Plan for the day
This day was our very last day in New Zealand, south island. Our flight out of Christchurch was at 9 pm in the evening. Our plan was to leave Lake Tekapo at noon which would give us plentiful of time to reach Christchurch. The distance could be covered in less than three hours and our flight check in time was at 7 pm.
Route for the day
By end of the day
We spent the morning at the Church of Good Shepherd and then drove up the east side of the lake to explore. We left lake Tekapo at about 12.30 pm and reached Christchurch at 3.30 pm. The drive was very uneventful with nothing exciting at all. We reached Christchurch and roamed around town for an hour before driving to the airport, checked in and finally left Christchurch.
Morning at Church of Good Shepherd
This was another one of our many visits to the Church of the Good Shepherd. It was our fourth day at Lake Tekapo and we could not imagine leaving the lake without a final visit to it most iconic attraction. Today we were in for a surprise. The church door was opened!
We had been at the stone church many times and today was the first time its door was opened for visitors to enter into the church. Each time in the last three days when I visited the church, I could only stand outside its windows peering into the interior of the church.
Outside looking into the church interior
Though the glass window, I could see the cross, the pulpit and the many rows of benches. Today, for the first time, I stood on the opposite side of the window looking out. Wow, wow, wow! I was blown away by the scene in front of me.
In side the stone church looking out
My sight was filled with three lovely beautiful “living pictures”. The water surface was shimmering, the grass was wavering in the breeze and the clouds were drifting in the sky.
East side of the Lake
Before we finally left Lake Tekapo for good, we drove up the east side of the lake. At the lower end of the east side not very far from Tekapo Town was some kind of a park. The park was just along the lake, it was deserted probably because the lupin that grew on the bank of the lake was not as many or as beautiful as those that grew near the Church of the good Shepherd.
We drove on for some 15 km and took some photos of the snow mountains across the lake. The road were rough and unseal, there was no establishment in sights so we turned back.
Christchurch
We drove into Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island of New Zealand. We looped around the town center with no plan to visit any specific location. The thought was to stop if we we came upon an interesting place. Nothing attracted us, not enough to make us come down of our car to explore. Christchurch looked densely populated with its many buildings and parked cars. It was very unlike Queenstown where we saw many people moving on the streets, where we felt the vibrancy of human presence and sense their excitements. In contrast Christchurch town was like a lifeless concrete jungle.
Christchurch town center
The drove passed the Casino and Victory Clock Tower, it was about 3.30 pm and everywhere we went we did not see many people. Soon we got bore looping around the streets and headed for the airport.
Victoria Clock Tower and Casino of Christchurch
Preparing to Fly Out
After checking our bags and crossing the airport custom we headed for an airport lounge. One that would accept Priority Pass. We selected Manaia Lounge as it was not far from our boarding gate.
Christchurch Airport Manaia Lounge
Manaia Lounge was a well designed lounge. The sitting area was huge and cosy. The armchairs were very comfortable and they were placed in groups to allow privacy between groups of guests.
Cosy sitting area at Manaia Lounge
I walked over to the food table and was delighted to find wide varieties of food, fruits and beverages. We had a very restful time at the lounge till it was time to board our plane.
Food spread at Manaia Lounge