Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa, the council-owned hot pools in the North Canterbury alpine village, is about to add a surf wave. Its YourWave standing wave has water in it and is being tested, and general manager Sarah Wiblin told the NZ Herald in early November that it was "three or four weeks away from officially being open."
The pools will mark it with a launch party on Friday 20 November, from 5pm to 9:30pm, but the wave will be for demonstration only that night and not open for public surfing.
What it is
YourWave is a standing wave: the water flows and the wave stays in one place, and riders take turns during one-hour group sessions. The pools say the wave is shaped by an air-filled form, with inflatable sides that its makers compare to a bouncy castle, to give a softer place to learn. The pools' 2026-27 trade manual lists a wave of 0.3 to 1.5 metres, for beginners through to experienced surfers.
The water is heated geothermally, like the rest of the complex, to about 28C all year. The minimum age is 8, and Wiblin said there are no weight limits.
It is sold separately from pool entry, so visitors can add a session to a day at the pools or come just to surf, and the pools plan private and corporate bookings and a locals' surf club with regular weekly access.
What it cost
The Hurunui District Council, which owns the pools, puts the cost at $4 million, $1 million of it borrowed. The Otago Daily Times reported in June that the development sits within the pools' existing capital budgets, plus an additional $1 million from the council approved in November 2025.
When it opens
The opening has slipped from its first target. In June the Otago Daily Times reported that the wave was scheduled to open in late October, and the pools' 2026-27 trade manual gave October 2026. The current guidance is about a month from early November, and prices, booking and session times have not been announced.
How it compares
Besides Hanmer, our directory lists two surf venues in New Zealand. The original YourWave at Hāwea Flat near Wānaka is the only one open, and a public hour there costs NZ$99. Auckland Surf Park, a planned Wavegarden lagoon north of Auckland, has paused work on site, and its New Zealand partner now puts the opening at 2028 or 2029.
Good to Know
The 20 November launch is a demonstration, not a chance to surf. YourWave is a standing wave, so expect short turns on the wave within an hour-long group session rather than long rides, and children must be at least 8. Prices and booking details have not been published, so the pools' own YourWave page is the place to watch. Hanmer Springs is about 90 minutes from Christchurch.
