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Canterbury Region [10 Hot Pools]

Cities/Towns In This Area: Christchurch

1. Hot Tubs Omarama

Omarama, Canterbury

Soak in the view... in summer or winter, by day or night. Your private tub is cleaned and filled with fresh mountain water just for you. No chemicals are added. Adjust the temperature and lay back in water that will relax your body, and a landscape that will relax your mind. Have you had a NZ Onsen Experience?

2. Horseshoe Hot Springs

3km downstream of where SH 7 crosses Hope River

Bring a shovel and a strong back. Mainly used by kayakers and rafters.

3. Cow Stream Hot Spring, Hanmer Springs

North of Hanmer Forest Park, Hanmer Springs

The Cow Creek Hot Spring is about 10k down the Edwards River from the St James station homestead. The St James Station is North West of Hanmer Springs over Jacks Pass. It is marked as a red cross on the topographical maps in Cow Creek [Peter H, NZ]

4. Hurunui River (North Branch) Hot Springs

Hurunui River, North of Lake Taylor, Lake Sumner Forest Park

Accessed from the Harpers Pass route, about 4 hours walk from Lake Sumner. Follow the track on the true right of the Hurunui river for 3-4 hours. You will pass a thermal waterfall, which is your queue to look for a track up into the bush. The pool is found about 50 metres above the waterfall, with the actual spring about another 50 metres above the pool. [Aaron Schulz, Kaiapoi, New Zealand]

This can be reached from the North branch via lake Mason after visiting the North branch pool.[JR, NZ]

5. Mackenzie Stream Hot Springs

Mackenzie Stream, Hurunui River

Could only be described as a dribble in the stream bed. Take a spade with you to dig it out !! It is located in Canterbury not West Coast [Pete Hurst, ChCh]

6. Top Hope Hot Springs

Hope River, 27km from State Highway 7

This pool is in Canterbury, not West Coast! and is located about half an hours walk upriver from Top Hope Hut up Hot Springs Creek. It seats two and is nice and hot. Great for weary Trampers [Pete Hurst, ChCh]

7. Sylvia Flats Hot Springs

State Highway 7, 15km south of Lewis Pass

Entrance via Sylvia Flats rest-area on Boyle side of Lewis Pass. short walkway at northern end of carpark to, at least, 3 pools formed next to the river.

8. Hurunui River (South Branch) Hot Springs

Hurunui River, South of Lake Taylor

The bath can be hard to find. Not the hottest bathwater but the valley itself is worth a vist. Visit the North branch pool the next day. [JR, NZ]

9. Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve

Corner Jacks Pass Road & Amuri Avenue, Hanmer Springs

Quite different in character from North Island pools (for geological reasons.) A well operated complex in a delightful resort town. You're missing something if you haven't been here at least once! [Andrew A., Wellington]

10. Alpine Springs & Spa

Lake Tekapo, Canterbury

We don't have a teaser for this hot pool. Can you write one?