May 1st
This weekend we returned to Hanmer Springs. We were armed with bathing costumes this time so that we could enjoy the thermal pools. However before we left we solved the mystery of the vans we had seen on our last trip to Craigieburn in March. We discovered that there was to be a Gypsy Fair at a park quite near our home.
We spent a good hour taking checking out the various stalls and even took the opportunity to have a look inside one of these vans. The building of this particular van was well documented in a series of photographs that the owner had left out for the benefit of people having a look through his home.
One can't help wondering what it would be like to live like this. This little home was certainly cosy and if you needed space the whole of New Zealand is suddenly your back yard.
One thing this van had, that would be essential for me, is a computer nook. I would need this and a satellite link.
After a quick lunch we we headed off to Hanmer. Hanmer is a little more than a hundred kilometres from Christchurch. Travel north on highway 1, left onto highway 7 and follow the signs. We checked into the Alpine Lodge Motel where we were provided towels for the thermal pools.
We stayed in a chalet. It was a nice spot, one large room, wood interior, bathroom and a small kitchen. We spent a few minutes unpacking and then headed off to the pools.
While there are water slides and lap pools for those people who must exert themselves the real attraction here is relaxation. As we walked in there were people sitting in small streams reading books. Around the corner we found three pools where the temperature was 40 degrees C.
It takes a little while to become accustomed to the sulphurous smell from these springs but we spent a wonderful couple of hours between pools of various temperatures while our son played in the lap pool with some friends he made there.
Later we had dinner at Robbies and then headed back to our chalet where we watched the Rocky Horror Picture Show before dozing off.
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