The Christchurch Gondola & the Fight Against Jet Lag

We arrived in Christchurch at 5 am after a 14-hour flight from San Francisco via Auckland. Riding the gondola to the summit of Mt. Cavandish was a key component in our strategy to fight jet lag by staying up all day until a reasonable bedtime. Cold, brisk winds & a staggering 360-degree view were the wake-up payoff. It's a preview of the great scenery to come--harbours, rolling foothills, mighty mountains.
Actually, the most harrowing part of this excursion was driving there--it was our first experience driving on the "wrong" side of the road. Talk about thrill rides. No matter who drove, both passenger & driver were in abject terror. It got better when we got out of the city & had a chance to practice driving with fewer vehicles on the road. But this was our first day & our faculties were definitely impaired from the trip.