Magic Carpet evening May 2022

About 30 people showed up at Remuera Baptist Church for our Magic Carpet Evening. Many of these proudly had their smiles covered.

David Rutherfurd began by taking us on a trekking excursion to Nepal. He took us up into the forested mountain country and meet some of the local villagers. We visited a local school and had a look at the terraced layout of the village.

We then went with Murray and Cathie Black to tour some private gardens in Canterbury two months before. This was a 7 day bus trip with a group of 20 people, staying in four hotels. Guide Jack Hobbs took us to 12 gardens plus a forest walk and 4WHD trek. We began with the Christchurch Botanic Gardens before going out to Akaroa to see Fisherman’s Bay and the elaborate Giants House done out with interesting mosaic sculptures. The Broadfield Garden was also visited before we went inland to Methven to see Rangitea and Surrey Hills Stations and Mt Harding Homestead. Our bush walk was in Peel Forest, then we went on to Peel Station with its old stone church and cemetery, Mesopotamia Station, and Trott’s Garden. The Ashburton Domain was an interesting stop before returning to Christchurch to see Mona Vale.

After a shared supper break we went to the sounds of Fiordland with Paul and Ruth Ungemuth plus Geoff and Rosemary Tremain. Their trip began with a helicopter ride into one of the many sounds of Fiordland to land on the houseboat. We cruised through several of the sounds, seeing seals, albatrosses and other wildlife. There were opportunities to land ashore using an outboard dinghy. The group of 16 also had a go on kayaks.
This brought to an end a lovely magic carpet ride enjoyed by everyone.