Christchurch reminded us of the lovely city of Cambridge, one of the “must see” places on our big OE last year. The fine old stone university buildings set around a quadrangle tell of earlier times. And is not punting on the Cam, but rather punting on the River Avon. The willow lined river meanders through the city.
Punting on the Avon
No visit to Christchurch is complete without a tour of the Cathedral, set in the middle of the aptly named Cathedral Square. In 1850 the new settlers dreamed of a city built around a central cathedral and college, following the English model of Christ Church, Oxford. In 1881, the nave or main body of the cathedral was completed and opened amid city-wide celebrations. However, it was not until 1904 that the cathedral was finally completed.
The cathedral doorway
A beautiful wall hanging behind the altar
Sunshine filtered though a lovely stain glass window and the cathedral tiled floor is echoed in the large tiled mosaics which line the walls. As a acknowledgment of living in a new land, there are some woven Maori Tuki Tuki panels on the walls.
There was an option to climb the tower for a small charge. Luckily for Robin the morning was so foggy we would not have seen anything at all from the tower. He does not have a head for heights so the weather was an easy way out for him.
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