van wyk journeys 
Did you get my good side not my backside? baaaad 
Maruia Falls 
Hanmer Springs Apartments 
Hanmer Springs Apartments 
Hanmer Springs downtown 
Mountain views 
Mountain views 
Mountain views 
Mountain views
+14, Raining lightly on departure but cleared up a half-hour into the 3 1/2 hour drive and was sunny in a few spots. It was windy and calm while the roads were both straight and winding but winding wins the day.
Hanmer Springs is the destination today at around 305 km. We drove through changing scenery and ever-growing hills eventually turning to low mountains by our standards. 30km slow zones were widespread and increasing in number as we get closer to Hanmer Springs.
Along the way, we stop at Maruia Falls the result of a 1929 earthquake that caused a slide that changed the course of the river and eventually created a waterfall.
Arrival at Hanmer Springs was uneventful, the accommodations are nice and even have a loft plus seating in the garden.
We decided that it was a good day to try the Hanmer Hot Springs and take a lengthy dip in a variety of hot pools ranging from 35 C to 42 C all in some off and on drizzle. We enjoyed an hour moving around from pool to pool trying out the different temperatures finally settling into the first pool we tried.
Hanmer Springs is very much a tourist town in every way. All things are geared towards tourists including pricing on groceries.