Leaving Timaru behind we made our final car journey along state highway 1 to Christchurch. Our journey to Christchurch passed over the longest bridge in New Zealand at Rakaia, a mere 1.8 kilometres in length over the Rakaia river. As we did so we could still see snow-capped mountain peaks faintly in the distance. We checked in at the hostel by 11:30 and drove out to Akaroa, in Banks Peninsula.
Akaroa is a pretty little harbour with French and British heritage. It also hosts many good eateries and Ian and I enjoyed a meal in a harbourside restaurant. Our visit to the Banks Peninsula didn't last for more than a couple of hours, yet it will remain a good memory of mine for the glorious sunshine that shone as we strolled around on the promenade. It was 26 degrees in the shade which is a big difference to the weather we have recently endured on the south cost of the South Island. There was a notice pinned on the pier warning people that a 5 metre long grey pointer shark had been spotted in the harbour and glancing at the bathers in the sea and the families on the beach reminded me of a scene from 'Jaws'. After all, 5 metres is quite big...
Driving over the Gebbies Pass to Lyttelton seemed a bit of a waste of time as our first impressions of Lyttelton were of a big rusty working port, a far cry from the beautiful small harbour of Akaroa. So we made a hasty departure back to Christchurch via a 1.8 kilometre tunnel.
We arrived back late afternoon, having travelled a total of 342 kilometres today, and strolled in to the city centre in search of cyber cafes and eateries, a FedEx mailbox centre and a card shop. We stumbled across plenty of shops and some cyber cafes that will satisfy our needs, well most, at a reasonable price.
Now for a little rest before we go out again for our last supper this year!
We had our final bottle of Esk Valley Merlot Cabernet 2001 with a curry from Indian Cottage. We could hear bagpipes playing somewhere in the street outside.
Shortly before 23:00 we ventured in to a cafe/bar and had a beer before making our way to Cathedral Square to join in the countdown to the New Year.
Live music was playing in the Square and there was a high presence of uniformed police officers and security checks were in progress, including a bag search and the smelling of carbonated drinks bottles for alcohol. Ian and I waltzed through.
At the stroke of midnight I allowed a tear to form in my eye as the church bells rang and I thought of my family and grandparents at the sound of Auld Lang Syne.
On our return to the hostel I was asked by a passenger in a car to pass her the decoration from the lamppost, 'Please, please, please, please, please!' I gladly ripped the said decoration from its attachment and passed it to her, smiling. 'Thank you so much!' came the response, 'Happy New Year!' she screamed at me! I walked on smiling.
At 00:30 I received a text message from Mum back home wishing me a Happy New Year. Nothing goes by unnoticed by Mum, even at a distance of 20,000 kilometres and a time difference of 13 hours!