GARDEN CITY RE-START

We felt a little apprehensive about visiting Christchurch, the Garden City.  Not because we were fearful of a recurrence of the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011 or even a minor aftershock.  We just weren’t sure if it was right to be gawping at the damage.

On balance, we felt that tourism had been important to Christchurch before it was struck and so perhaps it was important in helping the recovery.  We set off for the city centre from our base within the northern part of the city by public transport.

Whilst we knew from the headlines that many of the picturesque buildings, such as the Cathedral, had been badly damaged, we were not prepared for what we found.  Fond memories of the city’s layout from our previous visit were dulled by the passing of fifteen years, but even so it was barely recognisable.  The scale of destruction was far greater than we had thought.  Whilst most streets were now open, whole blocks have been torn down and new foundations were being prepared.  Meanwhile countless other blocks were boarded up behind security fences whilst they waited their turn.  For a central business district we found few people around and wondered where all the jobs were now.

Cathedral Square

The rebuild of the historic Arts Centre was well underway but behind the temporary steel buttresses it is easy to see precarious masonry and distorted window reveals.  The iconic trams are at least running again but on a much reduced circuit.

Rebuilding the Arts Centre

Christchurch's Iconic Trams 

It was all quite upsetting, and in the increasing heat we headed to the Botanic Gardens to find something easier on the eye and some shade.  But even here all the original buildings such as the café, bandstand and glasshouse were closed due to earthquake damage.

Botanic Gardens

Back in town we had lunch from a pop-up restaurant as we felt we were supporting the entrepreneurs who were making the best of their lot.  And it was a great lunch too!

Pop-Up Restaurant

We then had to escape the city and head to the Gondola on Port Hills, part of the volcanic crater rim that overlooks Christchurch and Lyttleton.

View of Lyttleton Harbour from the top of Port Hills

We admire the optimism and determination of all those involved in the Re-start project.  The aftermath of the earthquakes must have been truly heartbreaking. Clearly there is so much still to be done but tangible progress is being made.  We wish Christchurch well.

Pop-Up Mall