Less than a two-hour drive from Christchurch, Hanmer Springs is a popular resort town.
Though it’s best known for its gorgeous geothermal hot pools, this little town punches well above its weight…
Delicious food, fun activities, beautiful scenery, mountain biking, skiing and snowboarding – really, what doesn’t Hanmer Springs have?!
If you’ve decided to pay this memorable spot a visit (and we thoroughly recommend you do!), this post is for you…
Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools.
Nathan on the quads at Amuri Jet Adventures.
Our Hanmer Springs itinerary overview
We’ll break down exactly what we did in Hanmer Springs shortly, allowing you to DIY your own little getaway.
But if you’d like to use our itinerary, this is exactly what we managed to comfortably fit into each day.
Day 1
- Collect rental car from SNAP and drive to Hanmer (we actually started our trip the day before and had a night in Christchurch with friends – stopping off at Quake City and a great cafe in Sunmer – but this article assumes you’re just focused on Hanmer Springs).
- Arrive in Hanmer Springs.
- Enjoy a late lunch (fish and chips) at The Log Cabin.
- Settle into your accommodation – we stayed at Birdsong Alley B&B (adults only). Hanmer Springs Gateway Lodge is another great option if you’ve got kids.
- Dinner out at No. 31.
Day 2
- Breakfast (included at Birdsong Alley).
- Drive out to Amuri Jet Adventures (just out of town) for a quad bike tour and jet boating.
- Back into town for a quick lunch.
- Head to the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools.
- Dinner at Tease.
Nathan and I on Amuri Jet – rugged up warm!
Fish and chips for lunch at The Log Cabin.
Day 3
- Breakfast (again, included in our stay).
- A massage and facial at The Spa at Hanmer Springs – or walk up Conical Hill instead.
- Back to Amuri Jet Adventures for clay bird shooting.
- Walk the Hanmer Springs Forest Amble Sculpture Walk.
- Lunch at PJ’s Pies.
- Drive back to Christchurch (or on to Kaikōura or over to the West Coast) mid-afternoon.
Now, join us as we break down everything we did, allowing you to create your own Hanmer Springs itinerary to suit the amount of time you have and your personal interests.
Transport to/From/around Hanmer
Getting to the South Island: Flying Jetstar
We flew from Auckland to Christchurch with Jetstar.
Though they only fly from the larger airports in New Zealand, they often have the most affordable fares and good on-time stats.
Just be across your baggage allowance (purchasing more if required, ideally in advance) and arrive the airport well before check-in closes (which is 40 minutes before your flight).
>>> Check out the rest of our flight photos.
Departing Auckland on Jetstar.
Flying over Canterbury is always a treat.
Christchurch Car hire: SNAP Rentals
Upon arriving at Christchurch Airport, we filled in the online shuttle form, and before long were onboard our shuttle, heading to SNAP Rentals to collect our hire car.
We had a Mitsubishi Outlander for the duration of our trip – and what a great road trip car!
With a powerful (but surprisingly fuel-efficient) engine, plenty of space for luggage (and us) and a good reversing camera, we were safe and comfortable on the road.
We’d gladly hire one of these again from SNAP and would recommend an Outlander to almost anyone – from couples, right up to families of four or five.
>>> Read our SNAP Rentals review.
What we did
Amuri Jet Adventures
Just before you drive over the old bridge into Hanmer Springs, you’ll notice Amuri Jet Adventures on the right.
The original jet boating company in Hanmer, this family-owned and operated operation offers thrills and fun for the whole whānau.
Jet boating
Best known for their jet boating, this is the perfect beginner-friendly ride.
Whether you’ve got a little one with you (they allow kids aged 3+), or someone who’s just a little less adventurous, this jet boat ride is more about the beautiful scenery than it is about twists, turns and speed (though it’s not lacking there, either).
It’s also great value – in fact, with your NZTT discount, it’s probably the most affordable jet boating in the country!
>>> Read more about jet boating with Amuri.
Did you know? Amuri Jet normally goes down river first, but if you mention that someone in your group is a little nervous, they’ll head on the shorter upstream section first, so you can see how you feel about the ride. Then, if it’s not for you, you can hop off before they continue.
Quad biking tour
We’ve been on a number of awesome quad/ATV rides in New Zealand (Franz Josef and Queenstown being honourable mentions) but now we have another tour to add to our list of favourites!
In total you’ll spend about two hours on this quad trip, exploring a working farm, tucked away in a beautiful valley.
After a quick training run, you’ll follow your guide along farm tracks and on specially created quad-trails (including a number of stream crossings).
And just like the jet boats, they cater to a wide range of experience and adventure levels.
Little kids and those who don’t drive (or aren’t confident), can hop into a family-friendly buggy, while quad drivers have the choice of power steering (perfect for those with dodgy shoulders), or non-power steering quads.
We both opted to ride the non-power steering quads, as they have more accurate steering while still being easy enough to manoeuvre.
>>> Read more about our quad bike tour.
Clay bird shooting
If you’ve got a few competitive travellers in your group, be sure to include a clay bird shooting session in your Hanmer itinerary!
You’ll be taken out on the farm, where you’ll be given the choice of two different guns to use (we tried both) as you attempt to hit competition-grade clay birds.
If you ask me, it’s harder than it looks.
If you ask our friend, Mike, who won on his first target-shooting outing, it isn’t so difficult.
We’ll let you see for yourself!
>>> Check out our clay bird shooting review.
Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools
If you’ve heard of Hanmer Springs before, you’ll probably already know about the hot pools.
They’re iconic, and, for most people, they are Hanmer Springs’ largest drawcard.
And with 22 different geothermal mineral pools, four of the best waterslides in the country and a beautiful setting, we think that’s fair enough!
Whether you choose to relax in a natural rock pool, float amongst the gentle rapids, splash about in the kids’ pools, or race down on the slides, the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools are serious fun, whatever the season.
Visit any time of day… first-thing is great if you want to avoid the crowds, but we personally love late afternoon/early evening to enjoy the sunset.
>>> Ride the Conical Thrill waterslide with us!
>>> Check out our Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools review.
The Spa at Hanmer Springs
After a weekend of fun and adventure, we were excited to check into The Spa at Hanmer Springs for treatments – a massage for Nathan and a facial for me.
After an amazing couples massage recently at Wai Ariki (up in Rotorua), we both had high expectations – and The Spa delivered completely!
Nathan and I met up, him exclaiming “that was probably the best massage of my life” – and with my glowing skin, I couldn’t help but agree – my facial was top-notch.
If you’ve got an extra hour or so, we highly recommend picking your favourite spa service and booking in some you-time.
>>> Read our thoughts in our Facebook Group.
Hanmer Springs Forest Amble Sculpture Walk
Located just outside of town, this gentle family-friendly walk is a must-do if you have a little spare time in Hanmer Springs.
Along the way, you’ll spot a dozen or so wooden sculptures, providing great photo opportunities.
The trail itself is pram friendly and totally flat, so it really is suitable even for the littlest of travellers.
It’s also free, so a great addition to your itinerary.
>>> Check out more photos from our forest amble.
Where we ate
No. 31 Restaurant & Bar
We’d been told how fabulous the food at No. 31 Restaurant & Bar was, so we were looking forward to visiting – and it really was every bit as amazing as we’d expected it to be!
Specialising in modern European cuisine, this is fine dining without any pretence.
Instead, they focus on amazing local produce and memorable flavours, in a relatively casual setting.
Choose from two or three courses (trust us, you’ll want all three!), but be prepared to be a little flexible, as the menu is constantly changing based on the season and produce availability.
To give you an idea of what to expect, we ordered:
- Crispy coconut rice cakes with satay cause, bok choy and kumara crisps
- Seared scallops, corn puree, chorizo and crispy polenta
- Merino lamp rump (both main meats were generous portions), with gratin potato, maple carrots, braised red cabbage and port lamb jus
- Slow-cooked local beef cheek (grass-fed, from North Canterbury) – with roasted duck-fat potatoes, seasonal veg and mushroom jus.
- Warm spiced apple and maple sponge, with butterscotch sauce and orange mascarpone.
And everything was incredible!
>>> Read our review of No. 31.
Tease Bar & Eatery
On our second evening out, we were tasked with finding a restaurant that would make four adults happy, while also catering to a four-year-old.
Tease Bar & Eatery ended up being exactly the solution we were looking for!
With a focus on locally sourced ingredients, they whip up a wide range of Asian fusion meals, alongside more traditional Kiwi and European flavours.
And you really will find something to suit everyone here.
From flavourful butter chicken to beef cheek (served with massaman jus), these plates are begging to be served family-style from the middle of the table.
And if you enjoy a tipple, be sure to check our their innovative G&T menu, their local craft beers, and the delicious cocktail menu.
To top it all off, meals are served with the help of a cute little robot waiter. And if you give her a little pat on the head, she’ll reward you with some love in return.
>>> Check out our Tease review.
PJ’s Pies
Kiwi love good pies!
And PJ’s is our number one pick for pies in town.
Made by Swiss pastry chefs, Kate and Jim, PJ’s Pies specialise in a range of tasty, unique flavours, using top-quality ingredients.
Each pie is jam-packed full of meat, and encased in buttery, flakey pastry. Yum!
Favourites include:
- Akaroa Salmon with spinach and cream cheese
- Pork belly and apple
- Smokey BBQ beef brisket
- Chicken cranberry and brie.
Did you know? New Zealanders are nicknamed “Kiwi”. We don’t say “Kiwis” because te reo Māori doesn’t have an “s”! The Māori alphabet consists of 15 letters: A, E, H, I, K, M, N, O, P, R, T, U, W, Ng, and Wh.
>>> Check out our other PJs photos.
Where we stayed
Birdsong Alley B&B
Rayone and Rhys, our hosts at Birdsong Alley (and proud members of the NZTT Facebook Group), were actually the reason we chose Hanmer Springs on our most recent trip down south.
We had initially planned to head to Akaroa, but they convinced us that there was no better choice than Hanmer Springs in the wintertime, so we changed up our plans and visited them – and it was 100% the right decision!
So, with an itinerary in hand, thanks to Ray’s wonderful local knowledge, there was never any doubt where we’d stay – Birdsong Alley – a hosted adults only B&B.
With two modern rooms, each with its own private ensuite, tea/coffee/snack station, and an outdoor patio, Birdsong Alley is private, quiet, and the perfect place to relax between activities.
The bed was comfortable (and we were even asked how firm we wanted the mattress to be), the pillows were perfect, and the water pressure in the shower was out-of-this-world good!
If you choose to stay here, you’ll be served breakfast (at no additional cost) each morning and will given top travel tips from your hosts.
Plus, there are plenty of canine snuggles on offer if you’re that way inclined… but don’t worry, the dogs will be kept on their side of the house if you’re a bit nervous (and they’re never allowed inside the B&B side).
>>> Check out our review of Birdsong Alley B&B
Hanmer Springs Gateway Lodge
As Birdsong Alley was adult’s only, and we were travelling with friends who had a little one, we needed another accommodation option – and the newly reopened Hanmer Springs Gateway Lodge was just the ticket.
With a variety of comfortable, spacious rooms, Gateway Lodge is a reasonably priced motel accommodation in a great location.
It’s an easy walk from the lodge to the hot pool, but it’s also away from the hustle and bustle of town (if you can call it that).
There you’ll find comfortable beds, big bathrooms (with good water pressure), plenty of parking and an on site restaurant.
It is a great base in Hanmer Springs – particularly for families.
>>> Check out our post on Hanmer Springs Gateway Lodge.
What is a motel, and are they a suitable accommodation option in New Zealand? We often stay in motels here. They are generally clean, tidy and safe. Motels include private ensuite bathrooms, kitchenettes and parking (generally right outside). They also often have laundy facilities, and will sometimes have extras like kids playgrounds.
And there you have it, a summary of our amazing little weekend away in Hanmer Springs.
We loved our time there and can’t wait to return.
Enjoy planning your trip to this beautiful little mountain village.
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The post 2-day Hanmer Springs Itinerary: Food, Fun and a little pampering appeared first on New Zealand Travel Tips.
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