Late Change of Plans - off to Hanmer Springs

Monday 13 October

It’s not easy getting my step count on a travel day - so set off at about 7.45am to wander through Sovereign Palms down to the lake. Lovely mild morning under light cloud - lots of birds and flora around, so a great start to the day.

Packed up Banjo and had a catch up with John, our lovely POP host at Treehouse Retreat. Hit the road at 10.30 and went north towards the Waipara wine district before turning inland towards the Lewis Pass. The plan was to get to Springs Junction just after the summit, but as we drove under bizarre clouds, the wind gusts got stronger and stronger so after a quick break in Waikari to check on other options we decided to stop short at Hanmer Springs for the night and press on under better conditions on Tuesday.

After parking up in a largely empty NZMCA park at Hanmer Bridge and enjoying a relaxed lunch, we picked up a BookMe deal at the famed Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa and spent the afternoon soaking in their hot mineral pools. I wisely remembered to take off my silver rings before sliding into the super hot sulphur pools (even though I think they are white gold not silver) but totally forgot about my toe rings which promptly turned sooty black and did not recover their glisten for about a week!

The huge pounamu carving on the way into Hanmer Springs is absolutely stunning and you are asked to touch it "pangia i tenei" to deposit your negative energy and walk away with a positive boost. Just the sensory smoothness of the stone makes me feel happy.

We spent over an hour soaking in different pools around the resort and then I had a shower and hairwash - not realising that their hairdryers were pathetic so I ended up with an 80s shaggy perm hairdo!!!

Dinner at Banjo, some intense study of the weather apps and a binge watch of Celebrity Traitors via VPN! Uh oh - now fully addicted!