Day Thirty One Driving to West Coast

First night in camper van went well apart from heavy, heavy HEAVY rain throughout the night. More in need of an ark than a van. However sun came up on cue and we went to see the Hanmer Springs. Unusual for us to be up and out so early but we were waiting in the queue to sample the hot mineral waters at about 10am. We were expecting lovely natural hot springs (maybe like Iceland?). Instead the hot springs have been turned into a kind of theme park, with flumes etc.  

Pay extra for this, that and everything!  We enjoyed soaking ourselves in the pools and rejuvenating our travel weary bods (we did get in as pensioners this time without anyone querying it!) and after two hours emerged younger, fitter and distinctly shrivelled! 

Becoming seasoned camper vanners, we had a snack and drink at the side of the road and set off west into the mountains. The first 150km were twisty winding roads and the weather turned very wet and windy. Driving conditions not great and Howard had a few arguments with 'the beast' and the wind - luckily he won. Countryside reminiscent of Scotland.  Again, photos not great - blame the weather this time. 

Stopped for a lunch break - again on a main road. The van, we think, will not cope with the off road tracks so we're reluctant to try. Second part of journey was long and boring. Flat, country, farm land with driving rain belting down.  The occasional one way bridge that looked like it was about to fall down gave Howie his adrenalin rush for the day! 

The bridge ...

... other side of the bridge!

We checked into a campsite in a town called Greymouth. Aptly named cos it is very grey but talking to fellow campers, it seems it's the same down south. We are, however, parked facing a beach so if the weather should change tonight we'll be laughing.   

The beach a touch cold and blowy at the moment!  Bye from windy Greymouth.