November 24: Christchurch to Lake Tekapo

We spent the first part of the morning at the Margaret Mahey family playground, a child’s veritable paradise situated beside the Avon River. Besides the usual slides and swings, the park contained a spider swing, a water park area, and a zip line. Jake immediately gravitated toward the zip line while the girls dragged Brent to the spider swing. 

After spending an hour or so at the playground, we headed outside the city to the Orana Wildlife Park. If the Margaret Mahey playground was a child’s paradise, the Orana Wildlife Park, when compared to most zoos, would be a captive animal’s dream. Each enclosure was quite large, giving the animals lots of room to roam. We were able to watch or participate in a number of feedings: from farm animals to kiwis, lions, and giraffes. The giraffes were the most fun as we were actually able to participate in the feeding.

The rest of the day was spent traveling to Lake Tekapo, a picturesque lake nestled up against New Zealand’s Southern Alps.

Sylvia zip lining 










Up close and personal with this big cat



Lake Tekapo in the evening light






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