Hanmer Springs.

Thermal Pools. A great idea after a day on the slopes. Another 90 minute drive through the windy roads of the South Island but worth the trek. Tina and I spent every moment we could with shoulders submerged when it was only about ten degrees. Jessica at least was more hardy.



The water was lovely (between 36 and 41 degrees which is a summers day in Britain these days thanks to global warming ) but the snowy mountains behind reminded us to stay submerged.





Jessica and Alex staked out this spot which we thought made great photo material. In order to get here they had to hover close by until a canoodling couple drifted away annoyed by the close proximity of two small children.




The car hire had been returned but we got to Hanmer courtesy of Pete and Chantel's "honky mobile". we've not heard the word honky since "Love Thy Neighbour" stopped being on the telly but Pete is on a one man crusade to make the word socially acceptable again. Honky was still a bit mucky after the dirt roads of Porter Heights.



More scenery and Bungy jump locations on the way home.



And so it was the final evening and we thought our ever patient hosts deserved a meal out. we ended up at "Dux de lux" where everyone was well catered for despite the lack of dead animals on their menu (well ones with legs anyway). Can't be too sure about why we chose this location for our final shot. I think it was because of the lovely fish tank but as we all stood in front of it, it kind of loses its impact. Well us and the menu look good. Never mind that we could just as easily be by the specials board by the Bold Forester in Marchwood.



So it was goodbye to New Zealand. Like everywhere we go, we never did it justice and the North Island will just have to wait a decade or two but we saw enough and did enough to make it a holiday to remember. They need to invent central heating and semi skimmed milk and perhaps be a little less obsessed with one lane bridges but if you can put up with such "hardships" it's a country well worth a visit.