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NZ Day 10 & 11
Day 10 saw us awake to a brisk mountain morning at Reefton, a very old mining town- both gold & coal. After completing the housework, we set off down the main street for a quick walk, then on our way to Hanmer Springs. We stopped a little one horse town called Springs Junction for a coffee (don’t bother) & then on our way into Hamner Springs The trip was 140 odd kms, but again the time was a little different- as per usual we were travelling through mountains. The scenery again was spectacular, although we did miss a couple of points as some-one (?) didn’t think we were at the right place & we kept travelling on......made for a quiet drive after that!
We arrived in Hanmer Springs at bit after lunch. Our park was within walking distance of the main street, so we set off. I had read there were several nice walks to do & was determined to try one or two out. We/I decided on the walk to the Conical Hill lookout- about an hour return & off we went. The steepest part was probably from the information centre to the beginning of
the walk. One of us was puffing more than the other, & I did tell him he could go back to the park if he wanted....he wasn’t game, so onward & upwards & upwards we went. He said he was on a ‘forced march’ not a walk, but as usual, I ignored him! He needed to have a wee little rest every now & again, & so did I. But, eventually & without heart attacks, we made it to the top- woohoo for us! The view was quite spectacular, although the sun had disappeared behind a cloud yet again. Still it didn’t stop me from taking photos- strange that. Obviously the walk back down was much easier, & again I had decided that we should divert onto another walk to see something different. You can see a lot of logging that has been done, but there are areas of revegetation which was glad to see. On the way we saw 2 different species of fugi/mushroom (Raymond wondered if they were magic & would make him feel better about his walk), a couple of flowers- they are not in great abundance at this time of year & a thing in a
web- not sure what that was. The autumn colours were just lovely tho. There was a little pond where a couple of ducks were having a stoush. Not far from the end of the walk, it started drizzling, so back on with the rain coats- you really don’t go anywhere without them cause the weather changes so quickly.
We did consider going to the thermal pools, but it was a wee bit brisk for our liking- we can’t go swimming unless the temp is at least 50 degrees. Overnight things got a wee bit wild & woolly. It was very windy & sounded like thunder, but could just have been the wind- although at one time when I heard a rumbling sound & then the van rocked I thought- shit we are having an earthquake! The van certainly swayed more than once during the night.....and it wasn’t from any movement inside! Just heard on the news that they had very high winds at Dunedin overnight & cause quite a lot of damage- including a tree on a car & a guy badly injured......sure gal we weren’t down ther!
Ooohhhhaaahhh- thermal pools & spas- can’t beat them really! We went to
the renowned thermal spa & pools when they opened at 10am.......& I managed to keep Raymond in the water for over an hour. The pools ranged in temperature from 27 degrees to 38 degrees- just our type of swimming! The spa was just amazing- you had to hang on to the rail as the pressure was quite intense- but lovely on your back & neck & knees.......Tania you would have loved it! There were a number of different pools, spas etc all at different temperatures. We ‘pool hopped’ & ‘spa hopped’ until we were wrinkled & shrivelled.....I was in for nearly an hour and a half, before we got out & showered- good timing as it turned out as a heap of kids had just come in- definitely time to leave. We had several of the pools/spas to ourselves, but by the time we left you could no longer do that. Off to the coffee shop for a late & a caramel crumble- man was that delicious. Oh- had to pay 50 cents for a 6 minute shower today- & it isn’t a long 6 minutes either I can give you the tip!
So, on the road again. Fuel at
Hanmer Springs was about $171.9/ltr for diesel & around $224.9 for unleaded. We had sought some info from the locals on which roads to take- scenic, but no mountain goat stuff, although we certainly did climb some mountains. A trip of 150kms or so, taking 2 ½ hours. The views again were stunning, but we were coming out of rain forests into more open country....we as open as it gets around here. Hilly, but not as much vegetation on the mountains. We finally made it to the sea- Pacific Ocean to be exact. That certainly required a stop & some more obligatory photos. We were back on highway 1, but some of the corners were 30kph! The semis do it with ease....we do it very slowly- even drove through a couple of tunnels & saw a train.
We arrived at Kaikoura & went straight to the info shop to check out the whale watching tours. I was doing relatively OK until we asked how far out they go....well, she says, they have a limit- they’re not allowed to go any further that 18kms!!!!!!!! Shit a brick! How the hell am I supposed to do that??? The trip goes for 3
½ hours, so if you get crook early, you will be crook for awhile Aaawww bloody hell, now what to do? Raymond isn’t a great sailor either, but this was very high on the bucket list. So, suck it up- & find some really, really good drugs at the local pharmacy- they’d better bloody work! We will wait & see what the sea looks like tomorrow morning before we part with our money- trip is supposed to go at 10am, so I have a bit of praying to do between now & then.
We booked into another Kiwi park, just down the road from a crayfish retailer, so you know what I’m having for tea tomorrow night! Yuuummm, can taste it already- as long as my stomach can handle it after the boat trip- positive thinking, positive thinking. The weather today has been glorious- sun shining all day- a lovely change.
Time to cook some steak for tea, The washing is done $3/load, the dearest so far & the floor is swept clean of our rain forest leaves & pine needles (with a banister broom, on my knees!). So, I’ll load up some photos & see if the website is
behaving a little better tonight- I was very cranky by the time I finished last night- there were issues with the ‘location’ info & it won’t publish without that....ggrrrrr.
Hope all are fit & well at home, Love to all
Ray & Terri
xoxoxoxo
p.s.- Cherie I tried to send you an email, baut can’t- could you pls forward our blog address to Gwen & Helen- they may be able to print off some of the stuff for Nan & Pop- thanks
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