-	All photographs of Hanmer Springs

Hanmer Springs is situated in an alpine village, It is located inland 65 kilometres southwest of Kaikoura. It is 137 km north of Christchurch, 10 kilometres north off State Highway 7, which is the northern route between Christchurch and the West Coast via the Lewis Pass. It is in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, with a resident population of under 1000 people. The town is at 385 metres above sea level.

Hanmer Springs, the town, is built around a popular hot spring which was discovered by William Jones, a farm manager from the Culverden area, in 1859. News of the discovery spread quickly and pools were established as soon as the Waiau Ferry Bridge was constructed, opening access over the Waiau River to the springs. Hanmer Springs is now a very popular tourist destination, the population swells during holiday season.

Hanmer Springs Thermal Hot Pools have been operating commercially for over 126 years. Set in ideal natural surroundings, the many thermal mineral pools are a necessity for those wanting to relax in one New Zealand’s finest thermal complexes. After a day's activities the thermal waters will soothe the tired and weary body. The Thermal Pools are spring fed and contain a wide variety of minerals which can leave bathers refreshed and revitalized.

Hanmer Springs has a wide range of activities to indulge yourself in, most involve being outdoors in the fresh alpine air. There are many scenic bush walks ranging from half an hour to all day in the Hanmer Forest, which is unique as it contains a wide variety of exotic trees that were planted over 100 years ago. Other longer hikes take you through native forest. Mt Isobel climbs to 1320m above sea level, through sub alpine forests and offers spectacular views of the Hanmer Basin. If you want to explore the remote lakes and valleys of the region and get off the beaten track, the best way to do this is to take an informative Guided Walk with one of our professional guides.

From Hanmer Springs you can also visit the Molesworth Station, Lake Tennyson and Rainbow station. During summer months travellers follow gravel roads through the beautiful Rainbow Valley to the Nelson Lakes National Park, and through stunning Molesworth Station to Blenheim, Picton and the Marlborough region. These are popular 4WD routes. Guided tours are also available.

Hanmer Springs Ski Area is situated on Mt. St. Patrick, 1850m, and is an easy 40 minutes drive from the alpine thermal holiday resort of Hanmer Springs. In a good season with lots of snow there is some fabulous skiing. The ski runs cater for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. The Ski Area is run by the Amuri Ski Club, one of the beauties of a club rather than a commercial field is that the only timetable to adhere to is their own, so the lifts are usually open longer. Another advantage is that tow fees are very reasonable because they want people to be able to afford to ski. The season can be short, beginning early July to mid-September, so check the reports and come on up when the snow is good!

There are a variety of restaurants in the town, all offer very good fare. There is also a wide range of Accommodation in Hanmer Springs to cater for all preferences and budgets. It pays to pre book your Accommodation in Hanmer Springs as it is a very popular destination and can be booked out at any time of the year.