The intent this morning when we departed Hokitika by motor coach, was to go back to Christchurch fly to Queenstown, New Zealand. Along the way we stopped at Arthur’s Pass and the quirky Otria Stagecoach Hotel. Just like the stations we found in the middle of nowhere in Australia, this hotel/bar/restaurant/anything place was very interesting. There was again great scenery going back through the Alps of the South Island. When we stopped to check out the Otira Stagecoach Hotel we found out our flight to Queenstown was cancelled and we were rebooked into a much later flight.

While our Trip Leader was working her magic, we explored Glasgow Bridge over Avalanche Creek and had a coffee break. By the time we were back in the coach, we had a Plan B.  We went back to Christchurch to the Canterbury Museum Pop Up for a new yarn-based exhibit, called Wharenut Harikoa. Then we went downtown to the Bridge of Remembrance and found a school group singing Christmas carols. After a nice lunch in the Riverside Market, we caught up with our group to explore International Antarctic Centre where we learned about what it is like in the Antarctic. US C-130s from Station ANG base, near home, fly out of here and we were able to see one of their aircraft.

We finally boarded our plane in late afternoon and arrived in Queenstown in time for a late dinner.