Raising Kiwis: To the Antarctic and Beyond

We left Hanmer Springs in hopes of another beautiful sunny day and we were certainly blessed with one.

I do love driving around the country, (well, actually Dave drives around the country) just snapping photos as the scenery whizzes past. Every once in a while I shout back at the kids to "Eat a nut. Look at the view" like Scaredy Squirrel. They perpetually read in the car now or use their 2 hours of screentime on their DS's. Once in awhile they pause to look around, but they've been spoilt for choice in the last year of sightseeing, so it needs to be pretty dramatic for them.

We followed a milk tanker for quite awhile. Kiwis generally hate travelling behind anyone, especially trucks. They are always eager to pass. We're a little different though. Our van couldn't have gone any faster whether we passed him or not.

And the truck puts the scale of Frog Rock into perspective nicely.

Close up: see the Frog??

We made it to Christchurch and headed straight for the Antarctic Centre. We brought Jackson here 6 years ago when he was 18 months old and really enjoyed it, so thought it worth the afternoon visit. The centre is near the airport terminal that they use routinely for flights to the Scott Base, NZ's representation in Antarctica. There are heaps of authentic artifacts and lots of hands-on things for the kiddos and great video footage and digital media displays.

Our family pass included a ride on a Haaglund, the purpose built vehicles used in Antarctica. Crazy bumpy, but it can go up steep inclines and the coolest feature is that it is semi-submersible! We floated along through a little pond and the water came up halfway around the vehicle.

They have a SNOW room! They give everyone coats and grippers for your shoes and set you loose. The boys enjoyed the ice slide and there was a small igloo / snow cave to shield you from the storm that comes every 30 minutes through the room and the wind machines turn it to -30C for a few minutes. It's been over a year since the kids played in the snow . . . we'll see if the "absence makes the heart grow fonder" excitement carries them through next February. I know mine won't.

Little Blue Penguins on display at the centre are rescued from the wild after injury etc around NZ.
They are super cute and a few days later we went to Omarua and watched the little blue penguins came ashore in the evening in their "rafts" and walk up the beach to their nesting grounds. It was so adorable. We stayed for a whole hour and saw 79 penguins. You may wonder why I'm talking about it now, but we weren't allowed to take photos, so when I do blog about it, it'll be somewhat lacking. They do make great chatter noises and squeeky chirps and calls to each other, louder than I expected.

4D movie time! Great footage of a team that travelled to Antactica: iceburgs, seals, emperor penguins, icicles falling at you, water squirting out, bubbles, wind and the seat moves etc. Xavier was in my lap, taking off his glasses and closing his eyes by the 2nd minute of the movie. "When is it going to be done Mommy? I don't like this kind of movie!"

Boys found a comfy spot to watch a tamer movie.
2 Cool Facts for U:
1. In Antarctica there are penguins but no polar bears.
2. It's also the driest place on earth.
3. 24 hour sun / 24 hour darkness at peak times of the year.