New Stadium and First Glimpses of Snow
Hello from the Southern Hemisphere – it’s me again. Before we dive in (and this time it’ll be much more photo-heavy than usual), I want to quickly answer a question we’ve been getting quite a lot since the last blog post. I had shared two german videos in my last german post – one about whether New Zealand is a good country to emigrate to (and for whom), and another about house building in New Zealand.
The big question was: did we know all of this beforehand? The answer is a clear yes. We felt like we read every book and watched every YouTube video out there about “moving to New Zealand.” So we had a pretty good idea of what we were getting ourselves into. Of course, there are still surprises along the way (yes, there’s no proper herbal tea!!!), but we were definitely aware of the big topics. So no worries 😉
So, what’s been happening lately?
First up, a real highlight for Christchurch: the new stadium, Te Kaha Stadium, officially opened last Friday. Construction cost around 683 million New Zealand dollars and took about four years – it began in 2021 after the old stadium was lost in the 2011 earthquake. For Christchurch, this is much more than just a sports venue: it’s a true symbol of the city’s rebuild and is expected to bring life, major events, and international attention back to the region. With a capacity of around 30,000 (even more for concerts), it will become the future home of the Crusaders. Major events and international acts have already been announced – and as experience shows, stadiums like this tend to attract everything from international rugby matches to global music stars. You can really feel it: the city is getting a piece of its heart back.
Another beautiful thing: now that temperatures are slowly dropping, we’re seeing the snow-covered Southern Alps especially clearly for the first time. And it’s pretty impressive – it instantly makes me think of enjoying Kaiserschmarrn on a sunny terrace at a ski hut. Even though we haven’t gone skiing much in recent years – we had almost written off this slightly “dying hobby” – New Zealand is making us rethink that. From where we live, you can reach the ski fields in about 1 hour and 15 minutes – for example, Mount Hutt or Porters Alpine Resort. From what we can tell, these areas are probably comparable to smaller ski resorts in Austria – more compact and perfect for a day trip, rather than huge interconnected areas like the Zillertal. But one thing already seems clear: the views here are on a whole different level. On a good day, you can apparently see all the way to the Pacific Ocean from some of the slopes. Skiing with an ocean view – that really makes you think twice… even if there won’t be any Germknödel or Kaiserschmarrn at the huts 😉
In the photos: the new stadium with the Port Hills in the background, and the view from the Port Hills across to the Southern Alps on the other side.
Between Remembrance and Summit Views
Last Saturday was ANZAC Day (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) – one of the most important days of remembrance here in New Zealand. On this day, people commemorate the soldiers who fought in World War I (especially in Gallipoli), as well as all those who served in later conflicts.
Many people start the day very early with so-called “dawn services” – remembrance ceremonies held at sunrise. Overall, there’s a very calm and respectful atmosphere across the entire country. In terms of public holidays, this wasn’t even the first one this year: after New Year’s, things continued in early February with Waitangi Day, the national day. Then came Good Friday and Easter Monday in April – and now ANZAC Day. What’s quite practical: if a public holiday falls on a weekend, it’s often simply “observed” on the following Monday. And before anyone in Germany gets too jealous 😉 – don’t forget: in New Zealand, four weeks of annual leave is the standard… so your six weeks are still a pretty luxurious package!
We made good use of the day off and went for a bike ride. We started right from our house, rode through Victoria Park, and then continued up the hill via a few MTB trails. To be honest, in some sections it was more pushing than riding – just too steep for us 😅 – but it was definitely worth the effort. At the top, we were rewarded with a really beautiful view: the Southern Alps on one side, and the Pacific Ocean on the other. After that, we made a classic stop at the Sign of the Kiwi before heading back home. And in the evening, we were treated to a stunning sunset overlooking the city. Somehow, it felt like a very fitting and peaceful way to end a day of remembrance.
Between Middle-earth and the Alps: Hanmer Springs
On Sunday, we headed to Hanmer Springs with friends to visit the hot pools – and it really felt like a mini getaway. The Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa is technically a man-made outdoor complex, but a very special one: the pools aren’t artificially heated, but fed by geothermal springs, meaning the hot, mineral-rich water comes straight from the earth. The whole place is beautifully designed, with different pools, lots of stone elements and greenery, though clearly laid out as a spa. Temperatures range from around 36 to 40 degrees depending on the pool, and there are even sulphur pools. And the best part (for us adults 😄): while there’s a large kids’ area with slides, it’s designed in a way that you barely see or hear it from the quieter pools, making it perfect for simply lying in warm water and switching off. If you look online, you’ll also find photos from winter – steaming pools while everything around is covered in snow: evergreen New Zealand trees, shrubs, and even palm trees. It looks almost a bit surreal and is definitely on our “we have to experience this one day” list. Even the drive there was a highlight, starting through soft, green rolling hills – a bit like the Shire, with sheep dotted here and there – before the road followed a river, crossed bridges, and gradually led us further into the mountains. Especially now in autumn, everything has a really special atmosphere, with golden light, crisp air, and just stunning scenery. The town itself reminded me a lot of a small alpine village in South Tyrol – cozy, compact, and instantly calming. Next time, we’ll definitely stay longer: we’re planning to spend the night and combine it with a hike in the area. A perfect ending to the day was the drive back through the valley, bathed in the warm light of the setting sun.
Christchurch Red Zones: A Walk Through Richmond Gardens
On Monday (it was the substitute public holiday!), we stayed in Christchurch and explored a park area called “Richmond Gardens.” This area is part of Christchurch’s so-called “Red Zones” – land that was abandoned after the 2010/2011 earthquakes because the ground was too severely damaged to rebuild on safely. Particularly along the Avon River, there was massive liquefaction at the time: during the earthquakes, the soil temporarily behaved like a liquid, causing houses to sink, tilt, or become structurally impossible to repair. Importantly, it wasn’t just about damaged buildings – the key issue was that the ground itself was no longer considered stable or safe for long-term construction. As a result, entire residential areas were taken out of use. Today, many of these former neighbourhoods have been transformed into open green spaces – like Richmond Gardens – and are gradually evolving into new natural and community areas along the river.
In Richmond Gardens, you can still clearly see traces of that history. Between the lawns and walking paths, you occasionally notice remnants of the former housing – old garden layouts, scattered fruit trees, or even palm trees that once belonged to private backyards. Nearby is the historic Avebury House, a 19th-century Victorian building that survived the earthquakes and is now used as a community centre, offering a rare surviving link to the “old” residential fabric of this former neighbourhood. The whole area feels like a quiet transition between past and present use. One of the most beautiful parts is along the Avon River, where you really get that typical Christchurch atmosphere: wide open lawns, soft light, and small pairs of ducks slowly drifting across the water or waddling along the riverbanks. Everything feels calm, almost slowed down, as if the city is taking a deep breath there.
Right in the middle of the area is also the alternative Riverlution Cafe – a small, relaxed community café with lots of wood, plants, a chicken coop, and a creative, slightly improvised atmosphere. And then there was the light: proper golden autumn mood – or maybe I should start saying “golden April mood” now. The low sun, warm colours across the fields, and the shimmering water along the river made the public holiday feel especially atmospheric.
One interesting side note: many of the trees here that lose their leaves in autumn were originally introduced by European settlers. Native New Zealand vegetation is mostly evergreen – with ferns, shrubs, and trees that stay green all year round. It’s exactly this mix of “imported seasonal atmosphere” and native nature that makes the parks here feel so unique.
Halswell Quarry Park: Between Rock Faces and Coffee Trucks
On Wednesday, I went for a midday walk with Claudi in Halswell Quarry Park in the southwest of Christchurch – another really beautiful spot and incredibly diverse. The park used to be a quarry, which you can still clearly see in the striking rock faces and the overall landscape. Today, it has been transformed into a large natural and recreational park, divided into different themed areas. There are, among others, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and several other garden sections designed in different styles. Between them, you’ll find open grassy areas, small patches of woodland, walking tracks across the hills, and regular viewpoints overlooking Christchurch and the surrounding hills. Also quite charming is the old “museum house” in the park – a small historic building that dates back to the quarry days and now serves as an information and exhibition space. It gives a really good impression of how hard people used to work here and how much the place has changed over time. And then there’s the little coffee cart on site, which becomes a bit of a social hub on nice days. An iced coffee after the walk, overlooking all the greenery – honestly, that’s all you really need. The pictures speak for themselves 😉
Two in One Day
On Friday afternoon, we spontaneously came up with a plan for Saturday: why not fit in two markets in one day? Breakfast at the Riccarton Bush Market in the morning, and in the evening our first visit to one of Christchurch’s three main night markets – Ferrymead.
Marie, of course, immediately asked the most important question of all: “Mum, what are we going to wear?” We quickly agreed: autumnal & vintage. And even though Christchurch has a great selection of vintage second-hand stores, we could easily rely on Mum’s wardrobe – with a few treasures that are easily 20 years old, plus some jewellery and rings from Grandma. During our cozy mother-daughter coffee chat, Marie then said: “Mum, I think not many people have such a great mother-daughter relationship.” Well… that one really made my day 🙂 At the Riccarton Market, Ferdinand discovered his new big love: chai latte, slowly simmered in large pots with lots of spices. His verdict: “This is way better than hot chocolate.” And honestly – he’s absolutely right!
In the evening, we headed to the Ferrymead Night Market with friends. The venue is lined with a variety of food stalls and trucks—everything from juicy burgers and pizza to Chinese dumplings, noodle and rice dishes, and sweet treats like churros. Fairy lights strung overhead create a cozy atmosphere, and there’s even a heated hall where you can sit down and enjoy your meal. We weren’t quite as lucky when it came to finding a seat and ended up at a table with children’s beach chairs—which honestly just made the whole experience even more fun. All in all, a night market like this is perfect when your fridge at home is empty or you simply don’t feel like cooking. You wander around, everyone picks whatever they’re in the mood for, and in the end you sit together, eat, and most likely run into someone you know from somewhere—because, as everyone says, Christchurch really is just a small town.
Avon River, Tailwinds & Black Swans
Today, Sunday, we went on a really lovely bike ride along the Avon River. Starting from our house, we first rode down Dyers Pass Road towards Hagley Park, then continued through the wide green spaces of North Hagley Park and along the Ōtākaro/Avon River through the idyllic Avon Loop and the small riverside parks heading east. Passing through the beautifully maintained Richmond Gardens, we kept following the river through the quiet areas of Avondale and Dallington all the way out to New Brighton Pier. Along the way, we also realized just how far the so-called Red Zone actually stretches—almost all the way to New Brighton. In parts, you ride along old, decommissioned roads, completely calm and without any traffic. It felt a bit like the old Ponale road at Lake Garda… just without the climb 😉.
Once we reached the pier, we treated ourselves to burgers and fries before heading back towards the city in the warm evening sunlight. The return journey was, as expected, a bit more challenging since we were going upstream 😉, but we had the easterly wind from the sea at our backs, which balanced things out nicely. For the final climb, we then took the bus—completely normal here with bike racks on the front (all three of our bikes came along)—and made our way comfortably back home.
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable Sunday ride that gave us an even better feel for the city. And along the way, I learned something new: there really are black swans! Since I didn’t know that, I quickly looked it up—and sure enough, the black swans we saw originally come from Australia and are a distinct species, whereas in Germany you mostly only see the white mute swans.
Warm greetings from the colourful other side of the world to your blooming spring.
