We left Franz Josef on a very misty morning rather pleased with our decision to take the flight over the glaciers the day before when the weather had been glorious. We journeyed up the Westland coast alongside beautiful and deserted beaches through Haas and across Arthurs Pass on Highway 73. We were planning on staying at Arthurs Pass for a night stop but we didn’t like the look of the campsite as it was very close to the busy state highway and so decided to continue to another site about half an hour out of town.

Unbeknown to us it was the weekend of the ‘Speights Coast to Coast’ a multi-disciplinary race (cycle, run and kayak) from Kumara Beach on the west coast to Brighton Beach on the east*. The roads were really busy with competitors driving to the start line, their cars laden down with kayaks and bikes. We did a fly-by of the campsite, it was heaving and so we decided to wing it and continued east to get out of the main rush of competitors driving west to the start line.

We ended up in the little town of Springfield a few hours east of Arthurs Pass. The top attraction in the town seemed to be a garish pink Simpson’s style donut in the kids play park, that and the pub of course! We found the campsite, a basic but well maintained site run by a charming man with one leg and a cat.

The view from the campsite at Springfield

Springfield’s main tourist attraction.

Springfield’s second tourist attraction.

*The race looks challenging but achievable. Registration for 2016 is now open….I am tempted, but maybe 2017 would be more realistic, any takers?! http://www.coasttocoast.co.nz/

We left Springfield early for the drive north on Highway 1 around Christchurch and onto Highway 7 to the thermal spa town of Hanmer Springs. We arrived under grey skies and with a bit of a chill in the air and after a quick lunch we donned jumpers and waterproofs and headed out to explore the town.

A rather wet walk in Hanmer Springs.

Hanmer Springs is a pretty town with a wide thoroughfare lined with large pines and a great selection of cafes and restaurants. The Thermal Pools and Spa complex is in the center of the town and the next morning we spent a number of very relaxing hours lounging around in the various different heated pools. The weather was rather chilly and overcast but it made us appreciate the heat of the water even more as we nipped between pools trying not to get too many goosebumps on the way!