There is nothing better after a long hike, a cold day or any kind of day for that matter than sinking into a naturally heated geothermal hot pool! It’s winter right now, and we have been loving a soak anytime we can get it. Aotearoa is rather famous for its picturesque hot pools and spas. However, most of them seem to be from the South Island. Whilst the South Island is amazing, we can’t believe how many of these north island gems aren’t getting the attention they deserve.
We have visited all the natural hot pools on this list and loved them all. They are very different from each other, so we decided not to rank them as they are all amazing in their own ways. Let’s be honest though there is no such thing as a bad hot pool, so how could we possibly decide which would go on the bottom of the list?! Some on this list are definitely more well known and others are for sure hidden gems. Let’s dive into this toasty list together and see which one you’ll want to check out first.
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Wairakei Terraces – Taupō
Cost: $27pp – from $13.50
Number of Pools: 3
Best For: Night time soaking
Perhaps our favourite of all the hot pools on this list is the beautiful Wairakei Terraces in Taupō. We love to come here in the late afternoon and stay well into the night. Watching the light change from the tranquility of a hot pool is topped only by stargazing in a hot pool! Both of which are easy to do here.
The pools are big and offer the perfect range of temperatures. We spend the night moving amongst them all, getting super toasty in the top pool, then cooling off in the lower pools and starting the cycle over again. If you want a warm spot, then stick closer to the waterfalls or get further away to cool down.
As a bonus, you can explore the source of these hot pools on a walk around the terraces before or after your time in the pools. We are actually yet to do this as we always come in the afternoon and go straight for the pools!
The Lost Spring – Whitianga
Cost: $60/2 hours, $100/4 hours
Number of Pools: 3
Best For: poolside food and drinks!
This is by far the most expensive hot pool soak we have gone on, but it was also one of the most different. These hot pools are more like a hidden tropical resort spa. Poolside drinks and food are available as you swim through the pools and take in the tropical plants surrounding them. There is also a cave pool with mood lighting to give you the perfect insta worthy shots.
We came at night and stayed for 4 hours. You would think that would be too long, but it really wasn’t. We had a few cocktails, ate some delicious food, and were surprised when we realised it was almost time to go. Sure, it wasn’t the most budget friendly night, but there is a freedom camping spot within walking distance of The Lost Spring which made up for it. Definitely more of a treat yourself location, but we would go back again for a special occasion.
Waikite Valley – Rotorua
Cost: $25/pp, $31pp for private
Number of pools: 5 plus private pools
Best for: Camping overnight and early morning soaks
Perhaps one of the more quiet pools we have been to, Waikite Valley, is hidden away near Rotorua and provides the perfect spot to camp and enjoy the pools and valley. It is definitely a hidden gem, as so many people miss out on this one. The scenery is stunning here, especially in the morning when the valley is shrouded in fog and only the people who have camped over night get the use of the hot pools. If you are camping overnight, the cost for two people is $70 per night, which includes pool entry for the time that you are there. The campsite even has a drying room to hang your bathers overnight. It’s the perfect budget getaway if you ask us!
If you stay the night and head to the pools in the morning, be sure to make your way to the top pool first, as this will be the warmest one. The water is emptied and turned off at night so the lower pools haven’t had the chance to heat up enough by the time you get to them in the morning. They are still great for photo opportunities and for cooling off if you get too hot in the top pool.
Polynesian Spa – Rotorua
Cost: Pavilion Pools – $39.95pp ($23 BookMe), $69.95 Deluxe Lake Spa, $89.90 Lake View Private Pools
Number of pools: Pavilion Pools – 8, Deluxe – 6, Family – 3, 13 Private pools
Best for: soaking with a view
The very first time we were in Rotorua, we didn’t go to the Polynesian Spa. We thought it wouldn’t be as good as Hell’s Gate, so we just didn’t go. Gosh, were we wrong! We have since been quite a few times and tried out the Pavilion, Deluxe and Private lake view pools. They are all amazing, but we keep going back to the Pavilion pools as they are more varied than the deluxe area and cheaper!
Our favourite thing about the Pavilion pools is the large swimming pool, which is deep enough to actually swim in instead of just sitting and soaking. We hop around between all the pools and enjoy the varied views over Lake Rotorua. The Private pools are wonderful for a romantic day, however you can only stay in the private pool for 30mins. They do include admission to either the Pavilion or Deluxe pools after your 30mins though.
The best thing about the Polynesian spa for us as vanlifers is the freedom camp across the road from them. If you can get yourself admission with BookMe at $23, you can have a soak and, of course, a shower for cheaper than staying at any campsite. The freedom camp does fill up though, so be sure to get there early in the afternoon to secure a spot. Otherwise, if you hang around between 5pm and 6pm you will usually be lucky enough to grab a spot from someone leaving the spa.
Hell’s Gate – Rotorua
Cost: $85pp for just the hot pools or $105 for hot pools and geothermal walk
Number of pools: 4 mud pools, 3 fresh pools
Best for: Mud pools!
We highly recommend doing both the hot pools and geothermal walk at Hell’s Gate. The walk is very impressive, with bubbling mud and interesting landscapes. You feel like you’ve entered another realm. There are guided tours you can go on for the walk or you can do it at your own pace. At the end, there is a carving station where you can pick your own design and learn how to carve it from a Māori teacher. We were also taught how to correctly pronounce the name of the design we were carving.
Once you have done the walk, you can then ease your weary legs in the healing waters of the hot pools. The mud pools are amazing and leave your skin feeling great! We had a lot of fun covering ourselves in the mud and letting it wash back off again. You do have a 30min time limit in the mud pools but can then spend as long as you like soaking in the fresh pools. Be sure to bring some older bathers with you for this one as the mud and sulfur pools leave a distinct smell on your clothes. It does wash out, but it takes some time.
Okoroire Hot Springs Hotel – Okoroire
Cost: $20pp, complimentary if staying
Number of pools: 3
Best for: Hidden pools and crystal clear water
Tucked away down a tree-lined walk in front of Okoroire hotel is the crystal clear waters of some beautiful hot pools. These three pools are hidden on a bit of a hillside at varying levels, surrounded by lush trees and a babbling river just below the pools. There is plenty of shade here if you go during the middle of the day, which is great for Tiff, who burns just by thinking about the sun. They empty the pools every morning, which is why the water here is so very clear.
If you go early enough, the pools won’t be completely full, but they will still be just as good and even clearer than later in the day. If you are here in winter, there is a changing room once you get to the hot pools, so keep your warm clothes on for the walk down to them and change once you get there. Again, you can spend as long as you like at these pools, so make the most of them with a good few hours soaking in the water.
The Absolute BEST Hot Pools on the North Island
We don’t know about you, but a road trip that includes these stops sounds like a pretty good idea to us! Keep an eye out for discounts to some of these awesome hot pools on BookMe or grab one. We have gotten half price entry to Wairakei Terraces and the Polynesian hot pools on BookMe. It does come with certain time entries, but you can still stay as long as you like at both of the pools. Take your water bottle to stay hydrated and spend a good few hours soaking in the blissful waters. There’s nothing better to ease your worries and keep you warm in winter, or just relax you on a cool summer’s night. We’ll take any excuse to visit these hot pools when we are nearby.
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