DAY 9
Week 2
HANMER SPRINGS (Canterbury, NZL) to CHRISTCHURCH (Canterbury, NZL)
Sunday April 22nd, 2018
TODAYS MILEAGE – 94 miles or 151 kilometres
TRIP MILEAGE – 3,444 miles or 5,543 kilometres
As our Interislander Ferry service to the South Island was scheduled for a 9 AM departure, the five of us were up nice and early to pack up the minivan and head down to the Wellington Inter Island ferry terminal a couple of hours prior to departure.
Not sure why, but Hertz Rent-A-Car’s policy is that you have to leave their vehicles in the Wellington, then pick up another vehicle upon your arrival at Picton, after the 43 mile (70 kilometre) four-hour crossing of the Cook Strait.
After half an hour sorting out the new 12 seater Toyota HiAce Commuter mini bus, we headed into Blenheim to stock up on supplies and essentials like all the fixin’s for G&T’s, White Russians and other adult beverages of choice of the grape and hop varieties.
The journey down the east coast of the South Island was slower than usual due to the huge amount of roadworks going on and it seemed we could barely get over 30 k's an hour for most of the afternoon. Just after Hawkswood, we hung a right onto State Highway 70 - the Inland Kaikoura Road, through Waiau and on up into Hanmer Springs for the night.
The reasoning behind this was due to a couple of other Golden Oldies festival sports finishing in Christchurch, there were no accommodations available. We figured it’d be easiest for all concerned, if we were to spend the night outside of town and then take our time driving in for the opening ceremony tomorrow.
Our Air B&B accommodations were typical mid 70's two-storey duplex that although looked very tired, was clean & comfortable and located within walking distance from the centre of town.
• HANMER SPRINGS ~ Waiau River (Canterbury, NZL)
• CHRISTCHURCH ~ Quality Hotel Elms (Canterbury, NZL)
• CHRISTCHURCH ~ Golden Oldies - Parade Of Nations (Canterbury, NZL)
• CHRISTCHURCH ~ Golden Oldies - Welcoming Reception (Canterbury, NZL)