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by Smitha Guru
Atlanta, Georgia
March 31, 2005
From journal Christchurch - Gateway to the South Island
by LenR
Townsville, Queensland, Australia
July 2, 2001
The first bathhouse was built here in 1885 but the complex was totally re-developed in 1992. The pools are now owned by the Hurunui District Council and operated by the council’s Hot Springs Thermal Reserve Management Committee.
The spring produces a sodium chloride water with minor amounts of boron, calcium and carbonate. It comes out of the ground at 54C and heat is extracted so that the pools are between 32-40C.
We decided to take a private steam suite as a starter. These units have their own changing area, shower and freshwater plunge pool and can accommodate up to 6 people (although this would be very crowded in the changing area). The cost for this, or for the identical units with a sauna rather than steamroom, is NZ$15 for 30 minutes, NZ$20 for 60 minutes.
The steam room was very hot, but the temperature could be controlled by turning off the steam, and the plunge pool was deadly cold. We loved it. Time went very quickly. We then moved to the public pool areas. After our time in the steam room none of the pools were hot enough, even though the one we finished in was 39C. There are several free-form pools connected by a hot stream, three large formal pools, and a 25-metre freshwater heated pool. In another area there is a family activity pool with 2 waterslides. The slides cost a further NZ$5. All these facilities are out-door.
We were tempted to have a massage in the health and fitness centre but settled instead on dinner. We loved the thermal reserve and would have returned each day if we were staying longer. Go in the evening for maximum atmosphere although the daytime air temperature makes it more pleasant to wander around in your swimsuit.
From journal Hot Springs and Wineries