29 December 2004
Festive year ends with 500,000th visitor to Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve
It’s been a fantastic year for the Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve. And what better way to end a great year than to
welcome their 500,000th visitor of the year through the complex’s gates.
Marc and Karla Williams, and their extended family and friends were greeted today at the Hamner Springs Thermal Reserve
with a prize pack to celebrate their visit. As the Reserve’s 500,000th visitors this year, the family will be treated to
a years free swimming at the thermal pools, $200 worth of massage and beauty therapy vouchers for use at Health Body and
Mind, the Reserve’s beauty spa, $100 to spend at the Garden House Café and a voucher for them and 25 of their friends to
visit the complex in 2005.
“We were up here on holiday for a week and they pulled us aside, when we went in, to say we had won. It’s just
fantastic. I’m sure we won’t have too much trouble finding 25 friends,” laughed Marc Williams.
General manager of the Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve Graeme Abbot, said it had been a remarkable year for the complex.
“First there was the BEST VISITOR ATTRACTION award at the 2004 New Zealand Tourism Awards, then we won the CHAMPION HOST
award. To be able to celebrate having half a million visitors this year is the icing on the cake,” said Graeme Abbot.
Open 364 days a year, the school holidays are always a busy period for the Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve. “It’s been a
slow start weather-wise to summer, but that hasn’t stopped people coming to the Reserve – the beauty of our pools are
that they are great no matter what the weather is like. We’re looking forward to another exciting year ahead,” said
Graeme Abbot.
ENDS