A Relaxing Spa / Travelling with Scenic Views?

Both!
Over 2 days.
Looking at the leaflets and New Zealand guide books you have so much choice.

A 90 minute camper van journey from Christchurch is one of many things a traveller must do.

Do you need a perfect place to "Rebalance and unwind?"

Then as we decided Hanmer Springs thermal Pools is the place to go, I am quite sure there will be other springs and thermal pools we will visit, this is the first.
A great drive up to Hanmer it took us 1.45 hours, driving up through the mountains and pine forests when we were within 5k there is a single vehicle only wooden bridge over a gorge, just before the bridge there is an adventure activities centre, were the more adventurous can partake in White water rafting, rock claiming, bungy jumping, jet boat ride and Horse riding, Ps, there also a ski centre in this area as well.

Hamer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa has been around for 125 years, The place is great and everything you would want is available, even as a spectator at a cost of $2 (£1), it makes the New Spa in Bath a rip off, sorry Bath City Council.
Now to make Bath Spa look inferior on value for money and facilities, We decide that we would do the Thermal pools only, even though they do the whole pampering thing like Facials, Spa Treatments, Massage, Hot Stone therapy and Hands and Feet, this is not all, but the one I have highlighted, the Ladies will love.






Chocolate Regenerative Care.
Enjoy a delicious break from daily life. This chocolate fondue treatment gives softness and suppleness to the skin as well as improving the brightness of your complexion.


 The Thermal pools entry cost us $18 each $5 for towels and $2 for a locker, you can spend all day here.

Guess?

Set in the heart of the village and snow top mountains for a back ground we had a choice of 15 thermal pools ranging from Aqua Therapy pools, Rainbow Rock pools, hexagonal pools, lap pool, children's aquaplay pools with slides and not forgetting the 3 Sulphur pools "smelly" these pools are great, water temperatures ranged from 40c - 42c our skin felt really soft after being in these pools, the Sulphur pools contain unfiltered thermal water, so no ducking your head in!!!

We are going to do this again in other of the many hot springs around New Zealand, keep you updated.                                                                                             

Trans-Alpine Train Journey Christchurch To Greymouth

On Tuesday 6th September we went on the transalpine train trip to Greymouth, we had to leave the campsite early, so booked a taxi to collect us at 7am..the train was due to leave at 8.15am but had to be there 20 minutes before to have seats allocated.

We sat in A B seats on the outward leg, these were really good seats as you were facing the right way, the first part of the journey took us through small towns that were not very highly populated..a place for peace and relaxation!!!!

We saw lots of wide open spaces on our way to Arthur's Pass, sheep, cows, alpaca's and ostriches, plenty of birds of prey and the occasional herds of deer..as it was lambing season loads of baby lambs running and jumping about. The sun was shining and everyone in the carriage seemed happy. 

We had a young family opposite us and the two small boys were enjoying their journey with mum and Grandpa!!! the youngest one got a little tired and started to cry and roll about on the floor.(.been there , done that) some of the other passengers where somewhat rude and intolerant of small children and made rude remarks to the family...I feel that if they wanted silence they should have booked a seat in the luggage carriage!!!!!  Trains are for everyone!!!!

Our journey took us over death defying viaducts metres high over some what dry river beds..just a small trickle, but probably a raging torrent in the rainy season!!!  High mountains with remnants of snow on their peaks, some covered in trees their size was amazing!!  We went through the longest tunnel in the southern hemisphere 8k in length and 20 minutes to go through..

There was an open carriage where those that cold brave the wind could stand and take photographs, and return to the carriage, cold and wind swept...they kept doing this throughout the journey..Mark was gone for so long that i thought he might have been blown away, but he did eventually return, cold and in need of a hot drink, but also happy with all the photos he had snapped!!!!

Once through the long tunnel, on the other side the difference in the view and weather was noticeable, a lot cooler, more cloud and not much sign of the lovely sunshine, if felt like we had emerged into a different world. But the views were just as spectacular!!! 

Once we reached our destination we decided to have a walk up the main street, which had a variety of shops, cafe's and banks. Greymouth town is not huge, but a place we can say we have been too!! Next to the station there is also a supermarket and subway shop!! We were advised to take our own snacks as these places can get really full, from the people alighting from the train. Anyway the train had a carriage H for hungry for drinks etc, so we had no need to buy anything here!!! 

Our time went fast and before we knew it we were waiting on the platform for the train ride to return to Christchuch... the return journey was no less impressive as the sun was shining differently, and leaving shadows on the mountains..yet again the viewing carriage was as busy as the first time.

We arrived back at Christchurch caught the bus back..for FREE as the driver guessed we were tourist and gave us a free ride back on his bus...magic.  a brilliant end to a long tiring and exciting day!! Thank you......

Christchurch OMG

Words From A Poster On A Fence Blocking off the City Centre


A CITY BROKEN

• BUT IT WILL MEND

A CITY  FALLEN

• BUT IT WILL RISE AGAIN

PEOPLE SCREAMING, WEEPING IN DESPAIR

• BUT THEY WILL SMILE AGAIN

 FOR FROM ALL THIS DEVASTATION,  DESTRUCTION AND DESPAIR 

THERE WILL COME

A STRONG CITY 

A SAFE CITY

A BEAUTIFUL CITY

A GARDEN CITY

MY CITY / OUR CITY

CHRISTCHURCH

Mother nature cannot be tamed, It doesn't matter where you are in the world you are "vulnerable." 

Mother nature cannot control human behaviour, she might make you sit up and think!

I will share a few photos I took in Christchurch, some of these you might or might not have seen, those of you that live in other parts of the world would have already forgotten what this earthquake did to this city.

 

This church in New Brighton is to be knocked
down, they will then make a green space
for the local community.

                               

A City trying to get back to normal, for all the Rugby World Cup supporters that are on the South Island and would have been coming to Christchurch. You need to come and spend a day, Buy a Coffee, Have a meal, this City needs your support.

A few odd pictures

Wild Man
Art Man
Teacher Man
They have their way to play today?

Our First Camper van trip

29th August 2010
It's Monday, one check around the hotel room, now off to Maui Camper-vans. Welcome great, offered tea, coffee as well as an apple if we needed it. We were given a DVD to watch about the camper and it's features and how to use them. Filled the forms out, then checked out the Camper, with the help of Agent, he is French, Maui Campervans have taken on a few french speaking agents to help the french rugby supporters that are coming over!!!!!
 Shock horror, what a beast, really very very very long at 6.6m, 2 berth baby, with shower toilet combination, 3 ring gas hob and sink. Plus our GPS.

Sunset First camp site

Still in shock, asked the agent to book the ferry crossing, as they said they could from the prevoius days phone call, not realising that a they will charge commission!!! Now off we go to find the nearest supermarket which is a Woolworths, bought snacks for the trip plus bread tea and milk.  On our way!!! the plan, to head to Wellington with 2 stops down the west side of the north Island, we bought a great Road Map called the New Zealand Motorhome & Camping Atlas,      ( By Hema Maps,)  IT has the complete guide to:

• Short Term Parking
• Camping Grounds
• Caravan parks
• Rest areas
• Motor-home dump stations. Clear the doo doo out.

Jet Black Sand

Driving out of Auckland is pretty straight forward, the GPS loaded with are aiming point "Awakino,"  a campsite close by called Sea View Holiday park.
First Impressions, "Grim" an old site with very old touring caravans set up static site. old toilet and shower block that came out of my school days, It was clean though and the owners have been painting, It needs bringing  up to the 21st centry. We arrived parked up with a sea view in time for the  Sun to set only if the coulds can hold off a little longer, Walk to the beach approx 15m, oh my god! "Sand as Black as the ace of spades."was not expecting that!!!
That night was really noisy with the sound of the sea and the rain, it was also cold. The next morning we decided to get up early and leave,
had a shave and a shower, jeannette didn't shower, because the showers were crap so she opted to just a wash. Our plan was the to stop within 50 -70k of Wellington, so we drove for about 2 hours through winding roads, tunnels, the scenery was fantastic, up high & down low, sun and rain greeted us.
We stopped in a small town Inglewood for breakfast at the cafe' called Mcfarlanes, I had bacon and mushrooms in a cream sauce on toast, Jeannette had scrambled eggs on toast with a drizzle of pesto around the plate, very nice and friendly place.
We then got back on track and headed for our next camping site,  the Paekakarki  Holiday Park, an excellent place, modern toilets and shower block, tv lounge and kitchens, set with the Queen Elisabeth Park approx 200m from the beach,  the sand here is grey. The park setting is great, a nice quiet place to relax in the summer months. We set up our van and walked into the town which was about 1k distance, on our way there up above in the hills behind the campsite we could see 2 para gilders very calming, pity it was cloudy the pictures would be very good, Sun, Sea and Mountains.

View out of Wellington

 After a good and quite nights rest we set off in the direction of Wellington, being careful not to go too early and hit the business traffic. After a 45 minute drive we were heading into Wellington, missed the turn off and headed for the wrong ferry. It's pity they don't dock both company's ferrys at the same place, after asking directions we turned around another 2k drive we made it to the Interislander Terminal. We parked up and waited for the ferry, which was 3 hours (yes we were rather early) decided to visit the cafe' near the terminal for a coffee. Eventually after our wait we were able to drive on and get parked on the ferry found the onboard cafe' and seating we managed to get the seats looking to the front, A calm day with sea haze, pictures not to good, but how exciting to see albatrosses on the wing, seals swimming around, the scenery sailing down to Picton was topped off with a school of dolphins around the front of the ferry, the 3 hour crossing went very quickly. For you guys that might want to know the onboard services are, lounges, gift shop, children's corner, observation decks, cafe's and bars, cinema, wi-fi plus sky tv.
4 random photos from the ferry as we sailed down to Picton.


In Picton we decided as it was 6pm or 1800 hours we decided to stop here we found the "Picton top 10 holiday park" it was small but very

good well worth the 5* it holds.
We took a walk into Picton, after being given a short cut, which took us behind the boat sheds and over a huge coat hanger bridge..steep.. The town of Picton is small but beautifully formed and is quiet  this time of year, but seems to have lots for the travelling tourist coming off the ferry, we ate at a local bar 'Mikey's Bar' it was a really good atmosphere, good food, and that night even musical entertainment..a local playing guitar (very well). We walked back and had a very peaceful night.. The showers next day were a treat, hot and powerful, warm room...real comfort, even a hairdryer in the mens room too!!!!
Note the picture of a white hygiene
hand pump, this is for you to spray on toilet
paper and sanitise the toilet seat.

We started out from Picton at 9am filled up with fuel with an estimated travelling time of 4.5 hours with a comfort break halfway.  The scenery was more impressive than the drive down from Auckland, over mountains along winding roads on edges that just disappeared from sight, the mountains looked like a ruffled carpet green and lush, full of bumps, this is the main road and we also had huge lorries travelling on them too!! Pity most of the day was cloudy, as we rounded a corner on the peninsular  the real big highlight of the drive....finding seals in their natural environment, not having to pay to see them. "Outer Sight"

A second look at Jet Black Sand

Auckland - Be a Local not a Tourist

 
Jeannette says I can't use that title, "You be doing Touristy things you wallie." In her best somerset / auzzie accent. 


This is what the local web site said for the up and comming "World Cup"


Sky Tower

• Yes - We went up the Sky Tower.
• No  - We did not Jump off it.
• No  - We did not walk around the outer rim.
• Yes - We relaxed in the Cafe' and Bar area. 
• No  - We didn't Book in The Orbit Revolving Restaurant.
• No  - We didn't Book into The Observatory Buffet Restaurant.
• Yes - We went to the Sky Deck.

The views outstanding, play on words not actually out, inside, the experience was outstanding.

Bungy Jump Off the Harbour bridge

We entered Sky City to find a lot going on building, painting and decorating ready for the Rugby world cup, It looks all a rush to me, they will be ready for the vast numbers of rugby fans they expect to arrive in the next 2 weeks.

For the Sky Tower and to access all the activities, you need to go down the escalator to the Sky Tower gift shop,

We did the Total Experience which included the Main Observation Level at 186m (610ft), Sky Deck at 220m (722ft) and access to the Sky Lounge cafe'/bar. the cost of $28 each.

Glass Floor

The lift ride up was great with a class bottom in the lift floor made it exciting, plus the speed of the lift at 18k an hour made our ears pop.


A view of Jeannette feet on the glass floor! 


I could not stand there as it made feel uncomfortable, I'm not good with heights!!!












Here are a few of the pictures we took while up on the observation/SKY deck........................






Jeannette in the Main Observation deck.


Me at the Sky deck.


The pictures that I took were affected by the heavily tinted Class all came out with a green tinge.






For a small cost you can leap off the
Sky Tower, fall straight down after the 15 second pause, infront of the guys drinking coffee. 
The leaflet states that you will fall for 11 seconds at 85k per hour.
Its not like a bungy jump, it's a controlled fall without the slap into the ground.            Base Jump without the chute !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Costs for your adrenalin rush .

• Adult Sky Jump $225 (=26 pints of beer then you could just jump off your hotel balcony)
• Child $175 from 10 years to 15 years
• Family Jump $700
• Sky Walk Adult $145 / Child $115

A special Look & Leap package is $290.

View............... Priceless from the window of the Sky Tower

What ever the weather it shouldn't stop you having an adventure..................................................
A Grey day, didn't stop Our "Hop on Hop off Tour the only problem my photography is not very good in these weather conditions.  I will need to take the course when find some spare time.

Ferry Terminal 

Our deal of the day was with the "360 Discovery cruises" Special Offer $32 All day pass was being offered for just $20 each a saving of $24.
They cover 5 drop off points, Torpedo Bay, Rangitoto Island, Motuihe Island, Orakei Wharf and back to Ferries Depot Downtown Auckland.
We picked Rangitoto Island at 600 years old and a dormant volcano, it is the largest and Youngist in the Auckland volcano field of 40 + Volcano's

That what you get for
racing 

Note you can spend all day here catch the last ferry at 15:15 or as we did 2 hours.
Just enough time to get to the top lookout for the spectacular views. 45 minute walk up and down.


Unless your Jeannette 1 dodgy knee and she was out to brake the 45 minute time. note all sign posts to the time work it out to an hours walk. ( not enough time to get back for the next ferry.) We did it 35 minutes Jeannette has a red face to show it.
We got back for ferry with 20 minutes to spare, also I fell over on the way down. No worries I saved my camera, 
Left hand elbow and left knee not good, scraped and bleeding.....

Browns Island

 Now waiting for the ferry to Orakei Wharf, here we walked the 2k to Mission Bay, the beach although now sandy, due to it being dredge in, was once actually full of shells.   Aim is for a hot drink and look around, it is a sea side suburb of Auckland which has cafe's restaurants, bars and icecream parlours. We have 2 hours here then the ferry back to Auckland. A very good day out, We only wished the sun had come out to join us.






On our way to Christchurch now.