Winter wonderland

Why wait for the warmer months to treat yourself to a glorious classic drive? I had a fantastic trip through a winter wonderland recently on State Highway 6 over the Lewis Pass, which links Nelson with Hanmer Springs and then onto Christchurch. Recent snow and brilliant sunshine made for a glorious backdrop – our Saab 9-3 convertible must have thought it was back home in it’s native Sweden! I nearly put the roof down but the winter sun wasn’t quite warm enough at the top of the ranges, and I was enjoying that snug warm Swedish interior a tad too much to expose any more of me. Of course Hanmer Springs offers a pretty similar contrast with it’s own way of keeping you toasty, the experience all the more enhanced when you’re sitting outside in your togs with the temperature just above freezing…..mmm, I’ll move to that other pool in just a minute….