Being set in such a stunning part of New Zealand can sometimes best be appreciated by gaining a birdseye view.
If you love to take to the air - or perhaps send up a drone to capture that view for you, there are some great options in Hanmer you can check out.
Helicopter and Jetboat Experience
Have a stunning alround adventure experience by taking to the skies with Hanmer Attractions and combining a helicopter flight over the Hanmer Basin, taking in the stunning vistas of rivers, plains and mountains, followed by an adrenaline pumping jetboat ride.
Hanmer Springs Attractions offer two combination flying and jetboating packages - one with a 35 minute flight and one with a flight of up to 50 minutes.
Check out the options and pricing details on their website.
Hanmer Springs Helicopters
Hanmer Springs Helicopters provides an excellent range of helicopter scenic tour package options.
You can choose from three tour options, or create your own family adventure and customise your trip!
Gather a group of friends and spend the week fishing or hunting in some of the best secluded helicopter access spots in the country. The business also offer a drop off and pick up service.
One option is the Historic Stations and Alpine Ranges Tour.This is a 40 - 50 minute scenic chopper flight with views of historic Molesworth and St James Stations, two of New Zealand's largest high country stations.
Enjoy spectacular views of the Upper Clarence and Waiau Valley systems, the Fairie Queen and the South Island's Southern Alp ranges. Soar over Lakes Guyon and Tennyson, and the pristine native forest and tussock lands.
Alpine Springs Helicopters
Alpine Springs Helicopters offers fully customised charter flights South Island wide, from their base in Hanmer Springs. Find out pricing and availability via their website or by calling 64 3 315 7165 or +64 27 223 4022.
Drone Flights
If you are not planning to fly yourself but would still like to get a higher perspective over the Hanmer Basin, you have some options to fly a drone in parts of the region.
Check out the link here for the Hurunui Council's rules regarding where it is legal to fly your drone over Council owned land (parks and reserves etc). Make sure you also check what land is owned by the Dept of Conservation as they will also require specific applications to fly over their land.
For more general information about the rules for flying your drone in New Zealand, and to register, visit the AirShare website. You can log flights on the site itself, or else on their free app.
Conical Hill Walk
If you don't have the time or money to fly to capture the view, you can do the walk to the top of Conical Hill to capture an amazing view of the entire Hanmer Basin. We highly recommend!