Following my turbulent journey to the ferry, I had 3 hours to relax and calm down. It's been a week since I arrived and I wanted to share my initial thoughts on the South Island.
Table of Contents
Kaikoura
Once I completed the pleasant trip across the stormy Cook Strait, my intention was to head to Nelson and drive along the west coast initially. Due to my job, I ended up in Christchurch and the east coast. Once I finished my laundry in Blenheim, the sunny town in the South Island, I made my way to Kaikoura. Here, you'll come across albatrosses, dolphins, and whales, with a unique chance to swim with dolphins. I didn't see any of them because I'm cautious about my expenses. Perhaps I'll catch up, eventually. After two nights, I finally reached the promising city of Christchurch.
Christchurch
Contrary to my negative opinion of New Zealand's cities, Christchurch actually surprised me. While mainly residential areas are connected, the city center isn't exclusively designed for cars. There are one-way streets that make sense and surprisingly, pedestrian-only zones exist too! For the first time on my trip through New Zealand. Once again, the main roads are plagued with excessive traffic lights, leading to unavoidable traffic congestion. Despite that, the city is remarkably peaceful, and you can easily walk to any destination.
Due to the 2011 earthquake, a significant portion of Christchurch remains a construction site. Only fragments of the old Victorian town remain, but the new buildings have been carefully planned and will provide an excellent living environment for me. I obtained a job through an agency, and the contract essentially lasts for three months. I work at Citycare Water to keep the rivers clean, so I will be mowing the banks, cutting branches and also standing in the river to keep it clean. Already I’ve located a room just 7 km from my workplace. You can work a regular 40-hour week, with the chance to work on Saturdays. However, I will most likely be going somewhere over the weekend. I'm eager to see how the working attitude in New Zealand differs, considering that during the interview, I only engaged in small talk and briefly mentioned my military service.
Akaroa
I visited Akaroa over the weekend, the sole French settlement in New Zealand. Once again, there is a chance to take a tourist drive on the way there, and of course, I chose to do it. Instead of following the coastline, you take a scenic drive along the ancient volcanic ridges. Throughout the journey, you'll have a fantastic view of both bays until you reach Akaroa. This small settlement played a crucial role in historic New Zealand, as it specialized in textile manufacturing and fishing. Nowadays it is an absolute tourist magnet and although it is still low season, almost all the parking spaces were full at lunchtime.
Future Plans
During my 3 months of work, I will call Christchurch my home. I'm eager to witness the transformation of my English and German language abilities. I'm looking for anything within a 3-4 hour drive. In February, I will be able to continue and wrap up my New Zealand journey. I have a few more Great Walks to check off my list. In the next 3 months, I will definitely undergo the most change.
The first impression of the South Island is very good.
As always you can view more pictures in the gallery.
