New Zealand is slowly starting to claw back its tourism industry following the pandemic, but Christchurch has been waiting the longest to fill the void.
Today marks the end of an 11-year dry spell for the Garden City, which hasn't had tourists arrive by sea since it was reduced to rubble.
On Thursday, the first of nearly 200,000 passengers who'll set foot in Lyttelton this cruise ship season arrived.
"It's wonderful to be back in New Zealand," one passenger said.
Eighty-six ships will berth here at Lyttelton after a $67 million redevelopment.
"We've got a lot going for us in Christchurch, we're on the cusp of something really good," new Mayor Phil Mauger said.
The tourists think so too.
"Wonderful, wonderful dream come true," one tourist said.
"Bit of touristy things, see a bit of the sights, check out Christchurch," another said.
The international vessels bring with them an estimated $260 million boost to the local economy. Something Christchurch has been waiting 11 years for after the earthquake damaged the port.
For the last decade, cruiseliners have had to berth at the little French town of Akaroa.
It's an hour and a half drive over the hill to Christchurch which many visitors wouldn't make. Now they're only a 20-minute drive from Lyttelton into the central city.
"One, from an employment perspective, but I think two for all of those people who have really struggled. Our community and Christchurch have struggled through the COVID so hospitality it's going to have a massive impact I think," Lyttelton Port Company CEO Kirstie Gardener
"We've been defined by things in the past and the quake but looking forward it's actually a different story to tell," CHCH NZ Acting general manager Tracey Wilson said.
A story rich in history.
"[We're going to] look at some of the earthquake history stuff… And see where the day takes us," one tourist said.
"You've been doing so much work to rebuild buildings so it'll be exciting to see that," another said.
A milestone for Christchurch, much needed for its economy.
