Christina’s Journey Journal

Tag: Bridge of Remembrance

  • Exploring Christchurch, New Zealand 🇳🇿, March 29, 2026 (Sunday)

    Exploring Christchurch, New Zealand 🇳🇿, March 29, 2026 (Sunday)

    Today was the day that Brendan and I went our separate ways. He’s here for another 6 days and I leave tomorrow from Auckland. Therefore, after he left to drive to Kaikoura, I explored Christchurch in the daylight before flying back to Auckland.

    Here are the top 10 things that I learned and enjoyed about this inviting city:

    1️⃣ Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island and second largest in New Zealand with 407,000 people and 556,000 in the metropolitan area.

    2️⃣ It’s been an Antarctic gateway since 1901 (of special interest to me!)

    3️⃣ Christchurch suffered a series of earthquakes starting on September 2010, with the worst occurring on February 22, 2011. 185 people were killed and thousands of buildings suffered severe damage. Many of the central city’s building collapsed, and there are still rebuilding projects happening today.

    While this wasn’t New Zealand’s largest earthquake, it was devastating due to a perfect storm: middle of a work day, struck right under the city, the ground itself failed, older buildings were not designed to withstand earthquakes due to unreinforced masonry (stone/brick), and the aftershocks continued to weaken the structures.

    4️⃣ Because of the earthquake, the city is a blend of old and new with historic stone buildings standing alongside modern architecture, all stitched together with art, great food, and a sense of reinvention after the earthquake.

    The Chalice Sculpture from 2001 with the former Chief Post Office from 1879. Both are located in Cathedral Square.
    One.NZ Stadium will open this year. It’s a multi-purpose arena that features a fixed roof and seats up to 36,000 people.

    5️⃣ I hopped on-off the tram to learn more about this incredible city centre.

    The Tram, which goes to 18 different stops throughout the city centre.

    6️⃣ The focal point is the Christchurch Cathedral which stands in the heart of the city. It suffered tremendously after the earthquake and was closed.

    Today it’s part ruin, part rebuild, and a powerful reminder of everything this place has been through and where it’s going.

    They had an option to demolish it or refurbished it. The city chose to refurbish it, but it’s been far more expensive than originally thought. They didn’t exactly run out of money, but the rebuild got so expensive that funding couldn’t keep up, so the project had to pause. Now it’s being reworked in stages to with construction expected to restart and an aim for partial reopening by ~2030.

    The face of the cathedral is a fake façade (a printed version). This is how it looked and how it’s going to look when finish.

    7️⃣ The Cardboard Cathedral (Transitional Cathedral) —They didn’t have a working church after the earthquake in 2011 and the city needed a temporary home for worship and bringing to people back together.

    Japanese architect, Shigeru Ban, is known for using unconventional materials (like cardboard) in disaster zones and designed a cardboard church!

    Built in 2013, it’s made with 98 massive cardboard tubes that have been reinforced with both timber and steel. It’s a A-frame and built to last 50+ years.

    It’s also water and fire resistant.

    I could not go inside as there was a worship in progress but I did walk around it and could see how it’s a symbol of creativity after disaster.

    The Cardboard Cathedral

    8️⃣ The murals are incredible! These are also a result of the earthquake in 2011. Christchurch doesn’t hide its rebuild, it paints it. From native birds to faces of locals, these blank walls tell stories of resilience, creativity, and starting over.

    9️⃣ The food. Wow.

    In less than two days, Christchurch completely delivered (see last night’s dinner under post from yesterday). Today I wandered through Riverside Market and sampled local cheeses (thank you, Charring Cross Cheesery!). This city takes its food seriously.

    Then I found it—the holy grail of gluten-free pastries.

    An entire case, all GF (yes, really), and I just stood there trying to decide where to begin. If you’re gluten-free, you already know…this was a moment.

    Sweet Revenge in Riverside Market. I had their cookie/chocolate slice!

    🔟 I found a rock and crystal shop! It’s always a good day when I can look at rocks!

    Hettie’s Rock & Crystal Shop

    BONUS: Walking along the Avon River and exploring! Peaceful.🌿

    The Bridge of Remembrance

    There are so many different things I saw, tasted, admired…but I didn’t do it all, which means I will have to come back!

  • From the Mountains to New Regent Street – Christchurch, New Zealand 🇳🇿, March 28, 2026 (Saturday)

    From the Mountains to New Regent Street – Christchurch, New Zealand 🇳🇿, March 28, 2026 (Saturday)

    We woke up this morning at The Hermitage Hotel to something we hadn’t seen in two days—sun☀️! And just like that, there it was…Aoraki / Mount Cook, finally showing off after being completely hidden behind rain and clouds. Worth every bit of the wait.

    Good morning, Aoraki / Mount Cook (view from The Hermitage Hotel).

    We took our time leaving (hard not to), then hit the road to Christchurch. What should’ve been a shorter drive turned into 5½ hours with all the stops. And honestly, that’s the only way to do it.

    Back along Lake Pukaki, the water was still that signature glacial blue—but without full sun, it wasn’t as turquoise.

    Taking a picture of Brendan, who is taking a picture of Lake Pukaki.
    Aoraki Mount Cook breaks through the clouds.

    We continued on to Lake Tekapo, where the same thing held true—those unreal blues, just a touch softer under the clouds.

    Lake Tekapo is another glacial lake on the South Island. This area is part of a Dark Sky Reserve. I wish we could have hung around for stargazing 🔭 as they say it’s one of the best spots in the world.
    The Church of the Good Shepherd was build in 1935 as a tribute to the early settlers of the Mackenzie Basin and named after the sheepdogs that helped these early farmers survive the harsh winters. It was designed to blend into the landscape as it sits on the edge of Lake Tekapo with the Southern Alps in the background.
    While no pictures are allowed inside, there is a large window that frames the lake and mountains instead of a traditional altar. The church is still in use today, with two weddings coming up (according to the tour guide). The one guide sang Amazing Grace for us and then she and her husband sang a Māori blessing song.
    The walking bridge with Lake Tepako. Behind where I am standing is one of the most interesting public restrooms I have ever been to. The door slides open and then locks by pressing a button. And, the toilet doesn’t flush until the water turns on to wash your hands.
    This is how blue the water is when the sun is out ☀️!

    Continuing on our day trip, we made the essential stop at Fairlie Bakehouse—famous for their pies. I even had a gluten free one!

    We made it to Christchurch around 4:30 pm (16:30), checked into our hotel, and then went out walking. We ended up on New Regent Street to start.

    Brendan standing on New Regent Street Precinct, which was built in the 1930s with a Spanish Mission architecture. The pastel-colored street is lined with bars, restaurants and shops. A tram runs down the street. It’s said this is the most beautiful street in all of New Zealand 🩵💛💜💚

    Dinner at Gin Gin was small plates of tapas. And we desserted at another gelato 🍧 shop called Rollickin’ Gelato, because apparently this is now a nightly ritual that needs to end soon or I may turn into Hokey Pokey ice cream!

    A raspberry mojito mocktail and a coffee martini at Gin Gin

    We tried to walk it off by taking in some of the city’s landmarks and sights—ChristChurch Cathedral, The Bridge of Remembrance, the Chalice Sculpture, Cathedral Square, Avon River, the City Tram, Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial, Riverside Market, etc. I will write more about the city itself after I spend more time here tomorrow.

    The Cathedral (under re-construction after the 2011 earthquake)
    The Bridge of Remembrance – A War Memorial in 1923 to honor the sacrifice of the servicemen and women of two World Wars, plus conflicts in Korea, Malaya, Borneo, and Vietnam.
    By sculptor, Neil Dawson, the Chalice celebrated the new millennium as well as the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Christchurch and Canterbury. It was officially lit on September 10, 2001, has been lit ever since at night.
    Love this mural!💙🩵
    Chief Post Office

    We had another amazing New Zealand day that started with finally seeing Aoraki and ended under the lights of Christchurch…with a lot of scenic stops (and sheep 🐑 ) in between.