Australia here the hines come !!

Once awake we all got ready and rang Air NZ for information whether the flight was still ok for the evening. We were told not to leave where we were and just stay put for now.

We had nothing in for breakfast as we thought it was our last day in NZ, so we headed to Sophie’s Cafe for a fry-up! Very nice it was too!!

After booking another night at the motel we walked into town to see if we could find any more information. We had a brief walk around the centre before chilling at Starbucks for a brew. Dad disappeared on the phone and returned with news the flights had been re-scheduled to the 6th May!! Luckily we’d booked the 6 berth Campervan, we might need all the beds!! Still in a daze and not quite believing what was happening, we boarded the Tram to take us around the Christchurch Sights.

After a very noisy first lap, we stayed on and were introduced to our driver ‘Ray’. He talked us around the town before stopping in Victoria Square because a car had parked on the tram lines. It was stopping all the trams going passed. We got talking to a well spoken English gentleman and came to the conclusion he was an ex-spy.

After 15 minutes waiting on the tram, we deserted Ray for the Vic and Whale Pub and enjoyed a pint. We walked in the direction of home and even stopped to watch the car being towed away by the tow truck..... all so very exciting!! After realising we were going the wrong way, we picked up the right road and not long after we were at the motel.

So strange to have us all sitting round, when Mum and Dad should be up in the air. Not quite sure how long it will be before the flights are open again. We can’t plan anything until we know what’s happening..... stuck in Christchurch!!



We awoke the next day and the news was on, nothing we didn’t know already though and not many improvements.

We had breakfast and walked into the centre for more information. Me and Ben had decided to head out of Christchurch and Mum and Dad were contemplating their next move.

We headed for the internet and priced up some flights and then enjoyed a brew on the square whilst chewing over some ideas. We wanted another visit to the Botanic Gardens, so used the Tram to get there. Nothing stopped us from getting anywhere on it, so we ended up where we wanted.

We had a little walk through and found a bench, we sat down in the sun and talked over ideas of Mum and Dad catching a flight to Oz to see Uncle Trevor!! Awesome news!! They would catch a flight from Christchurch to Brisbane. After an excited telephone call to Uncle Trevor and Auntie Joy, it was decided and we celebrated with some lovely lunch in the church gardens. Very nice it was too!!

We jumped on the Tram for a few stops and walked the rest of the way home.

We managed to find the internet in a Backpackers next door, so me and Ben have booked our first bus trip to Kaikoura, see if we can spot some more wildlife than last time!! Mum and Ben have just gone to book their flights to Brisbane tomorrow, so fingers crossed that all works out for them!! Fingers crossed for the Blackwell’s though, they might not get here!!! Bloody volcano’s aye?!!!!!

Yey, visa’s booked, tickets booked ....... Mum and Dad are off to Brisbane tomorrow !!!!! To celebrate it was off to the supermarket and jacket tatties for tea. Me and Ben sorted out our bags for an early start tomorrow.