
Hanmer Holiday Homes
Hanmer Holiday Homes offers the largest range of holiday home accommodation in the wonderful alpine village of Hanmer Springs. Read More
Holidays
With endless coastlines, winding forest trails and charming historic villages, Hurunui is an explorer’s paradise with plenty to surprise and delight all who visit.
Hidden Gems
You are never far away from a hidden gem in Hurunui. Forage for truffles, scour the forests or comb the endless coastlines. There are infinite delights just waiting to be found.
Adventure & Challenge
Stand atop Mt Grey enjoying panoramic views, fish in unique braided rivers or hit forest mountain bike trails. Hurunui’s outdoors are calling.
Escape & Reward
With fresh alpine air, forests and mountains, Hurunui is a natural relaxant. And for those wanting to really unwind there are spa treatments, wineries and indulgence on tap.
The taste of the Hurunui
Delight in one of New Zealand’s award-winning wine regions, linger in a winery restaurants and don’t miss the chance to taste the local fare at the weekend Farmers market in Amberley.
Fun with kids
Explore
Fossick under the forest canopy, comb the coastline for special treasures or experience the high country’s magnificence, it is time to dust off your cobwebs and get exploring.
Touring Routes
Road trips make memories and Hurunui is a motorist’s dream. You’ll whip past limestone outcrops, over patchwork plains, always heading towards rolling green hills on the horizon.
Welcome to Hanmer Springs
With fresh alpine air, mountains and forests, it feels good just being in Hanmer Springs. Everything you need is right here, including famous thermal springs.
North Canterbury Wine Region
A place of pioneers and innovators, the Waipara Valley’s an award-winning wine region. You’ll love the vineyard tastings and the winery restaurants… they’re exceptional.
Hurunui Heartland
Hurunui is filled with heart. Historic homesteads, country pubs and rolling green hills that will have you feeling a world away from your everyday life.
Getting Here & Getting Around
Browse Events
Eventful Hurunui
Plan or Promote an Event
Canterbury & West Coast Regional Events Fund
Alpine Winter Festival
Things To Do
Amplify your adrenalin on a jetboat or bungy cord, soothe your stress with spa treatments or strolls in the forest. Just get here and start making memories.
Action & Adventure
Hurunui is known as one of New Zealand's adventure tourism hubs. With bungy jumping, jetboating, quad biking, four wheel driving and horse riding among the activities on offer, adrenalin junkies will definitely get their fix.
Art & Galleries
Art lovers will find a treasure trove of attractions in the Hurunui with gorgeous galleries and shops dotted about the region.
Family Fun
The Hurunui is a family friendly destination... the perfect place to hang out and simply have fun.
Golf
There are golf courses a plenty in the Hurunui District. You’ll find fairways with mountain backdrops and incredible scenery as well as seaside courses, so pack the clubs and get set to tee off!
Hunting & Fishing
With canada goose, wild boar, deer and chamois, Hurunui is a popular hunting ground. It’s equally awesome for anglers with country lakes, coastlines and rivers ripe for fishing.
Parks & Gardens
With its rolling hills and stunning green landscapes, it will come as no surprise that the Hurunui is also home to some excellent parks and gardens.
Many make an excellent day trip from Christchurch and are well worth making the drive.
Spas & Relaxation
The Hurunui is lucky to have a wide range of day spa operators located across the district.
There's an extensive menu of body treatments available, suitable for all budgets - from a traditional massage to increasingly popular treatments like aromatherapry, reflexology and Thai massage - the list is almost endless.
Ski & Snowboard
Winter sees the Hurunui come alive as one of the playgrounds for snowbunnies in the South Island.
The region has two excellent ski-fields at Hanmer Springs and Mt Lyford.
Tours
The Hurunui is perfect for self drive but you can also join a tour to see behind the scenes.
Walking & Biking
Trails for all ages and all abilities. Tackle mountain tracks with panoramic views from the top or stroll or ride through winding forest trails with delights around many a corner.
Accommodation
Whether you want to make some new friends in a backpackers or indulge in luxury, it’s easy to find the perfect place to stay … what you will find hard is leaving.
Backpackers
The Hurunui has a number of hostels to choose from - cost effective, clean and fun places to stay. You'll always find a hive of activity here.
Bed & Breakfast
From cosy homes with cute bedrooms to large stately manors, we have a lot of 'Bed and Breakfast' accommodation. A great way to experience the legendary Hurunui hospitality.
Holiday Homes
Holiday homes are one of the most popular accommodation choices in the Hurunui - particularly in Hanmer Springs.
A great option for families and groups who want to self cater.
Holiday Parks & Campgrounds
A range of campgrounds are scattered across the Hurunui - they make exceptional, welcoming and cost-effective places to stay. You'll find many have everything you need onhand - bathrooms, kitchens, laundrys...even play equipment for the kids!
Hotels
Hotel accommodation is a popular option for Hurunui holidaymakers - particularly those in Hanmer Springs.
You'll find all the comforts of a home away from home and some luxuries too.
Motels
The Hurunui has a large range of motels across the district. Ideal for everyone - from couples to families or groups, they are very popular option for short term stays in particular.
Farmstays
Experience an authentic part of New Zealand life and stay on a farm! You'll be warmly welcomed and learn a lot.
Freedom Camping
Freedom camping (staying overnight out of campgrounds) is only permitted in some parts of the Hurunui. Please read the Hurunui District Council Freedom Camping Bylaw for further details.
Self Contained
Self contained accommodation includes apartments, Pure Pods and full serviced homes. Consider them your 'home away from home'.
Wedding Venues
Who doesn't want a stunning backdrop for their wedding day? The Hurunui has many to offer...dramatic alpine vistas, rows of grapes in award winning vineyards, rolling green hills, crisp rivers and lush green forests. With a range of venues and activities for your guests to enjoy, your wedding will be an unforgettable event.
Action & Adventure
Hanmer Springs
Due to ongoing repair works following the storms in July 2021, access through the Awatere Valley Road is closed to the public.
There will be a possum control operation in the area between 18 October 2021 and 31 August 2022 to eliminate the risk of bovine TB spreading in domestic stock.
The operation covers 12,271 hectares, broken into three sections, between Lake Tennyson and the Molesworth Homestead.
Traps and bait stations will be used in the area, and there is a risk from secondary poisoning. Poison warning signs will be in place and maintained throughout the operation.
For further information contact Excell by phone 0508 392 355 or email office@excellcorp.co.nz.
First published on 14 October 2021. Last reviewed on 19 January 2022.
Due to ongoing repair works following the storms in July 2021, access through the Awatere Valley Road is closed to the public.
Check the Marlborough District Council website for road status updates or public information map.
The Acheron Road through Molesworth is open but can only be reached from the southern end, via Hanmer Springs.
Refer to Marlborough District Council updates throughout the holiday period. But while repair work continues there is no northern entry or exit through the Awatere Valley – all road users must return via Hanmer Springs.
Molesworth Cob Cottage campground at the end of the road is around 85 km of gravel road from Hanmer Springs. There are no re-fuelling options or charging stations for EVs or e-bikes.
First published on 8 October 2021. Last reviewed on 11 January 2022.
Contractors will be undertaking wilding conifer control work via a combination of aerial (helicopter) and ground based teams in the Molesworth Recreation Reserve.
Map of the wildling conifer control operation area (PDF, 6,941K)
Aerial Basal Bark Application (ABBA) will commence at the end of October with helicopters coming and going as the weather conditions allow.
Ground control has started in Maukuratawhai near Hanmer Springs with crews starting later in the season at Alma Tarndale and Saxton.
Boom spraying in Maukuratawhai will happen at any time between 1 December 2021 and 28 February 2022 and is dependent on suitable weather conditions. Similarly, boom spraying in Alma Tarndale will happen any time from 5 January 2022 to 28 February 2022.
First published on 28 October 2021.
USUALLY
During summer, the Acheron Road is open 7am - 7pm from Labour weekend Saturday to Easter Monday or the second Sunday in April (whichever is the later date), but may be closed without warning due to weather conditions or fire danger.
The Acheron Road status can be checked 24 hours a day by contacting DOC Wairau / Renwick Office (03) 572 9100 or online at www.doc.govt.nz (type Molesworth in the search bar).
How to find Molesworth Access via Acheron Road
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Contact Us
42 Amuri Avenue
Hanmer Springs
New Zealand
Email: info@visithurunui.co.nz
Phone: +64 3 315 0000
Free phone : 0800 442 663 (NZ only)