Lake Pukaki and Christchurch

Lake Pukaki

Driving to Christchurch, we passed Lake Pukaki, 178 square kilometres of water and another joy for cold water masochists because the Tasman River feeds it from the Tasman and Hooker Glaciers. It is also another primary source of hydroelectric power.

Allegedly, the lake has a stunning turquoise hue on a clear day. On the day we arrived, it had a grey veil of fog draped over its entire expanse.

The lake did eventually take on a lovely turquoise hue. We stopped a few kilometres down the road to take this photo. The colour is created by ‘glacial flour’ – fine grains of rock particles in the lake.

Christchurch

Initially inhabited by the Māori, who referred to it as Ōtautahi, the city was renamed Christchurch in 1856. The most likely explanation for the choice of name is that Christchurch College Oxford is the alma mater of many members of the Canterbury Association, formed in 1848 in England to establish a colony in New Zealand.

The 2010 Christchurch earthquake, which struck on September 4 with a magnitude of 7.1, caused substantial damage but miraculously resulted in no fatalities. However, the more destructive 6.3-magnitude earthquake that hit on February 22, 2011, claimed 185 lives and heavily damaged the city centre and eastern suburbs, including the iconic Christchurch Cathedral. Since then, the city has been in the process of healing and rebuilding.

We decided the best way to get around was to hop on the tour bus. We got our Uber driver to take us to the tram terminus, and after a quick breakfast at one of the cafes, we explored the city.

The work on Christchurch Cathedral is incredible, both from an engineering and cost perspective. It isn’t due to be finished by 2031, and the cost is estimated to be around NZD 248M.

Then, after we toured the city, it was time to return to the campsite and get everything packed away for the end of our campervan odyssey and our return to Whangarei.

Here’s a tip for any tight-wads thinking of starting a camping holiday in Christchurch: Book a night at the Tasman Holiday Park to stock up on free food. Many people stop here on their last night before flying home, leaving whatever they can’t take. There’s even dedicated space in the fridge for freebies. We saw that, in addition to fresh vegetables, people left behind beer, wine, and gin, so you can get your holiday party started next to nowt.