Description: Hanmer Springs is one of New Zealand's top holiday destinations, particularly for resident New Zealanders. Every holiday season people flock to this secluded little village to sample the nearby thrill rides and - more imprtantly - the revitalising hot springs.
The route to get there bears a mention. The drive is very beautiful, particularly if you come from the north. If you do this, however, do make sure you have plenty of fuel in your vehicle for the trip as there's a whole lot of nothing between Kaikoura and Hanmer, with steep, windy roads that really eat through your petrol or diesel at an alarming rate. Be warned though - Kaikoura is just about the most expensive place in New Zealand to buy fuel. When we were there is was 25 cents a litre more than it was in Christchurch.
We took the drive up from the garden city and it took a little over three hours. Be wary when you come to the turnoff for Hanmer because it all looks the same up there and it's easy to miss the turn. Junction 7A, where Mouse Point Road turns into Lewis Pass road. This last section of the drive is very beautiful too.
You'll pass the main whiteknuckle attraction before you reach Hanmer itself. Thrillseekers Canyon out on Main Road has an array of thrilling options on offer and it's a pretty well run organisation. It's not cheap (examples: $129pp for adventure quad biking, $110pp jetboating), but it's not outrageously expensive either and you do get a pretty stunning backdrop for your buck when you go with these guys. They open all year, so if you don't mind a little cold go in the offseason to beat the inevitable high season crowds. Hanmer gets really busy in the holidays.
Hanmer itself is a great little town. Nicely put together, it's a place that knows precisely what it is. There's a decent selection of shops offering really good quality souvenirs and decorative items, along with outdoor clothing and equipment stores, a decent selection of restaurants and eateries and a good selection of attractions too. You can explore the area in the big orange 'Hot Tracks' ATVs for a price that's best suited to good sized groups. I didn't do this myself but it comes very highly recommended by the locals.
There's a few accommodation options, ranging from extremely expensive hotels to some very reasonable hostels. All of them are in reasonably easy walking distance to the town centre though, so don't be worried about getting stuck out in the sticks.
One final note is to make sure you visit the hot springs while you're here. They're the reason for Hanmer's existence as a destination and they deserve the mantle. With a broad range of pools available they're a deeply relaxing way to while away the hours in this beautiful location. Before you go check through the voucher sections of the tourism magazines you find everywhere in New Zealand. There's always some vouchers for Hanmer Springs - I found many that let you go back twice in the same day, which was well worth doing as the second visit after dark was a wonderful way to relax before bedtime.
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