New Zealand: More Christchurch

The compact CBD (Central Business District) of Christchurch was pretty lively during the day and not so much at night. That may change when the new One New Zealand Stadium opens this year. First below is a photo looking down the Cashel Street Pedestrian Mall towards the Stadium.



Also, since Christchurch was the final destination on this trip, I've included (at the end of this post) a video and some photos of the long flight home from Christchurch to Sydney to Vancouver to Toronto to Raleigh. Note that on our last night in NZ, in order to simplify getting to the airport for our 6:10 am flight, we slept at the Lylo Hostel, near a bus stop and just 10 (well-marked, lit, and partially covered) minutes on foot from the airport. Thank you Lylo!



Here are some photos from our night walk past the Convention Center, the Public Trust building, the Art Gallery (EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT), the Project ARK rebuild of Noah's Hotel, and the Bridge of Remembrance.










And lastly it's George and Sally "Dancing Across a Giant Piano" in the Ballantynes 2025 Christmas Window.


We visited the Christchurch Art Gallery and saw some good stuff like "Ara I Te Uru" by Maori artist Israel Tangaroa Birch...


... And an exhibition of paintings by New Zealand Modernist artist Raymond McIntyre: "Self Portrait" and "Ruth" below.




"Happy Spinners" by Olivia Spencer Bower


First Below: Video of the takeoff in Christchurch. Second Below: Video of flying over Sydney before landing.




Waimakariri River just north of Christchurch




Sydney Harbour.


Our Air Canada flight lands in Toronto.