This was a pretty amazing stop. On our way from the east to west coast of the South Island, we stopped in the town of Hamner Springs. This place is an “alpine” village nestled among the Kaikoura mountain range, surrounded by snowy peaks on all sides. There is much to do around the town – hiking, mountain biking, 4X4 tours, whitewater rafting, etc. etc. etc. – but we came for one big reason: the Hanmer Springs Hot Pools.
This place has been open since 1904. Back in the day, a large hole was drilled down into the mountainside until reaching superheated natural gas – which was then used to power the town, as well as provide heating for the water. The bore hole still exists, and still heats the pools today:
The facility has grown over time, and now boasts 25+ pools heated between 36-42 degrees Celsius (97-108 Fahrenheit). They also have a children’s area with a lazy river, and 4 waterslides!
After arriving in town and going on a short hike, we spent a full afternoon here before camping at a free location in town. It was only 52 degrees Fahrenheit outside (it’s still wintertime in the Southern Hemisphere), but we stayed warm in the water all day!
Also – of course we went down the waterslides. The water was actually heated in these too!
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