REEFTON TO HANMER SPRINGS

We left Westport in rain and arrived in Reefton in rain so no changes weather wise! We donned raincoats, grabbed the brollies and explored this quaint old town. We loved it! Popped into a few shops and got a few surprises..... one shop sold fishing gear, guns and amo, bikes and accessories, general hardware and........knitting wool and all accessories! Talk about a random mix! The chap was very chatty with a quick wit and great sense of humour. The general store across the road was the first building in the Southern Hemisphere to have electricity, generated from a local power station. It seems that Reefton was also the first town to have electrically lit street lights...hence its slogan 'Town of Light'. We did invest in a bottle of Little Biddy gin..... it's made here so it's a souvenir! Right!
We parked at the racecourse which would be lovely in dry weather so we'll be back.
We had a look at a couple of great walking options but everything was sodden so left for Hanmer driving a new road for us through miles of pristine native forest. Absolutely gorgeous! Discovered and experienced the Inangahua Swingbridge.....yep I volunteered to cross it! and then the Daniel's Lake track so of course we had to have wee look at that. A five minute walk, that wasn't, to the Sluice Box, saw us bushwhacking around big puddles that blocked the track and being liberally showered each time we touched a tree but wowed by the high water pressure squeezing through the gap.
The beauty of The Coast is amazing and we will be back.
Hanmer Springs turned on sun for us..... so so good, we were definitely feeling soggy! We intend to be here for four or five days.Read more