New walking route – to Mt. Dumblane

New walking route – to Mt. Dumblane

  • Posted on August 19, 2018
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The Mt Isobel Tramping Group has recently completed volunteer work on establishing a clearly marked poled route from Jacks Pass to the summit of Mt Dumblane. This delightful walk is now available as an alternative day hike to the higher traditional Hanmer Springs to Mt Isobel route. How to get there: A short drive along Jacks Pass Road from the centre of Hanmer Springs village, turn right just past the medical centre and drive up the unsealed Clarence Valley Road to the carpark at the top (approx. 20 minutes). Alternatively first walk up…continue reading →
Review: Waiau River Estate winery

Review: Waiau River Estate winery

  • Posted on July 14, 2018
  • /Under Reviews
Just 15 minutes drive from Hanmer Springs is the newly renamed Waiau River Estate. Formerly known as Marble Point Winery, it changed name when it changed hands recently, with the new owner, Conrad, being the son of the previous owners. We dropped in on a mid-week sunny afternoon and tried a $5 wine tasting, where we could sample the wines grown on the estate. Conrad certainly knows the wines well, and the cheese board he made up for us for $50 was great, as was the coffee we were served.   With a…continue reading →
Review: Amuri Helicopters tour

Review: Amuri Helicopters tour

  • Posted on July 1, 2018
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A helicopter ride is an amazing way to see the beauty of New Zealand from a completely different angle. We've taken 2 flights with Amuri Helicopters now, the first was in winter with the snow on the mountains and we could land up on a mountain peak for an amazing view and photo stop. The second time was in autumn. We were picked up in Kaikoura, flew north past all the repair work on the State Highway 1, over the wine districts to the Marlborough Sounds and north west to see the Able…continue reading →
Review: St. James Journeys

Review: St. James Journeys

  • Posted on June 22, 2018
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To get an introduction to the beauty of the back country landscapes, and the history of the St. James station area just behind Hanmer Springs, four of us took a half day trip with Andrew in his Land Rover 4WD. We felt safe in the hands of Andrew, who knew the roads, the weather conditions and the countryside like the back of his hand. Andrew took us to some stunning remote wilderness locations (with no mobile phone coverage, but Andrew has a satellite phone, just in case). This is a great way to…continue reading →

New beds & BluRay players – update

  • Posted on May 3, 2018
  • /Under News
We have just completed updating all of our 10 studio rooms with brand new (2018) Sleepyhead Elegance King beds, super comfortable! Update: we have now (2019) updated all the 1- and 2-bedroom units with new beds as well. That's the whole motel! We have also purchased BluRay players for all of the Executive Spa Studio's and the Honeymoon Spa Studio, to boost the viewing pleasure of your in-room entertainment (not forgetting we have complementary Netflix!). These studios are all upstairs with their own balcony and view to the trees and mountains. The Standard Spa…continue reading →
Bye bye SKY, hello NETFLIX

Bye bye SKY, hello NETFLIX

  • Posted on March 15, 2018
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We've surveyed our guests and the conclusion is clear, our trial of offering Netflix is a better addition to the Freeview channels than anything SKY has to offer. So, from 1st April 2018 it's bye bye SKY and hello Netflix for good. By dropping SKY we are able to invest in things that you our guests will get more pleasure from, not only Netflix but also new beds, pictures, etc.. You can influence this too... let us know what you think will make your stay more enjoyable.   The media has recently reported…continue reading →
Review: The new number 1 restaurant in Hanmer Springs

Review: The new number 1 restaurant in Hanmer Springs

  • Posted on February 3, 2018
  • /Under Reviews
We first visited this restaurant back in July 2017 not long after it first opened. We've been back many times and they never fail to deliver. Now they've attained the #1 spot on Trip Advisor for restaurants in Hanmer Springs. At MK-Restaurant*, be prepared for amazing flavour sensations in every dish, everything so fresh tasting and locally sourced - some of it from the local forest. Oh and make sure you have room for desert. This is Michelin quality cooking - we're just lucky these two chefs like to live in Hanmer Springs.…continue reading →
The story behind the painting

The story behind the painting

  • Posted on January 13, 2018
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Many who stay at Tussock Peak comment at check-in, on the beautiful painting we have hanging on the back wall of the office. We were very lucky to have seen Diana Adams's work early in her career at an exhibition in the Little River Art Gallery, I think it was around 2004, but all the works we liked were already sold. We were living in Denmark at the time so we put ourselves on her mailing list for when her next series was going to be sold. When that day came, in 2005,…continue reading →
Santa, the Christmas parade and carols (and that very popular video)

Santa, the Christmas parade and carols (and that very popular video)

  • Posted on December 2, 2017
  • /Under News
If you're in Hanmer Springs on Friday December 15th, then here is what is happening: 12.00 - 3.00 pm: Santa will be at the Heritage Hotel to hear what you wish for this Christmas. 3.00 - 3.30 pm: THE CHRISTMAS PARADE, will be passing Tussock Peak Motor Lodge so great views from outside and on the stairs near the road. Get the kids ready to catch sweets as the floats go past. 3.30 - 5.00 pm: outside 4-Square supermarket = kids activities, face painting, dress-up competition, Pass-the-parcel game, colouring competition... probably also other…continue reading →
Review: dinner at the Power House cafe

Review: dinner at the Power House cafe

  • Posted on November 20, 2017
  • /Under Reviews
Summer means that the Power House Cafe is also open for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. We know their breakfast and lunch menus are wonderful so we tried them out last Saturday night for dinner and were blown away by the menu ...and the food lived up to the expectations set by the menu! You need to book in advance as they only seat 30. I forgot to take photos of the mains, but here are 3 of the desserts we had: Dark chocolate pave (for serious chocoholics) with black currant and…continue reading →