Southern Destinations: October 28, 2020

18 І Hurunui І HANMER SPRINGS
Sample the region’s finest wines on a North Canterbury wine tour.
Gems to savour in
Hurunui hills
The rolling hills of Hurunui are bursting
with hidden gems, just waiting to be
discovered.
Hurunui is a place to taste, relax,
explore and savour, boasting rugged
beaches, an award-winning wine
region, and endless family-owned
businesses showcasing the very best
of New Zealand’s backyard.
Towns like Amberley epitomise the
North Canterbury of today, where
rural meets urban, and local growers,
producers and creators are making
their mark.
Take independent family-run craft
brewery and pizzeria, Brew Moon for
example. This team of four – Mum,
Dad and two sons, produce their own
craft beers, including exotic seasonal
brews like the Waipara IPA.
The North Canterbury Wine Region,
which spans nearly 200km along
the eastern coastline, is dotted with
family-owned vineyards, best known
for their Pinot Noir and aromatics.
Each of the 90 vineyards, six
5 Star Luxury
Apartments
restaurants and 20 cellar doors
offers a beautiful dining and sipping
experience against a back drop of
mountain vistas and the colours of the
region.
To travel into the alpine log village of
Mt Lyford is to really go off the grid.
It is a serene place where guests at
the Eco Lodges can enjoy the sounds
of the Morporks playing out at night,
while stargazing. Meanwhile, the Lake
Stella Mountain Huts offer a truly
magical experience lakeside, in a
location that combines adventure and
relaxation.
Near the rural town of Cheviot, the
Loughnan family have created a
glamping site on their Tawanui Farm.
There is a tub, two lotus belle-tents
and a flock of sheep grazing nearby.
And there is nothing to do but
unwind. The family also cater to the
thrillseekers, with their Energy Jet that
does trips up the Hurunui River – even
putting on riverside barbecues for daytrippers.
Thermal
springs & so
much more
You know you have had a great holiday when you
return home refreshed, recharged and ready to
tackle life again.
But how often do you arrive back from holiday and
think, ‘I need a holiday to recover from the holiday’?
The good news is the team at Hanmer Springs
Thermal Pools and Spa have carefully curated a
range of packages so you can experience the very
best of the alpine village and leave feeling fully
reinvigorated.
Book directly
with us and
receive 10%
discount
Phone: 03 315 5144
Hanmer Springs
28 Jacks Pass Road
www.clearridge.co.nz
Apartments
offer
luxury &
hospitality
Clear Ridge Hanmer Springs offers luxury,
indulgence and exemplary hospitality to
match. The apartments are located on Jacks
Pass Road within a two-minute walk to the
thermal pools and the village centre and
across the road from the golf course.
The five-star facility is designed to cater for
both leisure and business travellers. The
fully self-contained one- and two-bedroom
suites are ideal for families, groups, couples
or solo travellers.
There are 13 suites located over three levels,
each with their own balcony space, a fully
equipped open-plan kitchen, a laundry,
sitting and dining areas plus a study and
bathroom. Some bathrooms are designed
for disabled access.
Hanmer Springs is just a 90-minute drive from
Christchurch. Home to 1000 residents, this small
alpine village is a popular destination for visitors from
all over New Zealand, who are drawn to the thermal
pools at Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa.
The complex has 22 pools and four aquatic slides,
including New Zealand’s largest aquatic slide, Conical
Thrill. The new Cascades, situated among native
bush, are the newest pools in the complex. The five
thermal pools are interconnected and sit above the
ground to protect the Redwood tree roots below.
You can indulge in soothing treatments at The
Spa, before or after a relaxing soak in the thermal
pools. The Spa’s therapists are trained in a range of
techniques, including a traditional hot stone massage.
Private pools within the complex can also be booked
for the ultimate weekend escape.
In addition to the pools, Hanmer Springs offers awardwinning
restaurants, cafes and accommodation
providers to suit all budgets. What ties them all
together is their special small-town hospitality, and
love of this precious alpine environment.
So why not stay awhile in Hanmer Springs, where the
alpine air and thermal waters you enjoy today can
prepare you for tomorrow.