The jewel in the crown is the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa. It boasts 22 thermal and heated freshwater pools to soak in, private pools, four water slides including NZ’s largest water slide, Conical Thrill, and an award-winning day spa.
Luxury and affordable accommodation providers are plentiful. Go lux with Braemar Lodge – an oasis, with the largest suites in Hanmer Springs. Or find a cosy house to park up in at Hanmer Holiday Homes.
On the short drive to Hanmer Springs you can discover one of the country’s hidden gems – the Hurunui. The region has something for everyone – an award-winning wine region with cellar doors and wine tours, boutique shops, scenic waterfall walks, jet boating, glamping and even truffle hunting.
For families
- Families will enjoy the Hanmer Springs Animal Park. The owners are known as ‘the family that bought a zoo’, and on this quirky and sheltered farm, families can interact freely with everything from water buffalo to emus and from donkeys to wallabies. And as with every place in the Hurunui region, the animal park is what it is because of the passionate people behind it.
- Those wanting to get the legs or heart pumping will enjoy the Hanmer Adventure, which offers a range of family-friendly activities including mountain bike hire, to get you into the forest. Hanmer rockets’ quirky quad-cycles are a fun way to cruise the village. There is also quad biking and archery for the older kids.
- When it comes to free things – the village has those too! There are a range of walks to suit families and the fairy door walk is an absolute hit with little ones. The forest amble sculpture walk is also a fun way to combine exercise with entertainment! Keep an eye out for the BFG!
The surrounding towns and sites in the Hurunui region allow you to enjoy a dose of the good life for free, with quiet and isolated beaches, mountains, farmland and forests waiting to be explored.
En route to Hanmer and located just a 30 minute drive out of Christchurch, the North Canterbury wine region is home to more than 45 wineries (12 have cellar doors). This fast-growing and award-winning wine region is a popular destination, given its incredible and diverse landscapes and the families that own and operate most of the wineries!
The North Canterbury Wine Region is also home to free hidden gems like the family-friendly St Anne’s Lagoon which is a great spot to park up at for a lazy afternoon or picnic.
