It has been 2 years, but we've finally made it back to Hanmer Springs! We decided to come up for a couple of days as a fun way to spend our last days of Steve being on holiday. However, it did turn out to be a little more of an adventure than first planned! But more about that at the end! I've decided to make our 'weekend' into one big post, so lots of photos to come!
Day 28 | We arrived about lunch time on Thursday, and of course we headed straight to the Thermal Pools! We had our picnic lunch, and then the rest of the afternoon was spent in the pools - and the hydro slides for Hayden and Steve! Austin also had lots of fun in the kids' AquaPlay area! The kids are at a great age now too. Hayden likes his little bit of independence as he can go and do the slides or play in the pool. And Austin is so confident in the water, so it's more a case of following him around now, and watching him play on the 'Lizard Slide'!
Our first day was perfectly finished with fish and chips and ice cream for dinner!!
Lots of photos today as I took my camera to the pools. So I've chose a few to share with you : )

Day 29 | It was a cooler start to the morning, quite typical of a lot of days this summer! But we had a wander through town, picking up more supplies for another pool picnic lunch! Then it was back to the pools!
We discovered yesterday that Austin could actually go on the Super Bowl ride on the double raft with an adult. He was so, so excited to get one of the paper bands on his wrist to say he was allowed on the slide! So our first stop of the day was the Super Bowl for the four of us! Between the Hydro Slides, Kids' Pool and the Hot Pools, the afternoon was again lots of fun!
We had an early 'birthday' dinner out this evening, and ended up catching up with friends from home, so it turned out to be a really fun night with great company! It was well after 9pm by the time we got home, so a 'big' day for everyone!
A photo of the boys in Hanmer this morning before we went to the Pools : )
Day 30 | Well, this is the day the didn't turn out quite as planned!! We checked out of our motel this morning and wandered up town for a game of mini golf since it was our last morning away. We headed to Alpine Crazy Putt, a brand new course since we were last in Hanmer.
All was going well until we were on the 17th Hole, and Austin decided to trip over one of the obstacles as he was trying to get from the start to the end of the green! He came down on his arm, kind of head first down a little drop. You could tell he was in a lot of pain, and even lots of cuddles weren't helping very much!!
When it wasn't starting to improve after a while, we decided to head to the Medical Centre, which was closed as it was Saturday morning. We rang the After Hours number, and spoke to a nurse who reassured us that they doubted it would be broken, and since there was no on-call doctor in the town, we'd be best to ice, take Pamol, and then head back to Christchurch and then just seek medical advice within 12 hours.
Poor wee Austin was so, so brave! We headed home and seeing Austin had calmed down, we put it down more to just a sprain as was suspected. But the more we thought about it, the more I couldn't leave him all night, and although there was no visible swelling, there was a slight 'lump' on his arm. And more than anything, I had broken my arm at a very similar age and there had been no swelling or bruising to it either!
So off to After Hours we headed! We were straight into see the Nurse, who sent us straight down to X-Ray. Within seconds of the first X-Ray, coming through, we knew his wrist was broken :( Austin wasn't phased at all, and was actually quite excited to think he was going to get a "plaster cast", and even more excited when he got a sling too!!
Thankfully, as soon as his arm was in the cast, he was in a lot less pain, and couldn't wait to get home and show Dad and Hayden! As kids are, he's pretty pleased with it all, lol! So I guess we can't complain too much! Now just to keep him out of water and three very hot days ahead forecasted!
So, some photos today from 'Before' the event, and I've added a couple below too just taken on my phone tonight of Austin getting his cast.
Before:
And After :(