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Hanmer Springs iconic walk, Conical Hill, is as famous as the thermal pools!
Our Star rating is 5 out of 5 (from Hanmer Apartments).
Estimated time is 45 minutes to 1 hour return loop, even for very young or very old.
Distance is 2.5 km return, bikes not allowed. Track is well maintained.
Elevation gain is 150 m up & same back down, maximum elevation is 550 m above sea level, at the summit.
Terrain is constant slope in zig zag with a short steep start before on track proper.
Fitness required is easy or novice (everyone including young kids can do this from age 4).
Sensible walking shoes required, suitable for prams & buggies with fat wheels.
Dogs can use this trail but must be kept on a leash.
Our Star rating is 5 out of 5 (from Hanmer Apartments).
Estimated time is 45 minutes to 1 hour return loop, even for very young or very old.
Distance is 2.5 km return, bikes not allowed. Track is well maintained.
Elevation gain is 150 m up & same back down, maximum elevation is 550 m above sea level, at the summit.
Terrain is constant slope in zig zag with a short steep start before on track proper.
Fitness required is easy or novice (everyone including young kids can do this from age 4).
Sensible walking shoes required, suitable for prams & buggies with fat wheels.
Dogs can use this trail but must be kept on a leash.
Features:
Hanmer Springs iconic walk showcases a fantastic panorama view of basin & mountain ranges surrounding village.
Perfect for all ages from 4 to 94 years old.
Exotic plantings from early 1900’s featuring Western Hemlock, Giant Fir, Japanese Cypress, Lawson’s Cypress as well as natives.
At the summit, a shelter gives you a resting place for relaxation & observation.
Look for the metal structure close to the shelter which names all the mountains within view & their heights.
Look for Mt Isobel walk & Mt Dumblane walk, which are described in other blogs.
Great shelter throughout entire track assists in those hot summer days.
Opportunity to extend walk around to Woodland walk & others for further enjoyment.
Hanmer Springs iconic walk showcases a fantastic panorama view of basin & mountain ranges surrounding village.
Perfect for all ages from 4 to 94 years old.
Exotic plantings from early 1900’s featuring Western Hemlock, Giant Fir, Japanese Cypress, Lawson’s Cypress as well as natives.
At the summit, a shelter gives you a resting place for relaxation & observation.
Look for the metal structure close to the shelter which names all the mountains within view & their heights.
Look for Mt Isobel walk & Mt Dumblane walk, which are described in other blogs.
Great shelter throughout entire track assists in those hot summer days.
Opportunity to extend walk around to Woodland walk & others for further enjoyment.
How to get there:
From Hanmer Springs village travel north straight up Conical Hill Roan (main road) for ½ km & park your car on side road where the Greenacres billboard stands. Walk up steep incline for 100m until you see the sign and stairway entrance. (Total is 1 minutes’ drive from the thermal pools).
Safety:
This walk is easy so if you run into fowl weather, you will still finish quickly & safely back to your car.
From Hanmer Springs village travel north straight up Conical Hill Roan (main road) for ½ km & park your car on side road where the Greenacres billboard stands. Walk up steep incline for 100m until you see the sign and stairway entrance. (Total is 1 minutes’ drive from the thermal pools).
Safety:
This walk is easy so if you run into fowl weather, you will still finish quickly & safely back to your car.
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Hanmer Springs lesser known walk, Chatterton River, with options.
Our Star rating is 4 ½ out of 5 (from Hanmer Apartments).
Distance is 6.2 km return, route type is loop with some short steep climbs in native forest.
Shorter loop of 4 km return before last steep climb up to Jacks Pass.
Can combine onto Mt Isobel track or Mt Dumblane track for serious walkers.
Elevation gain is 480 m up & same back down, time required is 2.5 to 3 hours return.
Fitness required is intermediate (if you are not used to longer walks with incline, do not attempt).
Sensible walking shoes or boots required. Track can be muddy if recent rain.
NZTopo50 – BU24
Maximum elevation is 880 m (top of Jacks Pass).
Our Star rating is 4 ½ out of 5 (from Hanmer Apartments).
Distance is 6.2 km return, route type is loop with some short steep climbs in native forest.
Shorter loop of 4 km return before last steep climb up to Jacks Pass.
Can combine onto Mt Isobel track or Mt Dumblane track for serious walkers.
Elevation gain is 480 m up & same back down, time required is 2.5 to 3 hours return.
Fitness required is intermediate (if you are not used to longer walks with incline, do not attempt).
Sensible walking shoes or boots required. Track can be muddy if recent rain.
NZTopo50 – BU24
Maximum elevation is 880 m (top of Jacks Pass).
Features:
Can be used as the start for a full day tramp if wanting to conquer Mt Isobel or Mt Dumblane.
Track is adjacent to the Chatterton River on a stock route which loops back via the original bridle track over Jacks Pass.
Views of Hanmer Basin can be enjoyed from Jacks Pass which is half-way before returning via loop.
Beautiful mountain beech forest & wild flowers highlight the walk with soothing river sounds.
Once in the valley proper you gain a sense of remoteness & solitude that is not always found in the more frequented walks around Hanmer.
Some steep spots on track near summit, so not for novices.
Can be used as the start for a full day tramp if wanting to conquer Mt Isobel or Mt Dumblane.
Track is adjacent to the Chatterton River on a stock route which loops back via the original bridle track over Jacks Pass.
Views of Hanmer Basin can be enjoyed from Jacks Pass which is half-way before returning via loop.
Beautiful mountain beech forest & wild flowers highlight the walk with soothing river sounds.
Once in the valley proper you gain a sense of remoteness & solitude that is not always found in the more frequented walks around Hanmer.
Some steep spots on track near summit, so not for novices.
How to get there:
From Hanmer Springs travel west along Jacks Pass road until the end. Keep going past the AA camp & follow unsealed road for another 1.3 km until you find a small carpark. (Total is 10 minutes’ drive from the thermal pools).
Safety:
Plan your trip, tell someone your plans.
Be aware of the weather (if you cannot see the summit before starting out, do not attempt).
Take sufficient supplies, know your limits.
Do not attempt after high rainfall locally.
From Hanmer Springs travel west along Jacks Pass road until the end. Keep going past the AA camp & follow unsealed road for another 1.3 km until you find a small carpark. (Total is 10 minutes’ drive from the thermal pools).
Safety:
Plan your trip, tell someone your plans.
Be aware of the weather (if you cannot see the summit before starting out, do not attempt).
Take sufficient supplies, know your limits.
Do not attempt after high rainfall locally.
Tip:
Bring along drinking water, as track remains a short distance from river most of the way up.
Further advice:
Naturally, you can ask Amy or Shane at Hanmer Apartments when you stay with us!
Bring along drinking water, as track remains a short distance from river most of the way up.
Further advice:
Naturally, you can ask Amy or Shane at Hanmer Apartments when you stay with us!
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Mt Dumblane is the sister act to Mt Isobel in Hanmer Springs.
Our Star rating is 4 ½ out of 5 (from Hanmer Apartments).
Estimated time is 3.5 to 5 hours return.
Distance is 7 km return, route type is “out & back”.
Elevation gain is 440 m up & same back down.
Fitness required is intermediate (if you are not used to longer walks with incline, this is challenging).
Sensible walking shoes or boots required.
NZTopo50 – BU24
Maximum elevation is 1303 m (great 360° view from summit of Lewis Pass around to the coastline).
Our Star rating is 4 ½ out of 5 (from Hanmer Apartments).
Estimated time is 3.5 to 5 hours return.
Distance is 7 km return, route type is “out & back”.
Elevation gain is 440 m up & same back down.
Fitness required is intermediate (if you are not used to longer walks with incline, this is challenging).
Sensible walking shoes or boots required.
NZTopo50 – BU24
Maximum elevation is 1303 m (great 360° view from summit of Lewis Pass around to the coastline).
Features:
In 2018 the local volunteer hiking group clearly marked out, with poles, a good track to follow.
Track starts from the top of Jack’s Pass (up Clarence Valley Road).
Ridgeline track passes alpine meadow, bare scree & low scrub, summit is to the left.
Some spots have fractured volcanic channels which have spewed out bare scree cavity’s that look like an alien planet.
Some steep spots on track, so not for novices.
Be careful on return as loose shingle can trip you up.
In 2018 the local volunteer hiking group clearly marked out, with poles, a good track to follow.
Track starts from the top of Jack’s Pass (up Clarence Valley Road).
Ridgeline track passes alpine meadow, bare scree & low scrub, summit is to the left.
Some spots have fractured volcanic channels which have spewed out bare scree cavity’s that look like an alien planet.
Some steep spots on track, so not for novices.
Be careful on return as loose shingle can trip you up.
How to get there:
From Hanmer Springs travel north up Clarence Valley Road (unsealed) for 4km until you reach the carpark that splits Mt Isobel from Mt Dumblane.
Total is 20 minutes’ drive from the thermal pools).
Safety:
Plan your trip, tell someone your plans.
Be aware of the weather (if you cannot see the summit before starting out, do not attempt).
Take sufficient supplies, know your limits.
Do not attempt after high rainfall locally.
Tip:
Bring along water & snack food for summit rest before heading back.
From Hanmer Springs travel north up Clarence Valley Road (unsealed) for 4km until you reach the carpark that splits Mt Isobel from Mt Dumblane.
Total is 20 minutes’ drive from the thermal pools).
Safety:
Plan your trip, tell someone your plans.
Be aware of the weather (if you cannot see the summit before starting out, do not attempt).
Take sufficient supplies, know your limits.
Do not attempt after high rainfall locally.
Tip:
Bring along water & snack food for summit rest before heading back.
Further advice:
Naturally, you can ask Amy or Shane at Hanmer Apartments when you stay with us!
Naturally, you can ask Amy or Shane at Hanmer Apartments when you stay with us!