Ready, set, relax ........
When you’ve wound yourself up to a point where the sound of a pin dropping makes you recoil in shock, then it’s time to go to Hanmer.
Winding your way through this beautiful alpine village, you will find yourself deeply envious of those who choose to make it their permanent home, surrounded by more than their fair share of natural beauty and serenity.
Fortunately, they’ve figured you into the equation as well, knowing there is no better start to unwinding than making sure you’re well wined and dined, pampered to an almost embarrassing level and gently entertained.
While others are gaily throwing themselves off bridges attached to a bungy cord, hurtling along on a jet boat or pulling on their hiking boots, you can relax in any of a number of places designed to make you feel that even lifting a finger is overdoing it.
Start as you mean to go on, watching a passing parade of locals and visitors alike from your seat in one of the many cafes before heading off to your spa treatment where you can be massaged, with or without hot stones.
Now that you’re suitably chilled out you can board the train at the Weka Pass Railway and admire all that wonderful alpine scenery before immersing yourself in the Maori art.
The Motunau Beach Cliff top will reinforce every conservation bone in your body once you lay eyes on the little blue penguins.
Formally dressed, as they are every day, to receive visitors, these pint-sized penguins are the smallest in the world and maintain their mystique by coming ashore only after darkness falls.
Art galleries and markets are next before you head to your choice of winery, which includes the renowned Black Estate and Fiddlers Green.
Having drunk and eaten the best the wineries have to offer you can now take care of your inner child by tip toeing tipsily through the Fairy Door Gardens.
Hanmer, of course, is not Hanmer without the hot pools.
There is nothing as immediately and completely relaxing as sinking up to your chin into the hot mineral waters of Hanmer Springs and closing your eyes.
Let others hurtle down the hydro slide and enjoy the waterfalls.
Your only obligation here is to do absolutely nothing at all and do it for as long as possible.
Emerging for food and drink is permissible. For a village Hanmer Springs punches way above its weight when it comes to delivering on versatility, hospitality, facilities service.
While Christchurch has the best of it, being less than two hours away, the appeal of Hanmer has a long reach.
and
exceptional
It seemed to take no time at all for it to become Destination Desirable both nationally and internationally – and absolutely no surprise either.