The Hanmer Springs village has long been a popular tourism destination for both domestic and international tourists, but really the magic begins with families.
Families flock to the village year-round to explore and relax. It’s the kind of place that stays with you for years to come. If you ask a Cantabrian, be they an adult or a child, about Hanmer Springs, most will have a story or fond memories of the village.
After a tough couple of months, the village is open for business and ready to be discovered by all those who don’t yet have their own Hanmer Springs memory.
The beauty of this scenic alpine village lies in the fact there are endless activities to keep families – of all ages and sizes – entertained! So whatever you’re in to, you can do it all or pick and choose, for short or long stays.
The popular Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa boasts 22 thermal and heated freshwater pools to soak in, four water slides, including NZ’s largest water slide, Conical Thrill, and an award-winning day spa for Mum. It really is no wonder it made national news, when it reopened after a 65-day closure.
Down the road from the thermal pool complex is 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.
For those wanting to get the legs or heart pumping, Hanmer Adventure offers a range of family-friendly activities including mountain bike hire, to get you into the forest. Its ‘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 right now, 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.
