Success is getting what you want; happiness is liking what you get

Friday 17 February 2012

Waiau to Hanmer Springs

Who would expect to come across a pretty little Village Green in the tiny village of Waiau?  At approximately half way along our  trip to Hanmer Springs we sat here at the picnic tables and enjoyed a milk shake.  Muffy was outside in the fresh air too and a very attentive dog sitting nicely beside his owner at an adjacent table was watching our cat intently, and we were watching the dog!  After a very slow trip up and down sun browned hills with very little stock grazing, coming to Waiau was like finding an oasis in the desert. 

P2170880 Looking down over the Waiau Valley

DSCF8929 The Waiau Village Green

On leaving Waiau we drove across an enormously long “one way bridge”  which seemed to stretch forever.  There were a couple of handy passing bays in case you met a vehicle coming the other way.

DSCF8931 One way bridge

We arrived at the NZMCA site at Hanmer in time for a late lunch, joining many other fellow members of the association.  This is another low cost stop-over, with no facilities, but offers large roomy grounds for a safe overnight stay.  With the township of Hanmer Springs just a few kms down the road, it is a very popular camping site indeed.  The grass cover is very dry and parched, but there is welcome shade close by from the belt of shelter trees.

DSCF8947

DSCF8948 NZMCA site at Hanmer River Bridge Park

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