Welcome to New Zealand!

Excited and full of adventure we touched down in Christchurch, New Zealand. The view from the plane was stunning as we flew over snow capped mountains and Christchurch is the perfect base for heading out to the hills. We are staying with friends Ruth & Neil for a few days and getting an excellent introduction to the country and plenty of ideas for exploring it via a few glasses of New Zealand wine and beer!

On our way from the airport to our friends house there was evidence of the two big earthquakes Christchurch has experienced this year. Barely a house is unaffected and many were completely destroyed. Ruth and Neil were lucky with their timber house, but it still needs lifting up and the foundations relaying. It is hard to imagine what it must have been like for the people here.