Heading to Hanmer Springs

Tuesday, 26th February 2008

Hello everyone.

Tonight we have travelled up to Hanmer Springs, a thermal spring/town northwest of Christchurch.  We left Mount Cook this morning in quite sunny, clear weather, and we had the delight of seeing Mount Cook absolutely clearly, as well as the surrounding mountains.  We travelled down Lake Pukaki and then turned east to follow the base of the lake and then north.  All the while, we could see the clear turquoise water of the lake and the beautiful snow covered mountains away to ou left.  It's something we'll never forget - glorious!  We had an extremely long drive in quite hot weather.

We travelled all over the place today, stymied by a closed bridge over the only bridge in the area, forcing us into Christchurch and route 1, the very place we wanted to avoid. To make up for that, we found a pie shop in a little town called Sheffield - absolutely delicious steak pies etc. Made us feel quite cheerful again.

We finally made it up to Hanmer - a thermal spring town that we're just off to investigate.
Tomorrow, we driving to the coast again to Kaikoura to go out on a boat to see if we can find some whales. After that we drive up the coast to Blenheim where we'll stay for two nights, and we will do an all day wine tour in the Marlborough area. After that, we go up to Picton to get the ferry across to Wellington to start our tour of the north island.

Report on the head - coming along nicely, although he wears a hat most of the time and looks quite dashing!  

Love to everyone
Christine and Richard

Relaxing at Mount Cook

Monday, 25th February 2008

Hello!

We've spent a very pleasant and relaxed day at Mount Cook and the Hermitage Hotel. There is a museum here dedicated to Edmund Hillary, and it's absolutely fascinating. Richard really enjoyed that. And there are a couple of films of his life and the conquest of Everest etc.
The weather changed dramatically last night and we had rain and rain! Mountains rapidly disappeared, of course. This morning it was still rainy but we could just about see Mount Cook - although she still had her topping of snow, she now had a ever changing hat of cloud that never quite revealed the top.

Tomorrow we move back down the valley and then have a long run up to Hanmer Springs. I expect the weather will revert back to the heat and sunshine that we've had everywhere else.
Silly thought for the day - it's only 10 months to Christmas.

Richard's hair is growing back. He now has a white fuzz all over - it reminds me of our younger son when he was a baby! (Sorry, M)

Will be here again tomorrow night

Love
Christine and Richard

Mount Cook

Sunday 24th February, 2008

Well - we're now at Mount Cook - or Aoriki to give its Maori name. It really is the most beautiful place - it's like being in the Himalayas. We travelled up from Queenstown, through a lovely wine growing area and then through a fruit growing and agricultural area. We then following the Lindis river for many miles through a gorge, quite breathtaking literally! We then came to Twizel, past some amazing dams and lakes that were a lovely turquoise colour, and then we came to the foot of Lake Pukaki. And there just ahead was Mount Cook, topped with snow and wearing a lovely shawl of clouds. Absolutely amazing. 

We've driven up here and are staying in the grounds of the Hermitage Hotel in a lovely cabin. They have even put us next door to a little launderette. Who's a happy bunny then?

We had the most amazing journey up here.  We travelled north from Queenstown through a beautiful wine growing area, then to Cromwell which is the centre of a fruit growing and agricultural area, and then north following the Lindis river, through the most fantastic gorge, quite breathtaking literally!  Then we arrived at Twizel, which is at the southern end of Lake Pukaki, and there - in all its glory - was Mount Cook, covered with snow and with a lovely shawl of clouds round its top.

We're here for 2 nights, and tomorrow will be a really lazy day. Tuesday we move up to Hanmer Springs, which I believe is a 7 hour drive! We're just about to eat in the Alpine restaurant here, which a buffet, and tomorrow night we might upgrade to the posher Panorama restaurant. Why not?

Thanks for all the comments - they're great and keep them coming.

Guy - we can't be bothered to do anything with photos but we're really going to bore you to death with them when we get back!

Speak to you all soon

Christine and Richard