Oh for the Aroma of Penguins....
Just a flying visit to Christchurch with today the only full day I have, so hiking, biking and beach is out, sightseeing close to town it will have to be! hopefully I can visit a couple of attractions, the New Zealand Airforce Museum at the former Wigram Airbase and the Antarctic Centre located out by the International Airport - actually, that could turn into 3 attractions!
ATW to the bus station looks to be quite a hike according to the city map. Its located far-side of the red zone, I guess about 30 minutes, better got a move on. Shortest route, back through the Red Zone, along the Avon river and its somewhere on the left. Brand new station with brand new bus's, it's all pretty slick with plenty of information and in plain English. Bus 5 or 81 stops at Wigram, it's 1.50 UK Pounds and if I re-board within 2 hours the return journey is free. Next bus in 20 minutes according to the electronic sign at the stand.
20 minutes along wide, tree-lined boulevards and there it is - well, the sign at least, the actual entrance to the place is nowhere to be seen. A few left turns into a housing estate and a familiar looking building on the right, reminiscent of an old airbase gatehouse or maybe an officers mess. A brand new purpose built exhibition centre houses this rather small collection of old aeroplanes - free to get in though. Some old jets displayed in a new hall but sadly all the other planes are in a dark, lowly lit hangar making getting and decent photos quite difficult. Visitors with plenty of time can spend a few hours here reading plates and information attached to walls. A look at the planes takes about 20 minutes and for $5 spend 10 minutes tryingg shoot down enemy planes on a computer game, sold as a Mosquito flight simulator, well, the cockpit does look quite authentic. A nice hour here actually, and I can make the bus back for free!
Next, the Antarctic Centre, a must see according to Auntie. They have a free bus from the tourist information centre at the Botanical Gardens - another 30 minute hike from the bus station. The Penguin express, a brightly coloured small bus on which its just me. Along wide tree-lined boulevards towards the airport, 25 minutes and the bus pulls into the centre.
$35 NZD to see most of it, add another $25 NZD to see a 4D movie and ride around on a snow tractor.
$35 NZD paid over and on into a synthetic recreation of the Scott Base. Plenty to read on the walls, a host of artifacts to look at. Then onto the penguin pool and it is quite, well, smelly to say the least. A few minutes here watching those little birds jump from rock to rock. Next, its a movie all about life on Antarctica and moving on to the cold box also known as the storm room. Apparently, this is where visitors can gain experience on whats its like to be in the midst of a storm on the Antarctic. Its pretty cold in here and the staff are handing out thick coats. Cold enough to snow, I hope so since I've missed all the snow in Britain this year!
Well, here we go. The lights flicker and dim as a crack of thunder is played over a loud speaker. The 2 ceiling fans stir into action as the sound of a fierce wind is played - gets a bit colder but basically thats it, no snow! oh well, glad to get out into the warm again.
Well, the best thing about this place is the airport opposite where on the ramp is parked an Antarctic transport plane of the USAF. A hike over to the passenger terminal for a look around and watch a few planes - killing time before the bus back.
Another grossly over priced attraction in my opinion. The place is essentially a museum and if were not for the penguins then a big thumbs down from me. Leaving here not particularly satisfied, not unsatisfied either.
Just a flying visit to Christchurch with today the only full day I have, so hiking, biking and beach is out, sightseeing close to town it will have to be! hopefully I can visit a couple of attractions, the New Zealand Airforce Museum at the former Wigram Airbase and the Antarctic Centre located out by the International Airport - actually, that could turn into 3 attractions!
ATW to the bus station looks to be quite a hike according to the city map. Its located far-side of the red zone, I guess about 30 minutes, better got a move on. Shortest route, back through the Red Zone, along the Avon river and its somewhere on the left. Brand new station with brand new bus's, it's all pretty slick with plenty of information and in plain English. Bus 5 or 81 stops at Wigram, it's 1.50 UK Pounds and if I re-board within 2 hours the return journey is free. Next bus in 20 minutes according to the electronic sign at the stand.
20 minutes along wide, tree-lined boulevards and there it is - well, the sign at least, the actual entrance to the place is nowhere to be seen. A few left turns into a housing estate and a familiar looking building on the right, reminiscent of an old airbase gatehouse or maybe an officers mess. A brand new purpose built exhibition centre houses this rather small collection of old aeroplanes - free to get in though. Some old jets displayed in a new hall but sadly all the other planes are in a dark, lowly lit hangar making getting and decent photos quite difficult. Visitors with plenty of time can spend a few hours here reading plates and information attached to walls. A look at the planes takes about 20 minutes and for $5 spend 10 minutes tryingg shoot down enemy planes on a computer game, sold as a Mosquito flight simulator, well, the cockpit does look quite authentic. A nice hour here actually, and I can make the bus back for free!
Next, the Antarctic Centre, a must see according to Auntie. They have a free bus from the tourist information centre at the Botanical Gardens - another 30 minute hike from the bus station. The Penguin express, a brightly coloured small bus on which its just me. Along wide tree-lined boulevards towards the airport, 25 minutes and the bus pulls into the centre.
$35 NZD to see most of it, add another $25 NZD to see a 4D movie and ride around on a snow tractor.
$35 NZD paid over and on into a synthetic recreation of the Scott Base. Plenty to read on the walls, a host of artifacts to look at. Then onto the penguin pool and it is quite, well, smelly to say the least. A few minutes here watching those little birds jump from rock to rock. Next, its a movie all about life on Antarctica and moving on to the cold box also known as the storm room. Apparently, this is where visitors can gain experience on whats its like to be in the midst of a storm on the Antarctic. Its pretty cold in here and the staff are handing out thick coats. Cold enough to snow, I hope so since I've missed all the snow in Britain this year!
Well, here we go. The lights flicker and dim as a crack of thunder is played over a loud speaker. The 2 ceiling fans stir into action as the sound of a fierce wind is played - gets a bit colder but basically thats it, no snow! oh well, glad to get out into the warm again.
Well, the best thing about this place is the airport opposite where on the ramp is parked an Antarctic transport plane of the USAF. A hike over to the passenger terminal for a look around and watch a few planes - killing time before the bus back.
Another grossly over priced attraction in my opinion. The place is essentially a museum and if were not for the penguins then a big thumbs down from me. Leaving here not particularly satisfied, not unsatisfied either.
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