Time for a break...off to Hanmer Springs. Located in the middle of the island on Arthurs Pass route, about an hour and a hlafs drive from Christchurch. Hanmer is a little Alpine village with, you guessed it, thermal pools galore, as well as numerous tourist shops, activity centres, and lots of kiddies, it being the summer holidays.

That did not put us of doing some well deserved lounging in the hot pools, and the occasional go on the hydroslides! A nice day out in the sun, although slightly strange to be sitting in a steamy pool in the baking sun-but it was manageable!