The weather this morning was glorious but gosh it was really windy (spaniel ears to horizontal was my estimate.)
Breakfast was typical hotel fare with a really good cup if tea. We have learned that the best tea here is referred to as "gumboot tea".
We check- out, they charge us less than expected so perhaps breakfast was complimentary after all, and get the shuttle to the airport. It's too early to check-in, so we make a visit to the Antarctic Centre which is a 5min walk away - you follow the icy blue footprints, both man and penguin. Stash the bags in a secure locker that we need help in opening (instructions on screen are in Chinese), get mistaken for some old people and are charged pensioner rates for admission.
There are a whole load of "get immersed" experiences so we start with the Freezer. Kitted out in snow shoes and suitable coat we enter essentially a big ice box with real snow and ice. They also blast wind at you and the temperature gets to -18C. - pretty chilly.
Eric is loving it even without a coat.
Them we go out for a ride in a Hagglund tracked snow vehicle over some majorly rough terrain. 
This is to give you an idea what it's like for the research scientists who work there, as this is one of their methods of locomotion. No wonder they warn you not to go on it if you have back problems or are pregnant etc. Hanging on to straps and being thrown all over the place. Alton Towers could use one of these. Also see where most Antarctic missions fly from, just across the road.
However panic sets in as we discover Eric has gone AWOL.
Nowhere to be found!
We now have to check with the receptionist and explain we have lost a travelling companion.
They quickly mobilise all available staff for the search. ( I'd like to think they would do this much even if it had been a small child!)
We retrace our steps and the staff search the pockets of all the jackets used in the freezer (must be about 50 of them).
No luck so they let us back in to the freezer to search again after the next set of participants leave. Somewhat shamefaced we even ask the customers to check their pockets. We don't like the idea of frisking them airport style. A Japanese couple have just hung theirs up and don't seem too concerned. We think as a last resort to check these coats, and yep Eric had obviously decided to go through the whole freezer experience again. He really must like the cold!
We stop for a coffee to recover from the trauma of thinking we had lost our travelling companion. Eric wasn't too worried and he enjoyed the two penguin biscuits.
Eric looks with envy at the jacket of someone who had worked on Antarctic missions for 32 years, collecting badges for each time he was there.
Re-united we tour the remainder of the facility.
Eric shows us where he's been while we were in the Hagglund.
Eric met some more new friends.
Some friendlier than others.
Rode along on a sled...
And had go in another skidoo type thing.
Was awed by the Aurora.
There are also some Blue Penguins that were injured and rescued, as well an an Extreme 4D cinema experience - an Ice Journey. It was very immersive - as the large ship carrying you to Antarctica travels through the oceans and large swells, the seats shake, water spray hits you in the face, sort of sloshes under the seats, it snows (in the cinema as well as on the screen), a large gull looks like it is flying just in front of you and then bird poo drops (we hope this is water not the real thing)' similarly with the seal coughing spray all over you! All great fun.
The artwork outside Christchurch airport - Eric was admired by the airport workers as he posed for the photograph.
Back in the airport we can see the planes departing for Antarctica. 
There's a giant chess set to keep children and small dogs amused.
Your move.
Time passes quickly even though our flight is delayed for 15 mins. Even though the weather is good as we take to the air it is clear the wind has not abated as the plane seems to be zigzagging down the runway! The captain comes on the intercom to warn us there may be turbulence as we cross over the Southern Alps. Happily none materialises.
Flight passes bearably with some movies, no vegetarian meal but a rather yummy ice-cream sufficed.
Our type of passport means we can go through fast track passport control - it works well for one of us, but the other is told to go to be processed by a border control assistant. Seriously beginning to wonder if something has been marked on the passport!
After negotiating that and explaining that even though we'd been in the forest and through freshwater, we'd thrown those shoes away and bought new ones. They are content with that so they do let us into the country.
Our bag is almost the first one on the carousel which means we can get to the car hire desk first and are in receipt of a hire car and driving away from the airport within half an hour. This time we know we will have something extra to pay on the hire car as we have to use a toll road. Traffic is free flowing and the toll is taken via the number plate recognition.
So this is Australia and we are on our way to Doon Doon.