Christchurch Gondola facts for kids
The Christchurch Gondola is a super fun way to see amazing views in Christchurch, New Zealand! It's like a special cable car that takes you high up a mountain. You'll find its starting point in Heathcote Valley. From there, it glides up the side of Mount Cavendish, which is part of the beautiful Port Hills.
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Discover the Christchurch Gondola!
The Christchurch Gondola is a popular tourist attraction run by Christchurch Attractions. It's also known as a cable car. This exciting ride takes you on a journey 1,000 metres (1,100 yd) long. When you reach the top, you'll be 445 metres (1,460 ft) above sea level!
Amazing Views from the Top
From the summit of Mount Cavendish, you can see incredible sights all around you. Look north and west to spot the huge Canterbury Plains stretching out. Beyond them, you'll see the majestic Southern Alps. If you look south and east, you'll get a fantastic view down into Lyttelton Harbour and the unique Banks Peninsula. It's a perfect spot for taking cool photos!
A Bit of History
The gondola first opened in October 1992. Back then, it was called the Mount Cavendish Gondola. It cost about $NZ11.5 million to build! After construction, the area around the gondola was made beautiful with 16,000 native tussock plants. The gondola has 19 cabins, and it can carry 812 people every hour.
Reopening After the Earthquake
The Christchurch Gondola had to close after the big 2011 Christchurch earthquake. But don't worry, it reopened in March 2013! The Prime Minister of New Zealand at the time, John Key, was there for the reopening.
In February 2016, the gondola had a small stop. Some passengers were in the cabins for about two hours. After this, the company decided to add a speaker system to all the cabins. This way, if the gondola ever stops again, everyone inside can hear updates and stay informed. This safety improvement cost about NZ$50,000.
Who Runs the Gondola?
The Christchurch Gondola is operated by Christchurch Attractions. This company also runs the fun Christchurch Tram system in the city.
