The 15 Hanmer Springs Tours That Earn Their Price

1.Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 218 reviews · from $26Our pick

Spend up to eight hours at Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa with access to 22 outdoor pools, four waterslides, a lap pool, kids’ areas, and family facilities. You can move from quiet mineral pools to lively water play, with food, lockers, and towel hire available onsite.

“We entered around 10:30 although there was a queue to get in the staff were great and very quick to process tickets bought on line. Very clean changing rooms handy spin dryer for swim ware. Lifeguards on patrol but not intrusive. The hoRead more”

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2.Amuri Adventure Jet Boating in Hanmer Springs

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 191 reviews · from $80Top rated

Meet the Amuri Jet team outside Hanmer Springs for a one-hour outing, including a 35-minute jet boat ride on the Wairau River. Guides such as Chris and Brendon combine high-speed canyon runs, Hamilton spins, river wildlife, and local stories about the Hanmer Basin and its earthquake fault line.

“The joking around lighthearted answers to big questions.walk down to the boat was hard on us with bad knees.ride was fast exhilarating.”

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3.Thermal Pools Single or Return Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 107 reviews · 1 day · from $25Best value

Spend a full day at Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa, about 90 minutes from Christchurch. Choose one entry or return the same day for thermal pools, sulphur pools, rock pools, jets, a lazy river, water slides, and garden picnic areas. Towels, lockers, and spa treatments cost extra.

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4.Hanmer Springs Quad Bikes

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 104 reviews · from $109

At Hanmer Springs Attractions, you’ll learn to handle an automatic or manual quad bike, then follow a guide through forest, creek crossings, riverbeds, and farmland. Overalls, boots, and a helmet are supplied. Riders aged 16 and over can drive, and two-seater bikes suit passengers.

“We are in our mid 60's and really enjoyed the quad bikes. After a practice track to give us confidence we set off on an amazing trek through forest, stream gulleys and crossed rivers. Stopped by a river for water and a cookie. Helmets and wRead more”

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5.Hanmer Springs Jet Boat Adventure Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 81 reviews · from $35

Join an English-speaking guide for a one-hour Hanmer Springs jet boat outing, including a safety briefing and at least 30 minutes on the Waiau River. Expect narrow gorges, braided shallows, rapids, mountain scenery, splashes, and the famous Hamilton jet spin. Guides such as Daniel and Ciaran add humor and local facts.

“My four year old grandson was reluctant to board the Jet boat but once in the driver gave him a rubber duck that settled him down. We all loved the ride,splashes, scenery, drivers talk which was very interesting and the whole experience. Highly recommend.”

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6.Hanmer Springs Bungy Jump, New Zealand

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · from $134

You’ll jump 35 metres from Hanmer Springs’ historic Ferry Bridge toward the Waiau River, then bounce back on the bungy cord. The 30-minute outing includes a t-shirt and certificate. Bring courage, leave pocket items behind, and buy photos or GoPro footage afterward if available.

“Just go for it my daughter was scared but she done it any way and now wants to do it again. She loved it”

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7.Amuri Jet Adventures – Hanmer Springs Quad Biking tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 49 reviews · from $104

Spend about two hours riding single or twin-seat quad bikes across a working farm near Hanmer Springs. Pete or another Amuri Jet Adventures guide gives a full briefing and practice run before leading you over muddy tracks, creeks, hills, and viewpoints above the river canyon. No experience is required, and children can ride as passengers.

“It was an 'out of the world's super amazing experience. Our instructor and guide was Darryl who we as fantastic and he made it so memorable. Highly recommended :) :) :)”

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8.Hanmer Springs 2-Hour Quad Bike Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 45 reviews · from $70

Take control of a 4WD quad bike on Hanmer Springs back roads, dirt trails, river crossings, farms, sheep tracks, and bush. An English-speaking guide leads this small-group ride of up to 10 people. Drivers must be at least 16, and no hotel transfer is included.

“Memorable! It was raining and it made the track challenging.”

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9.Waiau Gorge Rafting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 24 reviews · from $99

Meet at the Waiau River base near Hanmer Springs for a two-hour rafting trip through clear water, forest, rock formations, and grade 2 rapids. A qualified English-speaking guide leads your small group of up to eight, with a jet boat ride back to base.

“Not good at all. I lost my bracelet, someone else saw the guide found it. I called them almost a week to get an answer. By the time they got back to me I already left. I ask them to mail me the bracelet and I’ll pay for the shipping and they ignored me completely. And I mailed them several times and no respond at all. And the bracelet is gold.”

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10.35-Meter Bungy Jump off Waiau Bridge

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 18 reviews · from $129

You’ll receive an English-language safety briefing before jumping 35 meters from the 135-year-old Waiau Ferry Bridge. An instructor guides your launch, and a jet boat collects you below. The 45-minute activity suits first-time jumpers and small groups of up to five.

“I loved it! It was scary at first, but the instructor was amazing, you felt totally safe. Great job!”

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11.Hanmer Springs Rafting and Quad Bike combo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · from $198

You’ll ride a quad bike through Hanmer Springs countryside, then paddle the Waiau Gorge on grade II white water. Guides such as Daniel, Sam, Maddie, and Tully are praised for clear instruction and good humor. Safety gear is supplied, but expect to get wet. Quad riders must be at least 16.

“Great experience. We took our 4 year old jet boating and she had a blast. Customer service was good so much so we stopped a week later on our return at the cafe and the staff remembered how I took my tea.”

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12.Hanmer Springs Star Tours at Manuka Skies

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $80

Join guide Brent at Manuka Skies for a two-hour Hanmer Springs stargazing tour. Learn the Southern Cross and other constellations with the naked eye, then use Celestron and manual telescopes, astro binoculars, and interactive star finders to explore objects such as the Omega Cluster and Sombrero Galaxy.

“We didn't actually get to do this as the weather wouldn't co-operate but the communication was wonderful and a refund was issued. If we had time to stay and wait for the weather to clear it would have been amazing as the Hanmer Springs area as awhole was just beautiful.”

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13.Hanmer Springs Jetboat & Quad Bike Combo

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 10 reviews · from $167

Spend three hours at Hanmer Springs combining a Hamilton jet spin and more than 30 kilometres of jetboating with a two-hour guided quad-bike ride. Daniel, Hunter, and Luke are among the named crew. Expect safety gear, river crossings, mud, dust, and a small group capped at 10.

“Jet boating was great fun, good duration and great scenery along the river. The quad biking also travelled through picturesque landscape, and was enjoyable, however the pace was a little slow, no doubt catering for inexperienced riders and with a focus on safety.”

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14.River Jet Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 1 hour · from $77

Join Amuri Jet in Hanmer Springs for a fast, one-hour ride along 20 kilometres of the Waiau River. Your English-speaking driver handles narrow gorge turns, braided shallows, rapids, and the famous Hamilton 360-degree spin. Children under three cannot join, and warm layers are wise in cool weather.

“Great fun, fast driving, some good adrenaline, great views ans longer than you think :)”

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15.Guided Stargazing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 2 hours · from $77

Your English-speaking guide leads a two-hour stargazing trip from Hanmer Springs Village to a native-forest dark sky site. Use an electronic telescope, manual scopes, astro binoculars, and an interactive star finder while enjoying hot drinks, snacks, blankets, and shuttle transport.

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