Hot springs/thermal pools in NEW ZEALAND?

Question

gooing to the south island for 20 days and would like to know if there is any hot spring that's highly recommended..will be travelling pretty much all over,so it doesn't matter where it is as long as it's worth the drive...Thanks

Answer 1

Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa!

Hot springs and mineral pools in the alpine village of Hanmer Springs. A 90 minutes drive from Christchurch

Answer 2

In addition to Hanmer Springs, if you venture off the beaten track you'll find hot springs in some out-of-the-way places.About 5km from Lake Sumner on the walking track to Harper Pass there's a hot spring.  I went there on a very cold, wet winter day and warmed up.  I calculated that it releases about a megawatt of hot water continuously.  And on the Copland Pass track, near Mt. Cook, there's a hot spring.

Answer 3

Nothing better than Hamner Springs, they just opened up a new day spa there as well...

Answer 4

Hanmer Springs Pools!! Whenever I can I'm on my way there. Hanmer has been developed so much recently, the restaurants are great. The pools are most relaxing and you can spend all day there. If you buy a returning entry, you can go in the morning, leave to have lunch some where else in the village and come back again. It's only two dollars more for a re entry pass. The best thing about Hanmer is... the moment you drive into the town you can feel al your stresses slide away. It is so peaceful and relaxing, you really rejuvenate. Have fun....  might see you there  :)

Answer 5

Absolutely! The best would definitely be Hanmer Springs which is a quaint little village surrounding the hot pools and is nestled away amongst a lot of hills in the province of Canterbury. The hot pools are excellent and the vicinity is reasonably big. It is definitely the best that New Zealand has to offer in terms of hot pools. The village of Hanmer is also great as it has many luxurious places to stay at, there is a fabulous range of restaurants, a wide range of activities like: jet boating, fishing, tramping, mountain biking, Golf, Bungy Jumping and a whole lot more. It really is a marvelous place and I personally love it. You also don't have to travel very far as it is only 1.5 hours away from the main city in the South Island: Christchurch. Hopefully you are to make out there because it is a really nice village!

If you want more info then here is a really helpful website:

http://www.hanmersprings.co.nz/  

Hope you enjoy your time in NZ!

Answer 6

Certainly Hamner Springs . I was there a couple of weeks ago. we where driving from Christchurch to Nelson and tasman national park. Hamner Springs is an alpine village and we stayed in motels called Greenacres just on the rise of the hill over looking the village. we had a lovely chalet with a kitchen, and they had a super spa pool which is private so you book it for 30 minutes at an extra cost of $3. because we where only there over night we went to the Spring pools early evening then used the motel spa in the morning before we left. Hamner springs is very touristy and we where told by the locals that Maruia springs where nicer not as touristy but they are up the road towards Nelson more Not sure if it was an hour or 2 drive further on along the Lewis pass.

Answer 7

In the South Island there is of course the much talked about Hanmer springs....there are also some other, smaller ones too. I actually prefer Maruia Springs, which is in the vicinity to Hanmer in the Lewis Pass area. Its more naturally set and its lovely at all times ( we visited it in July....mid winter, in cloud and really enjoyed it). Its more isolated as its not part of a town like Hanmer, but the Lewis Pass area is lovely too, with native forest surrounding and tussock....

There is also one in south westland on the Copeland track ( Between Fox Glacier and Haast). I have never walked it, but from memory its a few hours walk to some thermal pools....hmmm trying to remember about them. There is not resort or anything, you dig the holes etc and get in...so if you like something different, there is that too!