Hanmer Springs
An alpine hot-spring village on the South Island, with thermal pools, golden autumn forests, canyon bungy jumping and jet boating — a popular overnight stop on a road trip north from Christchurch.
Hanmer Springs lies in the Hurunui District in the north of the Canterbury region on New Zealand's South Island, set in the Hanmer Basin at about 350 m above sea level. Around 135 km from Christchurch, or a 1.5–2-hour drive, it is the South Island's most popular alpine hot-spring village. The village is small: its main street, Amuri Avenue, is lined with oak trees, cafés and restaurants, and at its heart is Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools, opened in 1883. All around stands Hanmer Forest, a century-old planted forest, and trails such as Conical Hill, Dog Stream Waterfall and Mount Isobel start right from town. At the entrance to the village, Waiau Ferry Bridge offers bungy jumping, jet boating and rafting. Heading west along State Highway 7, about an hour's drive brings you to Lewis Pass and the unspoiled Maruia Hot Springs; heading north in summer, you can drive through Molesworth Station, New Zealand's largest farm, and in winter you can ski at Hanmer Springs Ski Area on Mount St Patrick. It's a year-round destination: March–May brings golden autumn foliage, the most photogenic time; June–September means soaking in the snow, with night temperatures often below freezing; summer is ideal for hiking, cycling and outdoor activities. Getting there: from Christchurch, drive via State Highways 1 and 7 and the 7A spur, or take the daily shuttle bus. Hanmer Springs is also a common overnight stop on the Christchurch–Kaikōura and Christchurch–West Coast (via Lewis Pass) road trips. The village is walkable, and mountain bikes can be hired for the forest trails. Plan to stay 1–2 nights. Tips: the thermal pools get crowded on public holidays and weekends, so book accommodation ahead; mountain weather changes quickly, so bring windproof, warm layers when hiking; watch for ice when driving in winter.
Top sights
- Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa – An open-air thermal park at the heart of the town, with more than ten sulfur pools at different temperatures, water slides, and a spa centr…
- Conical Hill Walk – A classic short walk that climbs through forest from the town centre to a summit lookout pavilion with views over the town and Hanmer Basin.
- Hanmer Forest Park – A century-old plantation forest surrounding the town, with heritage trails, a sculpture trail and mountain bike tracks.
- Waiau Ferry Bridge Bungy & Thrillseekers Canyon Jet – A historic iron bridge at the town’s entrance, where you can bungy jump from a 35-meter drop or ride a jet boat through the Waiau River gor…
- Dog Stream Waterfall – A roughly 40-meter waterfall hidden deep in Hanmer Forest, reached by a return walk of about 3 hours along a forest stream valley.
- Mount Isobel – A 1,319-meter peak behind the town, where the summit view from Jacks Pass takes in the Hanmer Basin and distant ranges.
- Molesworth Station – New Zealand’s largest farm, where a gravel road opens in summer across remote high country. Drive yourself or join a four-wheel-drive tour.
- Mt Lyford Alpine Resort – A family-style ski field between Hanmer and Kaikōura, with beginner and intermediate runs, reachable as a day trip from Hanmer in winter.
- Maruia Hot Springs – A Japanese-style hot spring west of Lewis Pass, with open-air rock pools set among primeval beech forest and snow-capped mountains.
- Lewis Pass – The northernmost mountain pass on the Southern Alps, with alpine tarns and beech forest walks, and the starting point of the St James Walkw…
- Hanmer Springs Animal Park – A small, family-friendly farm park south of town where you can feed alpacas, deer and lambs, with mini golf on site.
Where to eat
- MK Restaurant – A family-run restaurant themed around dumplings from around the world, long ranked top for dinner in Hanmer Springs.
- No. 31 Restaurant & Bar – Refined dinners in a vintage cottage on the main street, with a weekly changing chef's menu built around local lamb, ve…
- Spice Village – One of the town's highest-rated Indian restaurants, with authentic flavours, generous portions and prices lower than We…
Itineraries
- New Zealand South Island In-Depth Grand Loop – A complete loop of the South Island starting from Christchurch, connecting coastlines, glaciers, fjords, peninsulas, an…
- Christchurch Alpine Pacific Triangle – A weekend loop heading north from Christchurch for whale watching, inland to a hot spring town, and back.