eC's Chillout Lounge

We woke up early in the morning and went for a dip in the rock pools, which came in various shapes, sizes, and temperatures.

Rain water seeped down through deep fissures in the mountains hundred of years ago and remained in underground reservoirs before it was heated and pushed back up to the surface through the vents at Maruia Springs. Basically it’s the same water with new packaging – hot with a sulphur content.

Due to its high mineral content, the thermal water has healing properties, and it’s thought to be particularly beneficial for detoxifying and softening the skin. The colour palette of the pools changes daily, ranging from crystal clear to milky, and through to almost black.

I would describe the colour of the day as milky Tiffany & Co green.

The water was pretty hot at 37 degrees Celsius. I could feel myself slowly poached.



After soaking in the pool for about 5 mins, use the Utase-yu. That is the traditional Japanese method to enjoy hot springs.

Basically a ‘waterfall’ of hot spring water and you just sit under the flow and move your body for a massaging effect.



This cold plunge pool was not for the faint hearted. When I jumped in, it felt like a million needles poking all over me. It was painfully refreshing. I'm awake now, really.



After freezing all over and the attack of the sand flies, I continued in the traditional Japanese bathhouse with segregated bathing facilities for men and women.



Each bathhouse features showers and stools for bathing, before stepping into the spa pool and hot tub.

Before I had the chance to enjoy the river and mountain views, I was traumatised when I saw a couple kissing in the hot tub, totally naked of course.

Let me remind you this is man only zone. Enough said.

We bid the place farewell after a sumptous breakfast to where we started for the Fellowship of the Ring, at Christchurch.





On route via the Waipara Valley, we came across the Pegasus Bay vineyard and stopped for some wine tasting.



The place was packed with both locals and tourists. And a great place for free wine!




The a la carte menu was equally impressive, and we got ourselves a table right near the window.

Confit farm raised rabbit and duck rillettes, pistachios,
toasted brioche, tart cherry relish




Slow roasted pork belly with sage, kumera purée,
bok choy, candied apple sauce.




Pan seared fish of the day, saffron linguine, steamed clams,
peas, morels, lemon à la nage.

Eliss loved my fish. I'm not a person who will order fish as a main, but I have to say this dish was really wonderful. The broth was full of flavour, and not overpowering with fishy smell (think bouillabaisse). It was the first time I tried the morel mushrooms and loved the crunchy texture.

Service was top notch too.

We couldn't resist not going out to the beautiful gardens in this beautiful weather.

Check out the size of that flower!

We arrived at Christchurch, the regional capital of Canterbury at about 2pm.

The city was named after the Christ Church cathedral. The Māori name Ōtautahi is a shortened form of Te Whenua o Te Potiki-Tautahi - named for the seasonal dwelling of Ngai Tahu chief Tautahi of Port Levy on a bank of the Avon River.

The city reminded me of Brisbane city during the year 2001-2003. Small and quiet.




We kept checking our watches in disbelief. So many of the shops were closed at 4.30pm on a Saturday afternoon.

Even the 24hrs convenient store locked their doors.

What's happening to this place?



The name of this restaurant echoed our feeling at that point in time.

Xian sound similar to Sian, which means bored by the way. Yawn.

We went back to the holiday park and found more things to do there.

I prepared some green curry chicken with pasta, a fusion dish to clear all the groceries we were left with.

After that, we went to catch a movie of Superman Returns at their movie room.

Not bad for a $40 a night stay.