Te Araroa 30/12 - 1/1/26

Days 100 to 102, Hanmer Springs 

It rained all day on 30th and in the morning I ordered a Uber to get to Hanmer  but when it was supposed to arrive I got a message saying that they were sorry but they couldn't find a driver! I did get a $30 credit and the first car that came past when I put up my thumb stopped and took me all the way. Very good of them as it was a 14 km detour from their direct route to Canterbury, yet another example of Kiwi friendliness. 

Hostel reception 

A wet time in the town spent visiting various eating establishments and talking to the large numbers of TA walkers who seem to have gathered here.

Hanmer hot springs 

The town is a tourist destination famous for the hot springs and there were a lot of people about with accommodation very scarce, I was a day earlier than I expected but managed to get a bed in the same hostel that I had booked for the next two nights.

Hanmer 

The next day, New Year's Eve, was spent shopping for the next ten days. I sent three days worth on to Arthurs Pass to avoid carrying quite so much but it is still an impressive weight. 

I got my new shoes, the old ones don't look too bad in the picture 

Once that was all organized I went to the hot pools to sit in some nice suphorous water untill I was even more wrinkled. The pools were very busy but mainly around the slides and things, there was enough space in the adult areas.

Tourist transport 

I hadn't intended to stay up to see the New Year in but I met up with Pete and Dean, two TA walkers from New Zealand. It was Pete's birthday today and Deans birthday on the 2nd so we went for a meal together and ended up singing Auld Lang Syne with everyone else.

Seafood platter

I went back to the hot pools on New Year's Day for a quiet soak before spending the rest of the day relaxing at the hostel reading a book and eating.

Hanmer approach road

Pete, Dean, myself and Vinny (Italian TA walker) are getting a shuttle back to Boyle in the morning to continue the trail.