Taupo Hot Springs

Welcome to Taupo Hot Springs Spa's selection of the best Destination Hot Mineral Springs spa experiences in New Zealand.

New Zealand is situated on the famous active volcanic zone geothermal belt known as the 'Pacific Rim of Fire’ and is ranked among the Top 15 hot spring mineral water sites in the world.

New Zealand’s Taupo Hot Springs Spa is one of an exclusive number of Destination Hot Mineral Springs Spas in New Zealand - spas that offer an on-site source of hot natural mineral thermal water as part of their spa therapy treatments and wellness programmes.

Here is Taupo Hot Springs Spa’s pick of the very best New Zealand Hot Mineral Springs Spa experiences in one of the most beautiful hot springs areas in the world.

Great New Zealand Hot Mineral Springs Spa experiences #1

Taupo Hot Springs Spa - Lake Taupo, New Zealand

Great New Zealand Hot Mineral Springs Spa experiences #2

Polynesian Spa - Rotorua, New Zealand

New Zealand’s Polynesian Spa is a historical hot mineral springs spa located in the central North Island New Zealand tourist centre of Rotorua. Polynesian Spa is built on the site of the Priest Springs which is named after an Irish priest - Father Mahoney who cured himself of arthritis in 1878 by bathing daily in a hand dug pool for three months. Polynesian Spa at Rotorua and Taupo Hot Springs Spa at Lake Taupo are New Zealand North Island members of ISPA - the International Spa Association.

Rotorua’s Lake Spa Retreat is Polynesian Spa's deluxe bathing and relaxation spa clinic offering therapeutic massage and skin-care therapies. Lake Spa Retreat bathers are able to soak before their spa treatments in four shallow thermal rock-pools of varying temperatures (36-43C) - each set within a New Zealand native bush environment overlooking Lake Rotorua.

Polynesian Spa’s Family Spa area, has a large fresh water pool with a toddlers' pool and small hydroslide. Adjacent are two hot mineral pools (37C and 39C) for adults to relax in while supervising their children.

New Zealand’s Polynesian Spa offers Aix massage therapy - introduced from France into Rotorua in the early 1900's. Polynesian Spa’s Aix treatments involve a smooth flowing massage done under jets of warmwater using coconut oil as a massage medium.

Polynesian Spa’s also offers classic Rotorua thermal mud treatments designed to complement the relaxation factor of Polynesian Spa’s hot alkaline mineral water. Rotorua Mud therapy is mainly for the back of the body but the mud can also be applied on the whole body. Polynesian Spa also uses New Zealand Manuka honey for its hydrating and healing properties as a massage medium for other body massages.

New Zealand’s Polynesian Spa is located 3 minutes drive from Rotorua city centre south on State Highway Five (5) signposted as the Thermal Explorer Highway. Continue to follow the Thermal Explorer Highway 40 minutes south to reach Taupo Hot Springs Spa at Lake Taupo New Zealand. The Thermal Explorer Highway continues onto the wine growing region of the Hawkes Bay and is part of the Great New Zealand Touring Route.

Great New Zealand Hot Mineral Springs Spa experiences #3

Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve - Christchurch, New Zealand

Since 1859 the thermal hot mineral springs of Hanmer Springs, in New Zealand’s South Island has attracted visitors seeking to relax and unwind and ease their aches and pains in the soothing hot mineral waters gushing from within the mountains of the New Zealand Southern Alps range.

Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve is located 1 hours drive north of Christchurch New Zealand on the Tranz Alpine scenic route over the Lewis Pass to the New Zealand’s Westcoast tourism region.

Hanmer Springs has seven open air thermal mineral pools, three sulphur mineral pools, four private thermal mineral pools, sauna and steam rooms, a freshwater heated pool, a large family activity pool with two waterslides, a picnic area and licensed café.

Therapeutic massage and beauty treatments are available on site at Hanmer Springs’ ‘Health, Body and Mind’ spa clinic. Hanmer Springs’ spa clinic offers Therapeutic Massage, Aromatic Massage and Deep tissue and sports massage as well as Body wraps, Facials, Waxing, Tinting and their famous Marine Magic mud treatment. Hanmer Springs’ Therapists use the highest quality cold pressed Sweet Almond Oil in their spa treatments with essential oils added to aid the relaxation process.

The thermal spa waters at Hanmer Springs were first discovered in 1859 by European explorers but it was not until the construction of an iron bathing shed and appointment of a manager in 1879 that the area became known to visitors traveling north from Christchurch.

New Zealand Maori have known of the existence of thermal mineral waters at Hamner Springs for centuries. Maori legend tells of Tamatea calling on the Ariki of the Northern Volcanoes, Mount Tongariro and Mount Ngauruhoe to save his party from freezing after their canoe was wrecked off the New Zealand South Island’s Otago Coast. The Ariki answered Tamatea by sending volcanic flames down the Wanganui River and across the Cook Strait to Nelson, where they rose in the air, dropping a piece off in Hanmer Springs. This gave rise to the Hamner Hot Springs being known by Maori as “Te Whakatakaka O Te Ngarehu O Ahi Tamatea” – where the ashes of Tamatea’s fire lay.

As unique New Zealand Destination Hot Mineral Springs spas, Taupo Hot Springs Spa at Lake Taupo in the Central North Island of New Zealand has begun to form a ‘sister spa’ relationship with Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve in the South Island of New Zealand.

Great New Zealand Hot Mineral Springs Spa experiences #4

Waiwera Thermal Resort and Spa – Auckland, New Zealand

Located 25 minutes north of Auckland New Zealand at the beautiful Hibiscus Coast on the Twin Coast Highway, Waiwera Thermal Resort and Spa is a unique New Zealand destination mineral spa offering 26 Indoor and Outdoor naturally heated mineral water pools.

Waiwera Thermal Resort and Spa’s Mineral pool temperatures range from 28°C to 43°C tapped from a natural mineral water source that gushes from the ground at up to one million litres a day at a constant 53 degrees Celsius. For the adventurous, Waiwera has eight warmwater hydroslides with such adrenaline pumping names as Twister, Speedslide, The Choobs & Black Hole.

Waiwera Thermal Resort and Spa offers a full range of spa treatments, beauty therapy services and massage experiences in combination with their private spas, sauna, steam-room, and Japanese Bath-house.

Waiwera Thermal Resort and Spa’s most popular spa package is their Ocean Embrace which includes a pedicure to pamper your feet, body polish to enliven your skin, therapeutic body massage or body wrap, Sauna or steam room, classic facial to cleanse, tone, hydrate and balance your skin, an Eyelash tint to enhance your eyes, and to finish, a manicure to groom your hands.

New Zealand’s Waiwera Thermal Resort and Spa is located 25 minutes north of Auckland on State Highway One (1) signposted as the Twin Coast Highway. As two unique New Zealand Destination Hot Mineral Springs spas, Taupo Hot Springs Spa at Lake Taupo in the Central North Island of New Zealand has begun to form a ‘sister spa’ relationship with Waiwera Thermal Resort and Spa in the Far North region of New Zealand.

Great New Zealand Hot Mineral Springs Spa experiences #5

Hells Gate Thermal Reserve and Wai Ora Spa - Rotorua, New Zealand

Hells Gate Wai Ora is Rotorua, New Zealand's only geothermal Mud bath and Spa therapy facility located in an active geothermal geyser reserve. Opened in July 2001 this New Zealand North Island spa facility has a traditional New Zealand Maori theme drawing on Rotorua’s unique Maori culture. Visitors can experience bathing in the mineral rich geothermal muds and sulphurous waters that Rotorua Maori have enjoyed for more than 700 years.

New Zealand’s Hell’s Gate is Rotorua’s most active geothermal field - boasting New Zealand's largest boiling whirlpool, a tremendous hot water and steam vent geyser, thermally heated rocks, steaming fumeroles, pools of boiling mud and the largest hot waterfall in the southern hemisphere,.

Each of the three mud baths in Hells Gate WaiOra Spa is surrounded by New Zealand native Ti Tree – Manuka. Hells Gate WaiOra Spa mud baths contain between 70 - 100 kgs of geothermal mud, which can be liberally smoothed over the skin while in the mineral water bath.

New Zealand’s Hells Gate Wai Ora Spa’s silky smooth geothermal mud in combination with the sulphurous geothermal water opens the skin's pores allowing the active ingredients to gently exfoliate and treat the skin while in the bath leaving it very clean and soft to touch.

Hells Gate Wai Ora Spa is located five minutes drive past Rotorua Airport north on State Highway 30. Visitors need to turn right to Whakatane and the spa is 4km on the left. A Daily shuttle is available from Rotorua City Centre. Continue on State Highway 30 to reach the big game fishing town of Whaktane - home to swimming with the dolphins and the active volcanic island of White Island. Whakatane lies on the Pacific Coast Highway which is part of the Great New Zealand touring route.

Great New Zealand Hot Mineral Springs Spa experiences #6

QE Health - Rotorua, New Zealand

QE Health is a Rotorua, New Zealand based spa hospital and specialized spa treatment centre using geothermal spa treatments of hot mineral water and therapeutic mud for people with rheumatism, arthritis and other disorders involving movement. QE Health combines modern medical investigation and treatment facilities with traditional spa cures. QE Health Rotorua and Taupo Hot Springs Spa at Lake Taupo are New Zealand members of the International Spa Association - ISPA.

Rotorua’s QE Health is fully accredited with the New Zealand Council on Health Care Standards as a hospital combining medical diagnosis and medical advice with spa therapies to relax, relieve pain, reduce stress and improve flexibility. Queen Elizabeth Health Rotorua is open to the public, without referral, seven days a week.

Rotorua New Zealand’s QE Health offers Aix Massage under jets of warm thermal water; Relaxation Massage with the use of oils; Therapeutic Massage focusing on mobilising of tissues and muscles of the body and treating specific tension areas; Lithos Therapy TM massage using heated and chilled rocks as therapeutic instruments; Manual Lymphatic Drainage to help with the immune and protective function, and the clearing of any blockages; and Sole Therapy which begins with immersing the feet in a hot mineral water foot spa, followed by a polishing scrub, and a massage with aromatherapy oils, or nourishing skin moisturiser. An additional Wax Treatment can be added where your feet are immersed into a hot wax mixture to make the skin soft and alleviate joint pain and stiffness,or reduce swelling.

QE Health Rotorua’s Mud Bath involves a full immersion in a bath containing thermal mud mixed with warm water from QE Health’s Rachel Spring. QE Health’s Mud Packs are thermal mud wrapped in towels, applied to areas of the body to decrease tension and pain: QE Health’s Watsu treatments are a gentle form of body therapy performed in warm water (35°C) combining elements of massage, joint mobilisation, shiatsu, muscle stretching and dance. QE Health’s Pyretic therapy involves lying on an enclosed bed with thermally heated steam wafting around you to release tender muscles.

QE Health Rotorua is located near Rotorua’s famous government gardens on Fenton Street in Rotorua city centre. Continue to follow Rotorua’s Fenton street south and you will meet the Thermal Explorer Highway. Travel 40 minutes south on the Thermal Explorer Highway to reach Taupo Hot Springs Spa at Lake Taupo New Zealand. The Thermal Explorer Highway continues onto the wine growing region of the Hawkes Bay and is part of the Great New Zealand Touring Route.

Great New Zealand Hot Mineral Springs Spa experiences #7

Waikite Valley Thermal Pools - Rotorua, New Zealand

Waikite Valley Thermal Pools is a unique place to go to experience the ‘Living Waters’ of the Te Manaroa Spring, the largest single source of 100% pure boiling water in New Zealand. These very waters cascade into our main splash pool (35-38C), adjoining toddlers beach area and the sit and soak pool (38-40C) also, our new luxurious Tranquil Garden pool.

Enjoy nature’s ambience of one of our private spas. You can control the temperature of your own pool looking out onto Waikite Valley, native bush and the geothermal activity surrounding you.

We also have an informative Eco-Trail of both geological and botanical interest. This educational walk takes you to the Te Manaroa Spring. Along the way you will learn about ferns and mosses that are unique to just a few geothermal areas in the southern Rotorua area.

After enjoying our unique waters and exploring the Eco-Trail, relax with a bite to eat from the ‘Pukeko in a Ponga Tree’ Cafe. Our extensive and creative menu caters for everyone using fresh ingredients for our Kiwi cuisine. The cafe has a spacious outdoor seating area and the covered patio looks out over the pools and out onto the valley beyond.

Adjoining the pool complex is a 20 site campground with shower, laundry & kitchen facilities. Because we are so handy to other attractions in the area, we are an ideal spot for those passing through traveling by van or those who are tenting.

Situated 25 min. south of Rotorua off SH5. Waikite Thermal Valley is the perfect place to relax and unwind all year round. The pools are open 7 days from 10am (except on Christmas Day) and the Pukeko in a Ponga Tree Cafe is open from 12 noon daily.