The diehard Cantabrian I am, living in Christchurch, New Zealand, I have frequently spent time at Hanmer Springs about 140 km from home. It is a delightful thermal town amongst forests and mountains. But Hanmer Springs last month was close to the epicentre of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocketed up the east coast of the South Island. Curiously, Hanmer Springs, apart from a good shaking, suffered little. The town and its attractions were back in business within a few days. Talking of attractions in the form of adventure tourism, I typically stop off at the century-old Ferry Bridge carrying the roadway across the Waiau River Gorge. This is the home of Hanmer Springs Attractions offering jet boat rides, white water rafting, canoeing and bungee jumping amongst other thrill-seeking activities. Regrettably seismic events have slowed visitor numbers into the region. One would hope that will change soon, especially with the holiday season just around the corner. Enjoy adventure activities, walking in the forest, mountain biking or lazing in a thermal pool. Getting there is less than two hours from Christchurch. The earthquake had no impact on accessibility.
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