Hanmer Springs’ Weirdest Forest Walk

Hanmer Springs surprised us with one of the strangest forest walks we’ve found in New Zealand. We came for the Conical Hill Walkway, but after driving from Christchurch through winter roads, braided rivers, low clouds and foggy hills, the day turned into something completely different. The lookout at the top of Conical Hill was fully in the clouds, so instead of the big mountain view we expected, we followed the kārearea/falcon signs into the forest and found the Forest Amble Sculpture Walk. There were tūī calling in the trees, fallen timber from the October windstorm, closed sections of track, woodland ponds, little bridges, a tiny waterfall, puppy dog markers, strange carvings hiding in the bush, and one forest walk that just kept getting weirder in the best way. After the walk, we headed back into Hanmer Springs for coffee, hot chocolate and a classic Kiwi chocolate fish before driving back to Christchurch for winter fireworks over New Brighton Pier. We’re a Canadian family exploring New Zealand’s roads, tracks, coastlines, forests and hidden places one adventure at a time. Thanks for joining us on The Scenic Route. #HanmerSprings #ConicalHill #ForestAmble #NewZealandTravel #TheScenicRoute #FamilyVlog Chapters 0:00 Hanmer Springs’ Hidden Forest 1:02 Leaving Christchurch 1:36 Arriving in Hanmer Springs 1:45 Starting Conical Hill 3:30 Flashback to Hokitika Gorge 3:50 The Lookout in the Clouds 4:50 The Plan 5:40 Christmas in June 6:25 Dog stream Falls 7:30 Canadian & New Zealand Money 8:25 Cool Painted Rock 8:50 Following the Kārearea/Falcon 8:55 Woodland Loop & Forest Ponds 9:05 A Tiny Waterfall in the Bush 10:30 Forest Amble Sculpture Walk 11:00 Squirrel 11:45 Fantails 12:05 Possum 12:50 Possum? 13:05 Creepy Guy 13:15 Windstorm Damage in the Forest 13:30 Rats & Hawk 13:50 Reason it was closed 14:10 Orangutang 14:20 Mushrooms 14:25 Rabbit 14:40 Tuatara 14:50 She'll be right 15:02 Worst of the damage 15:10 Puppy Dog 15:22 Owl 16:10 Coffee, Hot Chocolate & Chocolate Fish 16:30 Differences between Canada & New Zealand 18:00 Scarred in wellington 19:30 Distance Guess 20:15 Back to Christchurch 20:30 Winter Fireworks at New Brighton Pier