Kaikoura to Hanmer Springs

The whale watching is cancelled due to rough seas and we can either wait until tomorrow morning and try again, or head off elsewhere.

We mull the options over brekkie and decide to head on since Mandy only has a week here, and she's done the whale watching tour before.


These little house trucks are all over the place in New Zealand, some of them lovingly crafted from driftwood and anything else you can think of.

Hanmer Springs is our next destination, right in the heart of the north end of the mountains.

As its name implies its the sight of natural hot springs. These have been converted in a complex of public swimming/lounging areas, with pools of various sizes and temperatures dotted throughout the complex.

It's the perfect way to relax after a day's driving, soaking in 37 degree water whilst the ambient temperature is about 2 degrees, surrounded by snowy hills. Highly recommended.