Cold windy start to the day but we were cosy at the B and B. It was an adobe cottage . Just down the road is Lake Rotoiti . The water was freezing and the wind was so strong even the birds were struggling to fly.

     

Travelling from St Arnaud to Hanmer Springs ,you pass through country that definitely would have fitted the Lord of the Rings trilogy. There are quite desolate hillsides with grass or marshlands in the valley floors or wide river beds filled with rocks and a small but swift stream of water. As you travel along the roads there are delays due to hidden queues. These are where road gangs are strengthening the road to carry traffic until State Highway 1 is repaired following the 2016 earthquake. Another quirk of New Zealand roads are the single lanes bridges on both the main highways and lesser roads.

It does give you time to see unexpected waterfalls and brown signs for sites you might miss.

   

   Maruia Falls.

Scenery in New Zealand is spectacular, whether it’s the forest areas or the mountain passes.

 

 

 

 

After an exhausting time going wow, wow wow, we spent the afternoon at Hanmer Springs thermal pool.  We tried each one for you, sulphur,rock,aqua therapy, so I hope you feel the benefit.