5 Best Things To Do In Hanmer Springs, NZ

1. Hanmer Springs Ski Area

Hanmer Springs Ski Area is a ski club on the slopes of Mount St. Patrick, situated on the South Island of New Zealand. Hanmer Springs Ski Area is recognised for being a friendly, fun ski location with a diversity of specifically created terrains for beginners and professionals that you can choose from, depending upon your ability. The Hanmer Springs Ski Area is also a great location for families to experience skiing together. Hanmer Springs Ski Area presents training packages for novice and ski hire. You can also plan to stay in their alpine accommodation and enjoy your ski training at ease. However, you need to bring in your own sleeping bags as they provide you with the sheets and pillows and pillow cases.

Hanmer Springs Ski Area has a wide collection of terrain to choose from and is home to the longest Poma lift in New Zealand. Hanmer Springs Ski Area is approximately 2 hours away from Christchurch. A shuttle runs daily from the alpine resort town of Hanmer Springs just 17 km (10 miles) away from the Hanmer Springs Village.

Hanmer Springs Ski Area

Address: Mt St Patrick, Hanmer Springs, 7334, New Zealand

Website: Hanmer Springs Ski Area

2. Mount Lyford

The delightful Mount Lyford is located on the touring route of the spectacular Alpine Pacific Triangle. Established in 1987, Mount Lyford is New Zealand’s one and only log cabin village, stunningly constructed to intermingle the environment and neighboring natural bush. The core of the village is Mount Lyford Lodge with an outstanding restaurant, bar and a range of great lodging making it the perfect and prevalent location for day trips.

Mount Lyford is impressively inaudible and boasts of limited mobile phone exposure due to infrequent coverage of signal, making it the optimum place to escape the commotion and recharge your own batteries! It’s no miracle that people return to Mount Lyford multiple times to get peace of mind away from the urban chaos.

Mount Lyford

Address: Stag And Spey 7395, New Zealand

Website: Mount Lyford

3. Hanmer Heritage Forest and Conical Hill

Conical Hill alongside Hanmer Heritage Forest is a great location to discover what New Zealand’s woodlands should offer, with a variety of walking, mountain biking and horse riding tracks in the area. The Conical Hill and the Hanmer Heritage Forest provides a majestic environment to admire and feel at one with mother nature and bring out the cheerfulness of oneself when meandering in this forest. The variety of exotic species designated throughout its past records the antiquity of this forest. Initially, international vegetation was introduced for their robust nature with numerous species coming in from the alpine environments of Europe. Trees were designated from the montane areas of central Europe, including black pines, Norway spruce and deciduous larch, with alders in wet areas, and oaks and silver birches planted as convenience species. Currently, radiata pine and Douglas fir are planted in the broader forest, comparable to numerous other plantations in the forest.

The oldest expanse of the forest is preserved under the Crown covenant and has trees dating back to the early 1900s. This preserved expanse of the forest has become diverse and converted itself into a next to natural forest. The ever-growing nature of the Hanmer Forest attracts significant scientific attention to the zone and is a constituent of the tourism in Hanmer Springs. The old forest is traversed with many well-preserved paths, from shorter paths appropriate for the whole family to longer walks – counting the summit of Mount Isobel for panoramic scenes. Conical Hill is a 30-minute walk up a mild traversing path that leads to the lookout at the top of the hill.

Hanmer Heritage Forest and Conical Hill

Address: 87 Woodbank Rd, Hanmer Springs 7334, New Zealand

Website: Hanmer Heritage Forest

4. Hanmer Springs adventure centre

Countless adventures all in one location! Hanmer Spring’s attractions offer the outdoor adventure that New Zealand is world famous for and in the natural settings of Hanmer Springs. A mere 90 minutes from Christchurch, relish a day full of fun and adrenaline with family and friends. Amuse yourself with the staggering scenery along the Waiau River as you whiz through the narrow valleys, white water torrents and plaited shallows on their exhilarating jet boat ride. Explore adrenaline to new lengths when you sign in for the world renowned Bungee Jump, jumping from the notable Ferry Bridge and free-fall for 35 meters (115 feet).

Take time out on the Grade 2 River Rafting escapade as you paddle down in a crystal-clear river and try Canoe Safaris, which is extremely fun and perfect for families. Encounter the landscape, the river bed creek crossing and the farmland trails on quad bikes. Pack up your kit, load up your gun, and get across the battlefield where you may get shot painted red, blue, green or yellow! If you are shot more than the others, get yourself tested at the Claybird Shooting Range and renew your confidence in shooting. The Hanmer Springs adventure centre is open all days from 9:00am to 5:30pm, where you can spend the entire day with all the attractions and come back hungry for more.

Hanmer Springs adventure centre

Address: 20 Conical Hill Rd, Hanmer Springs 7334, New Zealand

Website: Hanmer Spring’s Attractions

5. Hanmer Springs Animal Park

Hanmer Springs Animal Park, initially called the Wai ariki Farm Park, is now located on 2 acres (0.8 hectares) of parkland with panoramic mountain sights. The animals on display are well maintained, clean and kept in a relaxing atmosphere to allow the visitors to touch and hand feed the animals. The pro-active involvement with the animals allures adults and children alike. The animals on display in the Hanmer Springs Animal Park are the Red Wapiti deer, Nubian & Angora goats, emus, Tibetan yak, alpacas, llamas, rabbits, ducks, chickens, donkeys and various varieties of sheep!

The vivacious café in the park provides a variety of teas, wonderful organic coffee and delightful food. Lunch can be relished inside the café with its own exclusive atmosphere. On a warm day, you can sip on a cup of coffee and relax on the wide decks while watching the kids interact with the animals nearby. The Hanmer Springs Animal Park promises a distinctive family experience to remember.

Hanmer Springs Animal Park

Address: 108 Rippingale Rd, Hanmer Springs 7334, New Zealand

Website: Hanmer Springs Animal Park

Vacation is Hanmer Springs

Famous for its natural hot pools and spectacular landscapes, Hanmer Springs, a scenic mountainous village, is the picture-perfect spot to relax. The resort town of Hanmer Springs is a gorgeous, all year holiday terminus for adventure, relaxation and sheer indulgence. Surrounded by the mountains and towering forests, this delightful town is home to a myriad of boutiques, cafés, bistros and restaurants that will satiate your gastronomic desires. Adventure junkies can have their days planned to soak in the uninhabited exquisiteness of Hanmer. Sign in for forest hiking, mountain biking, horse trekking, bungee jumping, and in winter, hit the slopes and ski to your hearts content. Something for everyone in Hanmer Springs.