Happy in Hanmer Springs –
the family holiday spot
As soon as you arrive in Hanmer
Springs and see the mini-golf course
on the main street and the crazy four
wheeled bikes (complete with baby
seats) cruising, you know why this has
long been a favourite holiday spot for
whole families.
The most popular attraction is Hanmer
Springs Thermal Pools and Spa. Track near Dog Stream Reserve where
they can perfect their biking skills.
This award-winning complex has
something for everyone. You can sit
and soak in famous, mineral-filled
waters (including the adults-only
AquaTherapy Pools which has spouts
and jets to massage away aches and
pains) or let off some steam in the large
activity pools and on the waterslides.
Don’t miss the SuperBowl, the South
Island’s only aquatic thrill ride. And after it all, most of the village’s
eateries are set up to cater for families,
Fire and Ice even has a playground!
Other family-friendly spots include
Hanmer Springs Animal Park where you
can handfeed wallabies, the mini-golf
courses, the maze or The Lolly Pot shop
(the sweetest place on earth). Today they attract more than half
a million visitors a year to Hanmer
Springs Thermal Pools and Spa and,
thanks to relatively new resea rch,
we know more about the water than
ever before.
There are also plenty of places to
explore nature with numerous walking
and bike tracks. The grounds of Queen
Mary Hospital are a great place to
amble, Hanmer Forest has some lovely
walks and the EasyRider track is ideal
for families. Kids also love the Pump
Why Hanmer Springs’ famous
thermal water feels so good…
People have been bathing in Hanmer
Springs’ famous thermal waters for
centuries.
RO
The
best
place
to be
An independent analysis has shown
the waters are rich in minerals that
have therapeutic benefits. These
include sodium (which can help the
symptoms of arthritis), sulphur (which
can relieve skin conditions) and silica
(known for its anti-ageing properties).
The water is also rich in bathing salts
and is alkaline making it great for skin.
So how do they get so mineral-rich
and warm?
It’s a simple process starting when
rain and snow falls on the Hanmer
mountains. It seeps around two
kilometres underground to enormous
reservoirs where it is warmed by
heat radiating from the earth’s core.
Once warm, the water rises to the
earth’s surface, collecting the minerals
on its way.
Here’s a fun fact to leave you to
ponder…
Scientists have now discovered that
that process takes around 173 years.
That means the water drawn from the
bore at Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools
and Spa today fell as rain in around
1843 – just three years after the Treaty
of Waitangi was signed!
0800 4 HANMER | Open 7 Days
hanmersprings.co.nz