There was only one way out of Christchurch this morning, and that was by road.
The ash cloud that was difficult to see was having a visible impact.
It put paid to all flights in and out of the entire South Island until early this afternoon.
Christchurch Airport was full of people with somewhere to go, but no way to get there.
But there was one passenger plane large enough to be worth taking up - a Southern DC3 owned by Ashburton's Aviation Museum.
It first took to the air during World War Two in 1944.
Today, 67 years on, it was hauled out of retirement to fly passengers between Christchurch and Wellington.
The two thirds of a century old DC3 was able to do what brand new 737s and A320s were not allowed to do: Fly.
It seemed too go an opportunity to miss, so we climbed on board.
Watch the video for the full report
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