Seeking calm? The Central South offers a unique kind of reset. Discover space, stillness, and a rich quiet that is anything but empty—with slow mornings, hot pools, and fresh air.
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Wellness Wanderer
Seeking calm? The Central South offers a unique kind of reset.
Things to do
Wellness
A lakeside hot pools and spa experience in Tekapo, with alpine views, seasonal family fun and New Zealand’s only hot pool stargazing.
Wellness
Tekapo Springs: hot pools, day spa and stargazing
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The ultimate in relaxation and recreation, located on the stunning Tekapo lakefront. Enjoy panoramic views of the lake and Southern Alps as you relax and unwind in a hot or plunge pool and enjoy a range of spa treatments. As the season transforms from hot to cool, the ice rink and snow tube park opens in the autumn months perfect for family-fun. And don't miss out on New Zealand's only hot pool stargazing experience at night - it's the pinnacle of stellar relaxation.
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<list>
<item key="Location">Mackenzie</item>
<item key="Distance From CHC Airport">3 hrs</item>
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Wellness
An alpine hot pools and spa experience at the foothills of the Southern Alps, blending mountain views, saunas, soaking pools and deep relaxation.
Wellness
Ōpuke Thermal Pols & Spa
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Feel stress float away as you immerse yourself in spectacular landscape, nestled at the foothills of the Southern Alps. Gaze at the mountains from a floor to ceiling glass window sauna when you book Serenity. Soak in glacial fed, solar warmed water and glide up to the swim up bar in Tranquility. Relax and indulge in the Day Spa. Or, enjoy a soak with your family while still enjoying mountain views in the Discovery pools.
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<list>
<item key="Location">otautahi-christchurch</item>
<item key="Distance From CHC Airport">1 hr</item>
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Wellness
A must-do alpine soak in Hanmer Springs, with geothermal pools, family-friendly fun and spa experiences to relax and recharge.
Wellness
Geothermal Hot Pools
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The Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa are a must-do Hurunui experience, offering relaxation in a stunning alpine setting. Naturally heated geothermal pools range from soothing rock pools to private soaking options, alongside family-friendly activity pools and waterslides. Whether you’re unwinding after a day of adventure or indulging in a spa treatment, it’s the perfect place to rest, recharge and soak it all in.
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<list>
<item key="Location">Hurunui</item>
<item key="Distance From CHC Airport">2 hrs 15 mins</item>
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Hot, Cold & Wild
Forget spa music. Embrace wild swims, beachside saunas, and remote alpine hot pools for a raw, refreshing reset in nature.
Wellness
Hot, Cold & Wild
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This isn’t wellness with whale music and spa slippers. It’s wild swims, forest saunas, and stillness that sneaks up on you.
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In <bold>Kaikōura</bold>, the <bold>Sauna Project</bold> sits beachside — minimalist, cedar-clad, and perfectly placed for an ocean plunge. Inland, the <bold>Cow Stream hot pools</bold> located in Hurunui are remote enough to feel like a secret (BYO towel, leave the schedule behind).
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On the West Coast, <bold>Maruia Hot Springs</bold> mixes outdoor bathing and comfortable accommodation with pure alpine quiet — a proper reset. And if you’re heading to the <bold>West Coast</bold>, the <bold>Rainforest Retreat</bold> is a luxury stay amongst the trees, with the kind of hush you can’t fake.
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It’s warmth, cold, and contrast. Exactly how it should be.
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<list>
<item key="Location">Kaikōura, Hurunui & West Coast</item>
<item key="Itinerary">Full Day or Overnight</item>
<item key="Distance">Varies (Multi-region)</item>
<item key="Hours">Varies by Venue</item>
<item key="Price">Free to $$$</item>
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Wellness
A wood-fired sauna between sea and mountains in Kaikōura, offering a restorative escape with coastal views and deep connection to nature.
Wellness
Kaikoura Sauna Project
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Discover the perfect balance of warmth and wilderness at the Kaikōura Sauna Project. Nestled between the mountains and the sea, our wood-fired sauna offers a truly unique way to unwind while soaking in breathtaking coastal views. Whether you're warming up after an ocean dip, easing sore muscles, or simply taking a moment to reconnect with nature, this is relaxation redefined.
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<list>
<item key="Location">Kaikōura</item>
<item key="Distance From CHC Airport">>3 hrs</item>
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Wellness
A peaceful walk to hidden waterfall hot pools above Hanmer Springs, offering a quiet escape through farmland, bush and flowing Cow Stream.
Wellness
Cow Stream Hot Pools
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Hidden in the hills above Hanmer Springs, Cow Stream Hot Pools is a peaceful waterfall reached via a scenic walking track through farmland and regenerating bush. The walk follows Cow Stream before revealing the multi-tiered falls, which are especially impressive after rain. A perfect short adventure for nature lovers, this lesser-known gem offers a quiet escape and a refreshing connection to Hurunui’s natural beauty.
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<list>
<item key="Location">Hurunui</item>
<item key="Distance From CHC Airport">2 hrs 30 mins</item>
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Wellness
Iconic Mackenzie stays from luxury lodges to glamping, blending comfort with alpine views, turquoise lakes and star-filled dark skies.
Wellness
Iconic stays
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The Mackenzie region is home to some of New Zealand’s most iconic stays, offering unforgettable nights amid breathtaking landscapes. From luxury lodges overlooking Lake Tekapo to cozy alpine cabins and unique glamping experiences under star-filled skies, accommodation here blends comfort with nature. Wake to views of turquoise lakes, snow-capped mountains, and wide open plains, or fall asleep beneath the Milky Way in the heart of the Dark Sky Reserve.
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<list>
<item key="Location">Mackenzie</item>
<item key="Distance From CHC Airport">3 hrs 30 mins</item>
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Mackenzie: Where Space Feels Like a Luxury
Experience big skies, turquoise lakes, and the world-renowned Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve—where peace finds you.
Nature
Mackenzie: Where Space Feels Like a Luxury
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Big skies. Big silences. And scenery that never tries too hard. </break>Mackenzie isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about letting the scale do something to your head. From the turquoise glass of <bold>Lake Pūkaki</bold> to the alpine calm of <bold>Aoraki</bold>, you’ll find yourself slowing down without meaning to. </paragraph>
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By night, the <bold>Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve</bold> steals the show. You don’t need to know your constellations — just look up. Tekapo, Twizel, Lake Ōhau — they all offer star-soaked stays and zero distractions.
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Out here, you don’t chase peace. You just find yourself in the middle of it.
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<list>
<item key="Location">Mackenzie Region</item>
<item key="Itinerary">Recommended 2–3 Days</item>
<item key="Distance">3 hrs from Christchurch</item>
<item key="Hours">Always Open</item>
<item key="Price">Free (Nature Access)</item>
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Places That Help You Feel Small (In a Good Way)
Discover the healing power of vast landscapes in Mackenzie, from Aoraki's peaks to the silent, star-filled skies of the Dark Sky Reserve.
Nature
Places That Help You Feel Small (In a Good Way)
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There’s a certain kind of wellness that doesn’t involve a yoga mat or green juice. It’s the kind you find when you’re staring up at something vast, or out across a valley with no reception.
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In <bold>Mackenzie</bold>, you’ve got scale in every direction — lakes that stretch out forever, mountains that don’t feel real, and skies that go full IMAX. Places like <bold>Lake Pūkaki</bold>, the <bold>Hooker Valley</bold>, or <bold>Aoraki/Mount Cook</bold> aren’t “wellness” in the traditional sense — but your nervous system won’t know the difference.
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Come nightfall, head to <bold>Tekapo</bold>, <bold>Twizel</bold>, or even a picnic spot with a blanket. The <bold>Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve</bold> is one of the best places on earth to stargaze — and the silence that comes with it might be the most soothing things of all.</paragraph>
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No playlists. No schedule. Just a quiet reminder of how small you are. And how good that can feel.
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<list>
<item key="Location">Mackenzie Region</item>
<item key="Itinerary">Recommended 2–3 Days</item>
<item key="Distance">3 hrs from Christchurch</item>
<item key="Hours">Always Open</item>
<item key="Price">Free (Nature Access)</item>
</list>
Wellness
An award-winning alpine hot springs and wellness retreat on Lewis Pass, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and pristine Southern Alps scenery.
Wellness
Maruia Hot Springs
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Maruia Hot Springs is an award-winning natural hot springs, day spa and wellness destination tucked among the snow-capped Southern Alps on the picturesque Lewis Pass national reserve.
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<list>
<item key="Location">West Coast</item>
<item key="Distance From CHC Airport">2 hrs 40 mins</item>
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