Hanmer Springs > Reviews > Tucked away in the Southern Alps

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money	Excellent
Shopping	Good
Nightlife	Average
Ease of getting around	Good
Family Friendly	Excellent

Advantages:	Hot pools, amazing scenery, outdoor adventure
Disadvantages:	none at all

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Hanmer is the South Island of New Zealand's, ''thermal centre'' and the welcome you get when you go there is just as warm as the hot pools.

Set in the High Country, 385m above sea level it is in a flat plain but close to beautiful, high mountains, a big, clear, blue river and only about two and a half hours drive from the international airport at Christchurch.

Most people drive to Hanmer, it's just off the main road from Christchurch to Nelson, just getting there is a scenic experience to add to your travel memory bank.

The population of Hanmer varies, it depends if you are there in the height of the summer season or perhaps for the winter skiing or just relaxing in the delicious hot pools anytime of year.

It's known for the large, extremely well presented, natural, thermal hot pools - Hanmer Springs - and here you can swim in formal, heated swimming pools or sit around the more private and intimate rock pools.

If you really want to be luxurious you might hire a sauna or a private pool and let the kids get rid of their energy o n the water slide.

What I really like about Hanmer Springs Hot Pools is that people of all shape and sizes go there, and all in all, you just blend in.

There is a restaurant right beside the pools so you can make a day of it, or an evening if you want to take a warm swim, a shower and then a romantic dinner.

Now, Hanmer was a small back-water place when I was a young girl but nowadays it is still quiet and peaceful butwith its diverse attractions it lures visitors from all over the world.

You can choose whether you book a hotel, motel, B and B, camping ground or just pitch a tent down by the river: then relax and blob out or get into the myriad of outdoor adventure activities.

How about a Dust and Dirt trip to places like the high country Molesworth Station, or a Argo all-terrain 8WD trek, a motorbike safari or drive your own Four Wheel Drive over river beds or on rough off-road country. Horse trek into the hills, bungy jump or take a jetboat ride and really get the adrenaline going.

For the more sedate, try bowls, orienterring, fishing, tennis or take a walk out to the Waterfall track, then have a picnic in the ever so quiet places aplenty, with the only sound that of the birds, surrounded by native bush and mountain valleys.

Hanmer Springs is a delight. In travellers terms, it has it all.

I've been to Hanmer Springs many times, on romantic weekends, wayward weekends with ''the girls'' , on Four Wheel Drive weekends and sometimes just called in for lunch.

Every time I find something different to do, every time I enjoy the finest of South Island wines and hampers of delicious local food from the supermarket in the town.

Pubs, cafes, restaurants, neat little shops and people who really do like to share their absolutely beautiful part of the ''clean, green'', New Zealand.

My latest trip was after going through Molesworth Station, a dirt road but a trip with some of the most stunning scenery you will ever see in your life.

We'd taken a detour, into some bone crunching country and hit Hanmer rather dusty, dirty and tired so we made straight for the hot pools. Boy they were a heavenly haven - just what the doctor ordered.

Hanmer Springs has evolved into a busy, friendly and interesting town where a holiday really is memorable - it's what you make of it and locals there are sure to help you get the best out of your tourist dollar.

Go soon, enjoy it as I do - it's a beautiful part of New Zealand.

(There are no trains to Hanmer Springs, you will be able to take a bus there, (from Nelson in the north or Christchurch in the south), hire a helicopter if the cash allows it or hire a car and drive yourself, by far the best option because then you can stop off along the way and enjoy the South Island 's changing scenery as you go from the coast into the mountains.

I would strongly advise getting a good map, if you plan to drive , as then you will know some of the spots to stop and see things, of interest, like the wineries, old railway line, and historic places.)