YourWave Hanmer Springs is not open yet. The developer is targeting December 2026 (operator, Nov 2026: about a month away). It runs YourWave (proprietary) in Hanmer Springs, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Verified November 2026
YourWave Hanmer Springs is a standing wave being added to Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa, the hot pools complex owned by the Hurunui District Council in the North Canterbury alpine village of Hanmer Springs. The wave sits in its own pool of geothermally heated water at about 28C. In early November 2026 it was being tested, and the pools said it would open in about a month, with a launch party on 20 November that is a demonstration only. The council put the cost at 4 million dollars, 1 million of it borrowed.
A YourWave standing wave: the water flows and the wave stays in place, and riders take turns in one-hour group sessions. The pools say it is shaped by an air-filled form with inflatable sides, which makes falls softer, and the trade manual lists a wave of 0.3 to 1.5 metres, for beginners through to experienced surfers. It carries the same YourWave name as the wave at Hawea Flat.
No pricing announced. Sessions are sold separately from pool entry.
Hanmer Springs is about 90 minutes from Christchurch, and the closest airport is Christchurch International, a little under two hours away by car. The thermal pools on the same site make it easy to combine a session with a soak, but entry is sold separately.
Technology
YourWave (proprietary)
Skill Levels
When does YourWave Hanmer Springs open?
YourWave Hanmer Springs is under construction, with opening expected December 2026. It is not open yet: prices, booking and session times have not been published, and the 20 November launch is a demonstration, not public surfing. The minimum age is 8. As a standing wave, a session is a series of short turns on one wave rather than long rides across a lagoon.
Where is YourWave Hanmer Springs?
YourWave Hanmer Springs is in Hanmer Springs, Canterbury, New Zealand. The nearest airport is Christchurch International Airport, about 2 hours by car.
