Napier Marine Parade, New Zealand

This is the beautiful walk right along the bay in Napier. Walk from the Information Center in both directions one takes you to the museum and the other take you down through the gardens to The Little Mermaid of Napier. This is certainly worth a leisurely walk…..and is a gorgeous walk.

Napier, speaking preparation, and Wellington

the Marine Parade is the beautiful walk right along the bay in Napier. Walk from the Information Center in both directions one takes you to the museum and the other take you down through the gardens to The Little Mermaid of Napier.

Today we will be talking about Napier.  We will talk a bit about the history of the area the city as it was leading up to the 1933 is quick a little about the earthquake itself then the rebuilding of the city the art deco revolution and then a bit about how it is today we will then talk about some local attractions and ways that you can most enjoy the city during your visit and we will then talk about some of the truest areas for shopping and souvenirs as well as some areas to just walk and enjoy the views and the location.I see my role as an information communicator In that travelers passengers people on the ship are interested in having a good time on their cruise line the patient my job is to help them enjoy their vacation more.Therefore I want to approach the job as one who and inform passengers about the port that they are about to enter and what they can do there what is interesting about the report and the city and the area around the port. I can do this by talking briefly about the history and background of the port city such as the background on not Pierre before the earthquake then a little about the earthquake then what has happened since the massive earthquake. Then I would transition to the port today mentioned something about the Commerce and the economy that is evident in the port and then move on to what to see and do in the port city. I would then cover the main tourist attractions such as the museums the train ride and Picton NZ in the cable car in Wellington the Cathedral and Wellington and the museums.Then I could wrap up with shopping areas and then the shuttle back to the ship and any other practical matters about the day.So it seems like I would put the presentation into three or four segments and announce this at the beginning the background and history the main attraction the shopping and truest areas and then the practical application getting on and off etc.

We had a great half day in Napier as we were there for the art deco weekend. This is an annual classic car and 1930’s weekend.  They expect 40,000 over the weekend.  Car folks come from all over to show the cars. Napier is a remarkable place with an exciting port and an unusual beautiful downtown area with almost all rebuilt since the massive earthquake in 1933.There are many places to visit including the completely rebuilt downtown areas but also the walk along the water is beautiful and with the trees and flowers right on the water it’s a very impressive area.The art deco Museum has is well worth it and has a short 20 minute presentation on what happened before and after the earthquake and what turned it into the place it is today.And across the street from the art deco museum is there history is him that has a downstairs exhibit featuring the earthquake with a 20 minute revolving film about stories from survivors. Both museums are well worth it and you can do both in about an hour.That shuttle takes you right to the Information Center and from there a lot of information about the four or five main streets with lots of shops and restaurants and bars.The aquarium is very well done and has some excellent exhibits but is about a 20 minute walk from the Information Center but again well worth it if you like aquariums. If you have limited time in the port city then it’s best to leave early as the shops will open about 9….As you leave the information Center you can walk up to Clive Square which is at the edge of the art deco area and then come back by the Cathedral which was completely destroyed and totally rebuilt very impressive with the wood and stucco and a nice of the earthquake and the organ is spectacular. In summary Napier is very much well worth the time     very impressive and rather amazing world wide to think that the city was totally destroyed and it’s been completely rebuilt. The earthquake museum really illustrate what the city went through and how they recovered in such a short time very well done.I think it is important to mention that if you do not want to have some fun why are you here that you are on vacation to have a good time emphasize that at every presentation.

So my job is to help you enjoy your vacation have some fun learn something about the area and just have a worthwhile time on your vacation. The purpose of my talk is to give you information that would help you enjoy your vacation more As we arrived in Napier this ship comes into the harbor and turns around and then is backed into the harbor pulled buy a tug and I have it on video free see the Navy chip in for watching us and as he watches we see the buses said to come along with Bertie and his old English sports car. It looks like and mg but we will find out for sure as he will greet us as we get off the ship

The amazing thing about this Harbor is that is very small and very close to the downtown area and the huge lumber activity as well as a huge story adjacent to where the ship is…

Today was a most interesting day in Wellington we have just pulled away from the doc and it was very interesting to see the tugboat help get us out of the doc area with these wins as strong as they are

Today we started by taking the shuttle into the center of town and then walked to the New Zealand museum for the Galilipo  show exhibit. It was outstanding. From there we walked back the little car and R rode the cable car to the top walked around at the top then road the cable car back down and walked to the building or the clock was b**** is an old bank building completely redone.We then walk down to the Beehive and the Parliament and the State Library then to the old Cathedral which was remarkable and then was all done in wood and was very very beautiful. We then walked by the railroad station stopped and had a McDonalds coffee and sweet then back to the shuttle.The thing about today that was worth remembering for the strong winds in downtown Wellington.

Wellington is a gorgeous remarkable modern sitting with this huge Harbor Bay area and very impressive with a lot to say and really too much for just one day

 

New Zealand….So far…

We have had 3 days and New Zealand and it has been very impressive

The Fjords were magnificent especially as the date cleared and we were able to appreciate the beauty of the second and third Fjords..Port Chalmers and Dunedin as equally as impressive with Dunedin showing its Presbyterian and Scottish background and traditions.

Not only are the communities of Port Chalmers and Dunedin impressive but Port Chalmers is very active and attractive town. Dunedin is a very beautiful area downtown with the railroad station and the cathedral being the two focal point. But there is a lot of shopping and a lot of tourist attractions so well worth 3 or 4 hours

The day in Christchurch so far has been a major attraction in that you see first hand evidence of what an earthquake can do and how a city can recover.

But the other part of the Christchurcharea is the drive over and back where you get to see the real beauty of the South island

 

Christchurch, New Zealand

The day  to Christchurch started off with a tender into the small port town of Arcola where we caught the bus for the one in a half hour drive to Christ Church       before the 2011 earthquake the cruise ship would come into a port about 20 minutes from the city center of Christchurch. Since the earthquake all of the cruise ships come into the port and are then bussed to for 75 kilometers into Christchurch.  The road goes along the water and then immediately heads up over the mountains on a very dramatic trip with magnificent views coming over the mountains and down into valleys and the flat plains that are extremely rich with Agriculture sheep cattle and orchards. As we started to approach Christ Church the driver started giving us more detail has to the earthquake and what transpired immediately after and then in the 7 years since.. initially the town look very normal and as we approach the downtown area we found that the epicenter of the quake was nearby and follow this straight line into the downtown Cathedral area. Then as we got downtown from started to see the buildings that have been ruined and it was very evident that the quick get some of the major buildings in the downtown area. What was done immediately was $0.02 off the entire downtown area that had been affected by the quake.  They then started a process of the evaluating the damage putting all building that were in the destroyed area into three categories yellow amber and red. Today there is a great deal of construction reconstruction repair and rehabilitation going on all over the downtown area. Much has been done in these 7 years almost to an amazing degree especially with Canterbury University buildings. The Cathedral

 

 

 

itself is there is still about 1 3 totally destroyed but they have not been able to repair the balance due to issues with the church and the city. We took the tram around the downtown area and it is a hop on hop off arrangement for about $20 a person and well worth it as it gives you a ride around the town. We had both coffee and lunch and buildings that have been hit and then repaired and are fine now.

 

After the tram ride we walked around the key Cathedral grounds and then back down to the museum and the museum was exceptional and definitely a must see. The Botanic Garden is adjacent and very beautiful and well maintained and in full-bloom today..

The photos show that destruction and the work this thing done to repair but also shows the construction on the new library as well as other downtown going areas that were hit by the earthquake

 

We met back at the bus at 3 for the 90 minutes ride back over the mountain into the port ..

and into the tenders

 

Christ Church should be a must see on any New Zealand trip and the drive is well worth it over them out as you get to see the real New Zealand farms keep cattle as well as the magnificent fields and varied agricultural programs going on in this part of the country.

 

This part of the world is unknown many but in reflecting back this is one of the most beautiful areas we have ever seen the people are very friendly they have a great outlook on life are hard working and they’re very very proud to be a newsletter

 

I think my talk on this part of New Zealand should be very practical on what you  should you do and see in the time that you have using a lot of photos.

 

 

Dunedin, New Zealand

Dunedin is a remarkable little city in that it is about 100000 people and then there are about $25,000 in the university we went in in the morning for a walk around got to see the railroad station the beautiful church octagon square and it was her a worthwhile and including going to Cadbury the railroad station is one of the most famous photo spots definitely a requirement when you’re in Dunedin. We came back to the ship for lunch then. On our tour bus took is to the Olveston house which is an old 1850 home builtby at least businessman that came here and it is a remarkable house and gardens and of course and rolls Fiat 1921 Potter so well worth it to go through the house it so it one of a number of towards that are offered but the oldest in house and tour is great. We then came back by the Dunedin Botanic Garden and if it were in bloom would be spectacular but according to one of the workers the lake heavy it heavy eat that they have recently almost killed a lot of the flowers and they’re just now coming back for their second blooming … and should last through early April.  We concluded the tour buy a nother drive thru to needing to see the downtown area and back to the ship the Scottish history of Dunedin is significant as easy as report childless and definitely a day when one of the two should be taking the railroad to repair it is quite good based on the brochures and is one of the options

 

Milford Sound, New Zealand

After a day at sea we are approaching Milford sound at 7 a.m. in the morning it is raining first impression is that Rihanna back and has appears of Norway with rapidly rising huge mountains and narrow waterways which would mean the same characteristic as the Fjords in Norway with very deep channels for the shipdto go up. We were also told last night that be yours in South America as you go towards and article are also very majestic like pigs the difference at this point with these years in Milford sound and Norway is no snow on the top of these at least that I can see now