spent a couple of weeks in Christchurch with our friend, Annette, who has acted as a tour guide and has very kindly lent us her 4x4. She's given us a tour round town and to Akaroa to see the dolphins and taken us to her two drinking dens and we had no more than three wines. I've surfed two of the many beaches in and around Christchurch and yesterday Claire and I went for a mission to a place called Magnet Bay which involved going along a very narrow gravel track for about 5kms with a sheer drop into the sea on one side. I'm glad we were in a 4x4 and not a granny wagon! Nothing special to write home about on the surf front but it's always good to get wet. Although I'm a little nervous of surfing on my own with all the wildlife around.


Here's a few photos from our trips out:


The View from the top of the gondola in Christchurch looking over Lyttleton Harbour.


A Hector's Dolphin, the smallest dolphins in the world, only found in a few spots in New Zealand. We found some!


Claire and I on our 'chartered' boat to see the dolphins. We only paid for single tickets but we were the only people on the boat so we effectively chartered it. I think it sounds better. Photo courtesy of Annette Burston Tours Ltd.


Enjoying a beer in Hagley Park for the Classical Sparks concert. Some people were really kitted up bringing a full on picnic and sleeping bags. A couple of beers and some sushi was enough for me. Oh, and the granny blanket.