Hanmer Springs

Wow - Just when I thought that it couldn't get any better!

Well we have arrived in Christchurch on the South Island. I thought that the North Island was awesome but as Robb promised the scenery in the South Island surpasses even that. I can not even beging to explain how beautiful this place is - the photo's and my descriptions can not do this place justice.

Today we drove up to Hanmer Springs in the Southern Alps. When you first leave Christchurch you drive through the vineyards, we came across several wines that we have drunk over the years.

We started our day off with a Jet Boat ride through 'Thrill Seekers Canyon' - and yes it did live up to it's name! We were doing 90kms an hour through narrow gorges with inches to spare between us and the canyon walls, with the odd 360* turn thrown in. Sitting in the front was pretty awesome, especially whenn you can see the walls of the gorge looming up in front of you wondering when the heck you are going to turn!

After all that it was a relief to soak in the sulphor springs at Hanmer. Water comes up from underground in a series of pools that you can soak in - what a relief after the bone crunching of the boat ride. Reeks of sulphor though but clears the sinuses!

Tommorrow we are hoping to go up through Arthurs Pass in the Southern Alps, but tonight they have forecast snow - so we shall wait to see what the morning brings!