3/15/15 Greymouth to Christchurch to Wellington

Today we are headed to Christchurch to fly over to the North Island again.  We stopped at Flock Sheep Station for a great visit to a sheep farm.  He has 36,000 acres and raises both sheep and cattle.  We were so lucky because today they were crutching the sheep - shearing around their faces and backsides.  We also got to see the dogs at work with the sheep.  There is a head dog who runs to the front of the flock and heads them in the desired direction.  The other dogs are barkers and push the flock from the back.  Each dog has a particular whistle and the directions can change depending on the tone and length of the whistle commands.  It was fascinating.  We stopped along the way for lunch and over Arthur's Pass to Christchurch.  This city was heavily damaged in a 2010 earthquake.  The aftershocks lasted for 18 months and the rebuilding is continuing to this day.  Our first stop was to the Anarctic Center where we got to see the little blue penguins.  They are all rescue animals - very small and cute.  We then boarded our plane and headed to Wellington on the north island.  We had enough time to have a quick bite to eat and then went out to Zealandia for a night walk.  It was a magnificent night.  We saw kiwi, glow worms, takahe (a purple chicken), kaka (parrots), tuatara (lizards), kerero (wood pigeons), ducks, eels, and an owl.  We had red flashlights to use on the path and had to stop and listen for the kiwi as they generally don't make a noise, but do rustle as they move through the brush.