Couple’s Retreat: Hanmer Springs Strikes The Perfect Balance Between Relaxation & Adventure

Whether you’re after a sub-zero spa experience or some high-octane action, there’s something for everyone in Hanmer Springs, says beauty editor Ashleigh Cometti An easy 90-minute drive from Christchurch airport, Hanmer Springs is the jewel of North Canterbury – an alpine resort town that attracts tourists in droves year-round, doubling A leisurely soak at Hanmer Springs Thermal Pool and Spa remains one of the top reasons to visit the area. Now, the country’s largest geothermal hot pools are even more appealing for couples with the unveiling of Elemental, an adults-only guided contrast therapy and wellness ritual exclusive to Hanmer Springs. No trip to Hanmer Springs is complete without a visit to Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa. Photo / Ash ComettiTussock Peak Lodge is an easy five-minute walk to the hot pools. Photo / Ash ComettiMore than 15 years since my last visit, I took my husband, Sam for a long weekend for our anniversary. Despite half his family being based in nearby Christchurch, he had never visited. We made a beeline for one of the Thermal Pool and Spa’s three adults-only AquaTherapy pools, heated at a comfortable temperature of 35-37C, allowing us to soak up our child-free time literally and metaphorically. Next came a soak in the sulphur pools, set amongst the volcanic rock overlooking the pool complex. These mineral-packed pools sit between 40-42C (Hanmer’s hottest) and are free from chlorine to maximise the therapeutic benefits for skin, joints and circulation. After our session ended, we floated back to our accommodation. Any type of hot tub helps me decompress almost instantly, but the relaxing after-effects of our soak lingered for hours afterwards (as did the smell of sulphur on skin). The next day we enjoyed a 90-minute guided quad biking tour with Hanmer Springs Attractions, an adventure hub which also offers bungee jumping, jet boating, rafting and paintball, which was perfect for thrill-seeker Sam. Our guide, Pete, lives locally and has worked in the tourism industry for 40 years, 18 of which he’s spent with Hanmer Springs Attractions. Twice daily, Pete takes groups around either the High Country Farm Tour or River Valley Blast and says he never tires of the job.Following a deluge a few days prior, the Waiau River was high which made for plenty of fun. We sped through gumboot-high puddles and traversed river crossings on the River Valley Blast, touted as the tour to take if you’re seeking a bit of action and adrenaline. The rugged terrain saw us navigate winding creeks and rocky paths as we took in the scenic views of Hanmer’s mountainous surrounds. Grinning from ear to ear from being sprayed with mud, we returned back to base buzzing. After a brief driving test, we were ready for our River Valley quad adventure. Photo / Ash ComettiThe River Valley Loop is the more intrepid of the two trails Hanmer Springs Attractions offers via quad. Photo / Ash ComettiIn town, we explored the many shops and restaurants dotted around the main street (The Lolly Pot Shop was a highlight), and remarked how our kids would enjoy a visit to A-Maze-N-Golf mini golf and interactive gaming centre Pixel Planet (we’ve already booked a return trip in January). After refuelling with lunch, we prepared for what proved to be my favourite part of the trip – an immersive contrast therapy wellness experience at the new Elemental by Hanmer Springs, which opened in early August.Our 75-minute appointment saw us experience four elements – fire, air, ice and water – as we moved through the different zones that alternated hot and cold environments, trying to find the element best suited to us. Ember (the sauna room). Photo / Ash ComettiThe adults-only experience is geared towards couples, developed in response to the growing demand for premium, wellness-focused experiences in the region. After stripping down to our togs, we began with 15 minutes in the Finnish-style sauna, a wood-lined room heated to 70-80C. We ladled water onto the hot rocks for a burst of steam (known in Finnish culture as löyly) and settled onto our towels. Mist (the steam room). Photo / Ash ComettiOnce we were suitably sweaty, we wandered next door to the steam room, transitioning from dry heat to wet heat. A quiet bubbling sound lent rhythm to the room, heating water and dispersing it through vents. We breathed deeply as we allowed the steam to envelop us. I’m familiar with contrast therapy and cold plunges, but I’d never tried it with snow. So it was with much anticipation that we set foot in the snow room – New Zealand’s first, complete with real, falling snow. It’s the brainchild of local engineer Neil Wilson, the man behind Hanmer’s thermal pool heating system and the popular Alpine Winter Festival ice rink. The custom-built snow machine freezes water run-off from the roof, before being scraped and blown using a fan; in doing so it produces fresh, powder-like snow that falls from above and settles throughout the room, under twinkling lights and a faux alpine wonderland outlook. Glacial (the snow room). Photo / Ash ComettiYou’ll get a generous sprinkle of snow depending on where you sit. Sam opted for the longer benchseat and had snowflakes melting on his shoulders throughout. I sat to the side and caught snow in my hands and patted it over each limb, controlling my cool-down. There’s a childlike sense of wonder that comes with sitting under falling snow. I’ve only been lucky to catch snowfall once in my life (at a Queenstown restaurant when I was 10) and this experience transported me back there. After making our literal mark on the snow walls that flanked either side of the space (a rather cheesy A + S) we headed to our private geothermal pool. The floating platter available in the private geothermal pool. Photo / Ash ComettiA floating platter waited for us at the pool’s edge, with two glasses of kombucha and a selection of healthy treats. We flung open the bifold windows to let in some autumn sunshine, sat back on the ledge and chatted for the remaining half hour of our session. A luxurious add-on came in the form of the Elemental Haven Escape, a 60-minute relaxation couples massage situated just down the hall. My therapist, Ellen, spent the full hour smoothing lavender-scented oils onto my limbs, gently kneading with a light-to-medium pressure. Ellen generously extended the same level of care to my scalp and feet, and at some point during the massage I fell asleep (I figured Sam had, too, from the light snores emerging from the massage table next to me).We departed the hot pools on cloud nine. We’d be promised an immersive, restorative experience with benefits to both body and mind, and the Elemental Haven Escape did just that. No. 31 Restaurant & Bar promises a fine dining experience in the heart of Hanmer Springs. Photo / Ash ComettiAn anniversary dinner at No.31 Restaurant & Bar rounded out our jam-packed second day, ensuring we signed off our weekend on a high note. After spending the day getting our hearts racing then unwinding at the spa, a glass of Greystone Pinot Noir felt like the cherry on top. Ashleigh Cometti visited Hanmer Springs as a guest of Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa.Where to eatTease Robo CafeThis Kiwi-Asian fusion restaurant and bar comes complete with a robot waiter. If the niche service wasn’t enough to lure us inside, the relaxed dining atmosphere and five-hour-long happy hour was. The 777 Gin Cocktail menu features seven gins, seven tonics and seven aromatics to build your custom gin cocktail (and for only $12). While our cocktails were delivered by hand, the cauliflower fritters and sticky pork belly bao buns we ordered were instead whizzed over by a robot called Cade. Fire & Ice restaurantSituated in the middle of Hanmer’s central strip opposite the hot pools is Fire & Ice, a cafe and gastropub that features a sunny courtyard, outdoor fireplace and on-site playground. The staff were friendly and attentive, delivering our easy lunch of fried chicken and calamari with plenty of southern charm. Powerhouse CafeThe Kumara Corn Cake at Powerhouse Cafe. Photo / Ash ComettiThis cafe came highly recommended on Instagram and it delivered – I enjoyed one of the best flat whites I’ve had in a while. Situated inside a 100-year-old historic building that once delivered electricity to a local hospital, Powerhouse now serves up the best local fare to hungry tourists and locals alike. Almost everything on the menu can be made gluten-free. No.31 Restaurant & BarThe winter menu is structured as a two- or three-course selection based on chef Scott Buckler’s recommendation. A main dish and dessert was our preference, plus some warm bread to start. The beef cheek is hands down the best I’d ever eaten, melt-in-your-mouth tender served with seasonal vegetables in a mustard sauce, while Sam raved about the duck he’d ordered.Two decadent chocolate creameux desserts later, we rolled back to our accommodation. Where to stayTussock Peak Lodge is a two-storey motel located a stone’s throw away from the hot pools. While other motor lodges are situated a little further out of town, Tussock Peak’s central location means you can easily wander Hanmer Springs’ main strip on footIf a soak in the hot pools wasn’t enough, selected rooms feature generously sized spa baths and bath salts to extend the experience even further. More beauty and wellnessThe top beauty trends that emerged from the NZFW runway; experts share their go-to products to use backstage; wellness rituals to combat burnout and how to achieve great eyebrows.