December 29th, 2005 - Sulphur Baths

On the morning of the 29th after a rough stint in the Abel Tasman we arranged for a sea kayaking excursion in Cable Bay, just outside of Nelson. It was a phenomenal morning trip, where we paddled through caves and rock beaches along the same coast as the National Park. From what we saw of the Abel Tasman, the Cable Bay coast was even more breathtaking. We breaked for lunch on a secluded beach where we snorkled. Both Laure and I also took part in an adventure activity of our own nature, I jumped from a 6 meter cliff and Laure ate some yellow slime from a little spiky balls picked off the Ocean floor (looked like a bad mussel). To top it all off on our way back to shore, we saw a frolicking seal off an island and a huge pod of dolphins (roughly 75), came rushing past us on their way through the Tasman sea between the North and South Island. We took the scenic route off the beaten track to get to Hamner Springs. I couldn't help but stop along the highway and snap tons of pictures of the rapidly changing landscape.
Hamner Springs is renouned for its hot springs and we didn't waste any time jumping into the pools upon our arrival. The rock pools were all clean, warm baths 37'C. We spent most of the time venturing around the streams and waterfalls from one hot spring to another, before we found the Sulphur pools, which were 41'C! It was very relaxing after a month of heavy travelling and fortunately the smell wasn't too potent since both of us are fighting congestion from our previous sinus colds. The next morning we were gun ho to go horse trekking at the foot of the mountains, but as with alot of other things in the South Island around the Christmas Holidays - everything was booked and so we proceeded to Christchurch a day early.