Winter Festival Ready!

Heading to Hanmer this winter? Pack your beanie and your best dance moves — the annual Winter Festival is calling! Whether you're here for the live music, night markets, or simply the excuse to soak in the hot pools under the stars, here's how to do it right (with a little help from your mates at Seventeen on Cheltenham).

❄️ What is the Hanmer Springs Winter Festival?

Held every year in late June, the Hanmer Springs Winter Festival is a community-fuelled celebration of all things crisp, cosy, and quintessentially Kiwi. Think outdoor concerts, local food trucks, family games on the village green, mulled wine, and big winter vibes. It’s perfect for families, couples, and anyone chasing that “small-town magic meets big fun” energy.

👉 Pro tip: Dates vary slightly each year, so check Alpine Winter Festival before you lock in your plans.

🎒 What to Pack for the Festival (and Hanmer in General)

• Layers, layers, layers – The weather can shift quicker than a toddler’s mood. Think merino, puffers, and something waterproof.

• Swimwear – Yep, even in winter. The hot pools are even better when it’s chilly out.

• Comfy shoes – You’ll want to wander the markets, hit a walking track, or chase your kids around the forest.

• Headlamp or torch – The village gets dark early and the retro streetlights are better for ambience than navigation, or be adventurous and take a walk through the sculpture trail in the dark.

• Cash and cards – Some stalls and smaller vendors don’t do PayWave (we’re charmingly old-school like that).

🧤 What to Do (Festival & Beyond)

During the Festival:

• Night markets: Grab a mulled cider and browse locally made crafts.

• Family fun: Face painting, snow-making machines, and live performances for the littlies.

• Live music: Bring a blanket and settle in on the green for some sweet acoustic sets or dance beats.

• Lantern walks: A real crowd pleaser – especially magical for the kids.

Outside the Festival:

• Thermal Pools – Just a 3-minute stroll from Seventeen on Cheltenham. Evening soaks are top-tier in winter.

• Hanmer Forest Walks – Frosty mornings and misty trees? Insta gold.

• Mountain biking – The trails are quieter in winter, and you’ve got secure bike storage back at base.

🛏️ Where to Stay: Seventeen on Cheltenham (Your Winter HQ)

If you’re looking for a spot close to all the action — and one that’s stylishly warm without skimping on charm — Seventeen on Cheltenham is your retro dream come true.

• 3-minute walk to the pools and village green

• Fully heated with heat pumps and a cosy wood-burner

• Firewood and kindling provided (just bring your marshmallows)

• Pet-friendly so even the dog can enjoy a winter getaway

• Mountain bike storage, Smart TV, and retro 70s flair to make your stay extra groovy

Whether you’re toasting marshmallows, soaking in the spa, or twirling a glow stick at the night market, this place is your winter base camp. We are usually fully booked, so if you have missed out, flick us a message and we will give you some personal recommendations of where to stay (we have decades of places we have stayed under our belt).

🧳 Wrap It Up

Winter’s no reason to hibernate. Hanmer’s at its most magical when the air’s crisp, the pools are steaming, and the fairy lights are twinkling. So pack your woollies, rally the crew, and book your winter escape at Seventeen on Cheltenham — before everyone else does!