Set amongst a beautiful backdrop of mountains and valleys, Hanmer Springs is located in the South Island of New Zealand, and is a 90minute drive from Christchurch. Your holiday to Hammer Springs will begin on the drive there as you travel through the rolling hills of the wine region and the rugged coastal route or over the beautiful and scenic mountain pass. Hanmer Springs holidays appeal to those seeking the premier alpine and spa destination in New Zealand.
Although the village is home to a population of only 1,000 permanent residents, the destination still offers plenty to occupy visitors on holiday in Hammer Springs. The destination is renowned for its adrenalin filled activities such as bungy jumping off the historic ferry bridge. With 40kms of mountain biking trails and 56kms of walking tracks, a Hammer Spings holiday will certainly keep you fit. The Nearby Hanmer forest offers many enjoyable scenic bush walks ranging from half an hour to all day, all starting close to the Village Centre. Holidays to Hammer Springs will also satisfy those looking for peace and solitude with numerous excellent fishing spots, a range of peaceful river banks and and secluded mountain streams. One of the most popular reason for holidays in Hammer Springs are perhaps the the thermal pools located at the centre of the village. The pools range in temperature from 33-42° Celsius, perfect for soothing away aches and pains or for just unwinding. The Hanmer Springs Thermal Springs are low temperature springs produced as a result of the fractured rock bed along the Hanmer Fault. The thermal water originates from rainwater that fell 180 years ago, which seeped down through fractured rock in the Hanmer Mountains to a depth of about two kilometres below the Hanmer plains.Heat radiating from the Earth's core raises the temperature of the rainwater in the underground reservoir. This heated water then rises to the surface through a series of interconnecting fractures in the greywacke rock.