October 13, 2019
We spent two days in Hanmer Springs. Hanmer Springs was named after the surveyor Thomas Hanmer. Grace and I measured ourselves!
The town was surrounded by high mountains, little shops in the main street and lots of old buildings. One of the old buildings we walked around was the old Queen Mary Hospital. The alpine air, thermal water and medicines were used to treat local people that were ill, soldiers returning from war and women with mental illnesses. We walked around the old hospital grounds.
We went to the Hanmer Springs Spa. The Maori legend has it that these hot springs are the result of embers from Mt Ngauruhoe on the North Island falling from the sky.
We soaked in the hot water for a long time. There was also a cold pool with a rapid section in it. Paul took us in this, while mum and pen stayed in the hot water.
We came back to the thermal water, it was extra hot after being in the cold water. We didn’t want to leave the hot water!
In the afternoon we went tramping in an old forest. There was signs noting the names of trees and when they were planted. Paul found a tree that was planted the same year as he was born …. we looked up at the tree and looked up at Paul! The tree was really tall!
There was wooden sculptures along the path.
We also found two #hanmer springs art rocks. We moved them further along the path.
By Finn
