South Island: Hanmer Springs
The weather continued to be gray and damp as we
drove on north to visit the seal colony at Cape Foulweather (some argue unfairly
named by Captain James Cook in the 18th century) west of Westport, a worthwhile
stop. We traveled west through the Buller Gorge and across rolling hills
and farmland with many herds of cows and deer.
We drove through old gold mining areas and lumber towns
to the hot springs resort town of Hanmer
Springs. Though it rained plenty most of the day and evening, we loved
soaking under the umbrellas set up over the hot pools of the Thermal Reserve (the umbrellas
are usually to shade bathers from the sun) and treated ourselves to an incredible
gourmet dinner at Laurel's Cafe. Because of the rain, we didn't take the cameras
with us so we don't have pictures of the thermal pools or of Laurel's.
