Today is our last day as a tourist in Christchurch. Tomorrow we sort out and take the van back and the next day we fly homeward. Where have the 3 months gone? Last night we stood at our campsite talking to a young fellow from Germany until midnight. As a result we actually slept in and did not wake up until 9.
We decided that we wanted to go to the International Antarctic Center. At the introduction video we learned that the founder of this exhibition had been to the Antarctic three times and spend time trying to find a way to bring the experience to those who were not able to go the actual place. I have to say I was very impressed and that he did a great job.
We arrived at the time they were feeding the Blue Penguins so we hurried over to the location to watch (along with about 100 other people). Wow is all I can say. We nearly froze on Oamaru to watch the Blue Penguins come home and we were not able to take any pictures there. Here we were watching from an observation deck and listening to a commentator share information about the smallest penguins. From the below observation deck I could get pictures of them swimming and from the above ground observation deck we were able to take pictures of the penguins out of water.
We then headed over to the 4D Extreme theatre which would take us on a voyage to the Antarctic in just 11 minutes (real trip is about 20 days). The 4D EXTREME Theatre, features an exciting 3D movie with special 4D effects added. These include falling snow, water spray, wind, lighting, snow, bubbles complete with seat movement. The film we watched was Ice Voyage. Ice Voyage is the first 3D movie filmed in Antarctica. Ice Voyage took us on a cruise down to Antarctica, with unexpected excitement and adventure. Complete with 3D movie, moving seats, wind, water spray, bubbles and snow, Ice Voyage offered all the thrills and spills of any Antarctic Cruise.
Our next adventure was the Snow and Ice Experience. This safe all-weather indoor polar room is chilled to -5 degrees Celsius. Activities include a Slide down an icy slope, an ice cave, the wind chill machine reducing the temperature to -18 degrees celsius, and an Antarctic Storm that blows every 30 minutes. Warm jackets and overshoes are provided which was good since I arrived wearing shorts and sandals.
From this chilly experience we felt it was time to give the Hagglunds a test drive. We climbed aboard the amazing Hagglund genuine as-used-in-Antarctica all terrain vehicle. As we sat back, held on and experienced travelling across rough terrain in this unique and exciting machine! The aim is to simulate the same travelling conditions as scientists would experience riding in a Hagglund across the ice pack. It showcased the demanding capabilities of the Hagglund ATV. The outdoor adventure course is designed to put the Hagglund through its paces in a fun but very safe environment. We were taken out on an exhilarating ride over mounds, a crevasse, speeding across open ground and through a pond of water to display the Hagglund's amphibious capabilities.
We completed our visit by going through the Antarctic Gallery. The Gallery area is packed full of informative displays showcasing modern day Antarctica, including the Antarctic Treaty partners, the human impact on the continent, the wildlife and plant systems and Antarctica’s effect on the globe. It encourages ‘touching’ of most of the exhibits to ensure visitors experience Antarctica in a fun and interactive way.
We concluded our Antarctic journey with a 17 minute sound and light show "Beyond the Frozen Sunset". It follows a seasonal arc from sunset to sunrise, weaving in stunning footage shot by mounting a camera to the underside of a helicopter. The only sound was that of music as we soared and flowed along with the camera over the landscape.
We spent hours at the Centre and after we left we still had a bit of time to head off to a shopping centre to try to get our souvenirs. We found some, but we did not give ourselves enough time so tomorrow we will have to fit a bit more shopping in as we use our last full day in Christchurch to return the van and organize our luggage for the trip homeward.
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