New spa more than a flight of fancy

By Carly Udy
The most elaborate of spas calls for the most elaborate of transportation methods.
John Hopkins admits he got "a bit carried away" when purchasing his first spa pool and yesterday the mammoth $21,000, 408kg hydro therapy beast had to be delivered to Mr Hopkin's backyard by helicopter.
The five-seater spa was too heavy to crane in and the ground where it could have been wheeled in by a trolley was too uneven. So the next alternative was to chopper it in - a rare event according to seller of the spa pool, Mike Ogier owner of Mount Maunganui's Indoor Outdoor Living.
"It's that whole pony express thing, the mail must get through.
"As the retailer we take care of the whole thing. This spa is in the top 20, it's one of the bigger spas. It's the third biggest spa we sell. It's a full hydro therapy spa, made in America. When you turn all the pumps on you basically float on water," he said.
Mr Hopkins, a Maungatapu retiree, is currently finishing off the last of an estimated $500,000's worth of alterations to his chateau-styled home, and said a spa was one of the finishing touches - although he hadn't initially planned on it taking up such a large part of the backyard.
"It just turned out like that, I got a bit carried away," he chuckled.
"It's got two loungers this thing," he said eyeing the covered spa as he waited for the chopper to arrive.
"I'll be able to sit round the front and admire the view [of Tauranga Harbour]," he said grinning ear to ear.
He might first have to fend off the grandchildren, whom he expects will be the deluxe spa's main soakers alongside himself and wife Delyse.
Neighbours armed with cameras joined the Hopkins' in marking the event.
The spa will be christened just as soon as an electrician has been to wire it up.