Punting During the Christchurch Earthquake

The gentle lapping of the water against the punts here on the Avon River is a familiar sound, but on February 22, 2011, there was a different kind of movement. That day, a powerful earthquake hit Christchurch. The punting tours were still operating when the earthquake happened. Imagine being on one of those punts, gliding along, and then the ground beneath the river starts to shake. The flat-bottomed boats, designed for calm waters, would have been tossed around by the tremors. People on board would have felt the jolt, the sudden instability. It must have been quite an experience, feeling such a strong natural force while on the water.