Day 3: Christchurch-Hanmer Springs The gondola ride was well worth it, after we waited till early afternoon for the weather to clear. Both of us went up; half of us was very determined to overcome a very well-entrenched 30-odd-year fear of heights. The first gondola ride included heart thumping, and insisting the following conditions were followed: looking upward to the mountains, and insisting no-one move around. That agreed, we both enjoyed a terrific ride - although the line was drawn at leaning over the edge of the lookout, even for the obligatory photo. With the height thing overcome (maybe) we might try something higher? The view of 360 degrees included wispy cloud and fog moving fast over velvety green mountains dotted with hardy sheep, winding river, estuary and Christchurch. The, a drive through picturesque country where
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