44
TRAVEL
Ready for a chill-out?
What better way than a
few days relaxing and
bike riding with the kids -
Hanmer Springs here we come!
The Unlikely Kiwi
Village bliss
and adventure
Arriving late at night, getting sorted and relaxed
was easy. This time we had overseas visitors
with us, so we chose to let Hanmer Holiday
Homes do the work for us. It’s a home away
from home. Lovingly maintained & appointed
throughout, very clean, and beds made and
ready to fall into! Heater on...we were in holiday
mode!
The sun shining, no wind, an awesome start
to a short break back at Hanmer Springs - you
may have gathered by now...we LOVE this
place! Hanmer Adventure geared us up with
a mountain bike and helmet each, then off to
the Hanmer Forest Park we went. We are not
regular mountain bikers but the easy rider path
was perfect for us and we had a ball! This track
threads its way through some of the oldest
stands in the forest with a variety of exotic
conifers and broadleaf species. Understories
of sycamore, oak, silver birch, and rowan
would provide a colourful display in autumn.
The Douglas Fir trees and beautiful green
ferns on the undergrowth made the bike track
very beautiful indeed. The start of the track
follows the river, a lovely backdrop for the
start of the ride. A couple of times the smaller
kids were a little tentative about going up or
down the hills, but once their confidence grew
there was no turning back. Filled with lots of
squeals of delight, we finished a couple of hours
later, feeling so excited yet happily exhausted
and hungry!
A quick trip to our ‘must do’ Hanmer bakery cafe
to fill the hole after our mountain biking and
before our next adventure.
STORY &
BY SUSIE WILLIAMS
With our friends in tow we were then hosted
by Alpine Crazy Putt & Village Cruisers on
Conical Hill Road. It was the four bigs kids vs
the four smaller kids! Game on! Some got a
little frustrated, but we all got through, some
easier than others! A few wet golf balls, a few
bouncing off the stone balls...and some good
holes in one. What a fun way to spend an hour
with the kids (and big kids!). The location of
this mini golf is sensational. Easy access to the
bakery and a freshly brewed coffee. Walking
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