The 15 Hanmer Springs Tours That Go Early

1.Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa

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

Spend the day at Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa with access to 22 outdoor pools, four waterslides, a lap pool, kids’ area, and family activity pool. Move between hot mineral pools, aquatherapy features, and cooler water attractions at your own pace. Bring food or buy lunch on site, and use the mobile ticket for flexible entry.

“First time to Hanmer Springs. I had the most wonderful time at the hot pools, trying out the different pools. Bought a whole day pass so that I could come back in the early evening.”

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2.Amuri Adventure Jet Boating in Hanmer Springs

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

Meet Amuri Jet Adventures outside Hanmer Springs for a one-hour outing built around a 35-minute Wairau River jet boat ride. Your driver takes you through canyons, braids, rapids, shallows, and the famous Hamilton spin, while sharing local stories and pointing out the earthquake fault line. Chris and Brendon are among the named drivers.

“We all enjoyed our jet boat adventure. The spins and rush of water along the gorge was great. Our party of 5 had fun”

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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. Your ticket covers the thermal pools, rock and sulphur pools, activity pool, lap pool, lazy river, and water slides. Choose one entry or return the same day. Bring a towel, and note that spa treatments cost extra.

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4.Hanmer Springs Quad Bikes

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

Meet Hanmer Springs Attractions by the Waiau Ferry Bridge for a safety briefing, riding practice, and a two-hour guided quad-bike trip. You can choose an automatic or manual bike, drive from age 16, or share a two-seater. Expect river crossings, muddy trails, big views, and a good chance of getting wet.

“This was just the best fun. I was a but scared to try this but they make you feel so comfortable. The views around the area are just sensational. Our guides were very personable. Would definitely recommend this.”

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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, lifejacket, rain jacket, and at least 30 minutes on the Waiau River. Expect narrow gorges, braided shallows, mountain scenery, and the famous Hamilton jet spin. Guides such as Daniel, Cerin, and Ciaran have been praised for humor and local facts.

“Exhilarating, fast and great fun skimming across the river. 360 spins. Excellent trip, well worth it”

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6.Hanmer Springs Bungy Jump, New Zealand

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

At Hanmer Springs’ historic Ferry Bridge, you’ll be harnessed in for a 35-metre bungy jump above the Waiau River. The roughly 30-minute experience suits ages 10 and up, with a 35 kg minimum weight. Your price includes a t-shirt and certificate, while photos and video cost extra.

“Both my daughter and her best friend enjoyed the jump only downside was the go pro didn't record so they we abit gutted they couldn't buy that however we received the photos for a cheaper price lady who checked us in was amazing and very friendly girls want to go again and hopefully get the go pro footage next time”

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7.Amuri Jet Adventures – Hanmer Springs Quad Biking tour

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

Ride a single or twin-seat quad across a working farm near Hanmer Springs with guides such as Pete or Peter. You’ll receive full instruction and a test-track session before tackling muddy sections, creek crossings, hills, and river-canyon views. The two-hour trip suits beginners, families, and more confident riders.

“We had so much fun driving the quads through the farm. Peter our guide was fantastic. He was thorough with instructions which was great because I had never ridden a Quad before. Good guy, great trip! Thanks Pete”

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8.Hanmer Springs 2-Hour Quad Bike Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 45 reviews · from $70

Take a 4WD quad bike through Hanmer Springs country with an English-speaking guide. Expect dirt, dust, mud, river crossings, farms, sheep trails, and mountain views. You must be at least 16 to drive. The small-group safari runs for two hours, with morning and afternoon departures, and pickup may be arranged locally.

“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 your English-speaking guide at the Waiau River base near Hanmer Springs, suit up, and raft gentle grade 2 rapids through clear water and rocky gorge walls. Look for trout and salmon, enjoy a swim or rock jump if conditions allow, then return to base by jet boat. The 2-hour small-group trip suits families and first-time rafters.

“More relaxing than anticipated. Guide kept it interesting. Stopped and jumped of rocks into river. Had a swim. Loved the jetboat back”

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10.35-Meter Bungy Jump off Waiau Bridge

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

You’ll jump 35 meters from the 135-year-old Waiau Ferry Bridge with an English-speaking instructor and a small group of up to five. After the fall, a jet boat collects you from below and returns you to shore. Allow 45 minutes, with morning and afternoon sessions available.

“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 Thermal Pools and Jet Boat Day Trip from Christchurch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 16 reviews · from $145

Leave central Christchurch at 8:30 am for a full day in Hanmer Springs. Ride a jet boat through Waiau Gorge, eat lunch at the Kiosk Café, then relax in the developed pools fed by natural thermal springs. Guide Jeff has been praised for his calm, helpful style. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

“Le tour en jet boat était génial. Le paysage magnifique et le pilote du boat très sympa et passionné. Un tour presque privé. Dommage qu'à Hamner Springs un bon nombre de piscines étaient fermées.”

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12.Hanmer Springs Rafting and Quad Bike combo

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

Spend about four hours pairing off-road quad biking with white-water rafting on the Waiau River. Expect scenic trails, grade II rapids, wet-weather gear, and a jet boat finish on some rafting runs. Quad riders must be 16 or older, while rafting starts at age six.

“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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13.Hanmer Springs Star Tours at Manuka Skies

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 11 reviews · from $80

Join guide Brent for a two-hour evening at Manuka Skies, a dark-sky sanctuary outside Hanmer Springs. Learn the Southern Cross and other constellations with the naked eye, then use Celestron and manual telescopes to view objects such as the Omega Cluster and Sombrero Galaxy. Pickup is available, and groups are limited to 10.

“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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14.Hanmer Springs Jetboat & Quad Bike Combo

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

Spend three hours around Hanmer Springs combining a jetboat run through the Waiau River Gorge with a guided quad bike ride. Expect Hamilton jet spins, white water, river crossings, mud, dust, and back-country scenery. Guides such as Daniel, Luke, and Hunter help keep the day safe and enjoyable. Quad riders must be at least 16.

“More time on water crossings, less on bumpy track. Also, too slow progress on tracks”

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15.River Jet Boat Ride

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

You’ll ride 20 kilometres of the Waiau River with Amuri Jet, founded in 1985. Expect fast runs through narrow gorge walls, white water, scenic commentary, and the famous Hamilton 360 degree spin. The one-hour trip costs $77 per person, includes a life jacket, and suits children aged three and up.

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

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