Hammer Springs Thermal Reserve

Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve is New Zealand's most celebrated thermal spa resort, located in the small alpine village of Hanmer Springs in the Canterbury foothills of the South Island, where natural hot spring waters discovered in 1859 have been developed into a magnificent outdoor thermal pool complex of rock pools, jet pools, and sulfurous soaking tubs set against the dramatic backdrop of the Hanmer Range's beech-forested mountain slopes that rise steeply above the spa village in one of the South Island's most picturesque highland settings. The springs were recognized by the government in 1883 and developed as a public health resort, initially serving the rehabilitation needs of wounded veterans, and the Hanmer Forest of introduced conifers planted from 1901 onwards now provides a distinctive amenity of walking tracks through aromatic forest surrounding the village in a landscape of genteel alpine resort character. The sodium-siliceous thermal waters here emerge at temperatures of up to 52 degrees Celsius and are distributed through the reserve's extensive pool complex at various comfortable bathing temperatures, offering year-round outdoor soaking against the dramatic mountain backdrop with access to the Hanmer Springs Ski Area, Waiau River gorge walks, horse trekking, and the bungy and jet boat adventure activities that have made this small mountain spa village one of New Zealand's most complete leisure destinations.