A central street passing through Cathedral square.

The cathedral is a Christchurch city's symbol.

Inside the cathedral.

A tram for tourists.

The International Antarctic Centre is located near Christchurch's main airport and is one of the world's most important base from where scientific expeditions depart for Antarctica. There is also a very interesting museum dedicated to the white continent and nobody loving Antarctica should miss it during a trip to New Zealand.

The reproduction of New Zealand's Scott base in Antarctica. One of the room is constantly kept at -8 centigrade and there is also a wind storm simulator.

An aquarium hosting a group of Little Blue Penguin, the world's smallest penguin. My visit matches the feeding time (lower-right picture).

A room in the museum.

Several dozens millions of year ago, the Antarctica was much warmer and shifted to the north. It was populated by trees, ferns, animals and dinosaurs. Several beautiful fossils, transported by glaciers and found by geologists along the coast, are stored in the museum.

This satellite antenna was used at the south pole during late '80s and early '90s. The antenna has survived, and did work, at temperatures sometimes reaching -90 degrees centigrade.

An aquarium with living fishes and invertebrates from Antarctica. On the left: samples of invertebrates found in Antarctica.

Hiking in the green areas in the center of Christchurch. Romantic gondola tours are available in the water channel around the downtown.

I stay at Charlie B's Backpackers, just a few minutes away from the Cathedral square.

PICTURES

CHRISTCHURCH <YOU ARE HERE>
18-19 November 2007

Christchurch can be considered the main access gate for a trip to New Zealand South Island. It is a beautiful city with many green parks and museums. The city hosts also the International Antarctic Centre, the main gateway to Antarctica for scientists and researchers.

FROM CHRISTCHURCH TO QUEENSTOWN
20 November 2007

A trip by bus from Christchurch to Queenstown offers beautiful views on the Southern Alps, mount Cook, lake Tekapo and lake Pukaki. GO.

MILFORD FROM QUEENSTOWN
21 November 2007

Milford sound is situated on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island and is a beautiful fjord with mountain sides falling straight into the ocean. Getting here by bus from Queenstown is a nice option, for the beauty of the scenery crossed during the 13 hours roundtrip. GO.

DUNEDIN AND THE SPIRIT OF ENDERBY
22-23 November 2007

From Queenstown I reach Dunedin by bus in about five hours. After a short city tour of Dunedin, I board the Spirit of Enderby, a russian cruise ship carrying 48 passengers, that is about to sail south to the sub-antarctic islands of New Zealand and Australia for the next 13 days. GO.

The Spirit of Enderby reaches The Snares (also called Snares Islands) early in the morning. Because of the unique ecosystem found on the island, with many endemic species not present in any other part of the world, it is not permitted to land on the island, but only to do a zodiac cruise along part of the coast. GO.

The Auckland archipelago is a group of New Zealand subantarctic islands, featured by an unique vegetation and fauna, including several endemic species that cannot be found elsewhere. During the cruise, we will visit Enderby and Auckland islands. GO.

Macquarie island, belonging to Australia and isolated from the rest of the world by thousands of kilometers of water in any direction, is the home for millions of penguins, including the endemic Royal penguin, as well elephant seals. The first landing is made at Sandy Bay. GO.

The exploration of Macquarie island continues, today with a landing in the australian ANARE scientific base and then with a zodiac cruise along Lusitania bay, where there is one of the largest King penguin colony of the world. GO.

Campbell island is the New Zealand's southernmost subantarctic territory and has a unique ecosystem, hosting more species than any other subantarctic island, except Crozet. There are six species of Albatross, the rare Hookerii sea lion, yellow eyed penguins and an unique flora. GO.