August 2009
And here’s the South Island …. I didn’t get to visit the South Island while in New Zealand, but I hope to do so next time! Look at the mountain range there! The southwestern side of the South Island is also where they’ve had those pretty big earthquakes recently. From the back, “Separated from the more populous North Island by Cook Strait, which is some 23km [about 14.3 miles] across at its narrowest point, the South Island is world-famous for the beauty and grandeur of its scenery.”
This is the third postcard in the series, showing the Canterbury region and Christchurch, where my sister visited recently. I love all the extra detail on this map, and how it shows the area represented in the box at upper right. See Mt. Cook there in the background? It is NZ’s highest peak. I want to visit here! From the back: “Noted for its sheep, grain and mixed farming, Canterbury is bounded by the magnificent Southern Alps in the west and by the Pacific Ocean in the east. Its plains constitute the greatest expanse of flat land in New Zealand. Fewer than 1,000 Maoris inhabited the area when the original European settlers arrived in the early 1840s.”
Another lovely view — my sister also sent links to photos she took of this very pretty river. Looks like a lovely spot for a picnic! From the back: “Named after a river in County Ayrshire, Scotland, the Avon River is bordered by trees and flowers and is very popular for punting.” I guess punting is … rugby?
I love public sculpture .. and this one is awesome! My sister sent a photo she took of it, so I am doubly glad to have a postcard of this image! From the back: “The Cathedral and the Chalice provide a contrast of the old and the new in the centre of Christchurch’s Cathedral Square.”