It had been our intention to do a final post to the blog with our reflections of our three weeks in New Zealand. The news this morning about the earthquake in Christchurch has very much concentrated our minds. Our thoughts have to be with the people of the city and the terrible consequences of such a natural disaster.
It has been a very salutary thought for us both that if the earthquake had occurred exactly a week earlier, we would have been almost at the centre of the city. We are seeing on our TV screens the remains of buildings which we were admiring at that time, most specifically Christchurch Cathedral Tower, and recalling our thoughts about not having the time to climb it and how we would add it to our list of 'things to do' on the next visit.
And we will be going back. We have had an incredible holiday, seen places and done things that we could only have imagined doing before, met some wonderful and interesting people, travelled roads and byways that had surprises around every corner and relaxed and revived ourselves in one of the most beautiful countries on the globe.
There will be highs and lows to be remembered.
The highs; the Kauri Museum; Waimangu Thermal Valley; the Wellington to Picton Ferry; Wearable Art in Nelson; Whale watching; the Hokitika Gorge; Arthurs Pass.
The lows: Maui; Cyclone Wilma; State Highway 2 over Rimutaka Hill, North Island (although Sue loved this and said her worst low was feeling incredibly seasick whilst doing the whale-watching!)
As you will see, the 'highs' have it!
And we think the thing we shall remember most is the wonderful, warm and friendly Kiwis, who were always ready to do more than help, were interested to hear all about you and what you were doing and to send you on your way with recommendations and good advice.
We intend to spend much longer there on our return trip. We believe that eight weeks is potentially the minimum period. We feel we have had to rush many things, missed out on a number of places, not got 'into' the country as much as we would have liked and spent too little time wandering. But all this can be righted and the three weeks has given us a marvellous “taster” of life in NZ.
We hope you have enjoyed visiting New Zealand with us through this blog as much as we have enjoyed writing it and it is something we will have as our record of the trip to look back on in the months and years to come.
However, we have to end on a sombre note and are sure you will join with us in thinking of those people in Christchurch who are having to recover their lives and their city after the events of the last few hours. We wish them all the strength to carry on.
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