Hot Pools In Hanmer

Hanmer Springs is located high up in the Southern Alps on the way through the Lewis Pass which is one of only 3 passes across the mountains (the others, Haarst and Arthurs we've travelled before). The scenery is stunning. No pictures of the springs as we went at night, but it's a great place to relax and unwind in 40 degree spring water pools (see this promo pic). This is the view as you enter the town though:



Bungy jumping is possible off the rickety looking wooden bridge:



So after the pools we followed the road up through Lewis Pass across to Reefton.



The weather on the eastern side of the mountains was lovely...



But as soon as we reached the high point of the pass and the western side, the infamous west coast wet weather soon appeared. It looked like the forest was on fire with all the rising water vapour:



It clung to the sides of the valleys, and did a lot of raining!



Reefton has hit the big times recently with the opening of a gold mine nearby. But not all the properties are done up posh yet!



Then it was time to head for home back across the mountains and back to the nice weather again!