Bucket List: New Zealand’s Most Incredible Hot Pools and Geothermal Escapes
Hot pools in New Zealand are one of the best reasons to slow down on a trip. The country sits on two tectonic plates, so warm water rises through the earth’s crust and forms springs from Northland to the deep south. This guide follows the map above and picks 12 bucket list spots. They range from lakeside spas in Rotorua to a beach where you dig your own pool.
Credit: Tourism New Zealand, newzealand.com
The map also marks places to soak at Te Aroha, Tauranga, Morere near Gisborne, New Plymouth, Napier, Maruia Springs, Punakaiki and Franz Josef. Each has its own character. Use this guide as a starting point, then check local details before you go.
Why New Zealand Has So Many Hot Pools
New Zealand’s hot springs come from its position on two tectonic plates. For centuries, locals have used them for cooking, bathing and preparing flax for weaving. Many people also believe a soak helps the body absorb minerals, boosts circulation, reduces stress and eases pain.
Today, the hot springs in New Zealand range from wild, free pools in the bush to polished spas. Rotorua is famous for its geothermal activity, but you can find a soak in almost every region. Tourism New Zealand’s hot pools guide is a good place to start your research.
Choose the Right Hot Pools in New Zealand: Five Ways to Soak
The map’s legend shows five kinds of experience. Decide which suits you best before you pick a destination.
- Mineral hot pools: natural, mineral-rich water in pools of different temperatures.
- Health spas: treatments and day spas beside the pools.
- Hot tubs: private or small-group soaks, often in timber tubs.
- Hot tubs with stargazing: evening soaks under dark skies.
- Beach hot springs: pools you dig yourself in the sand.
The Best North Island Hot Pools in New Zealand
1. Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa, Rotorua. Rotorua hot pools range from classic to cutting edge, and Wai Ariki is the newest luxury option. It sits on the shore of Lake Rotorua and is owned by the local iwi. The design is contemporary, and the experience is rooted in Māori values and healing practices. Look for the Wai Whakaora, a path to restoration, and the exclusive sanctuary Āhuru Mōwai. Wai Ariki website
2. Waikite Valley Thermal Pools, Rotorua. This valley is about 30 minutes’ drive from Rotorua. It is the largest single source of 100 per cent pure geothermal water in the country. Choose between six open pools or a private spa overlooking native bush. A nearby eco-trail is easy to add to your visit.
3. The Lost Spring, Whitianga. This feels like a secluded tropical oasis, yet it is only a short walk from the beach. The pools sit among lush greenery, with an amethyst cave to swim through. It is popular with couples. Spa treatments and pina coladas are both on the menu.
4. Hot Water Beach, Coromandel. At Hot Water Beach, geothermal water rises through the sand just metres from the Pacific Ocean. You dig your own hot pool, so it is one of the most hands-on soaks in the country. Go around low tide and check the official tide times first. Read more on the Hot Water Beach page or in our Coromandel guide.
5. Ngawha Springs, Kaikohe. Northland’s Ngawha Springs has 16 geothermal pools. Each has its own temperature, colour and minerals, with different healing properties. Daily visitor numbers are limited, so the pools stay peaceful. Ngawha Springs website See also our Northland & Bay of Islands guide.
6. Taupō hot pools. Taupō is a good place for a relaxing soak after a busy day exploring. Its DeBretts Hot Springs offers heated indoor and outdoor pools. Tokaanu Thermal Pools offers both private and public hot pool experiences. See the Taupō hot pools guide or our Taupō page.
The Best South Island Hot Pools in New Zealand
7. Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools & Spa, Hanmer Springs. The Hanmer Springs thermal pools are New Zealand’s largest thermal reserve and water park. There are more than 22 outdoor pools, including sulphur pools, rock pools, private pools and adults-only pools. Kids get their own pools and hydroslides, and there are saunas and steam rooms. The village is about 90 minutes’ drive from Christchurch. Hanmer Springs website See our Kaikoura & Hanmer Springs guide.
8. Onsen Hot Pools & Day Spa, Queenstown. The view from your cedar-lined hot tub is worth the price of admission alone. Onsen won the 2023 World Luxury Spa Awards and offers a day spa and a complimentary shuttle. Bring slippers or jandals for walking between the pool room and the treatment room. Onsen website Read our Queenstown guide.
9. Tekapo Springs, Lake Tekapo. Tekapo Springs is one of the few hot pool complexes with a snow tube park and an outdoor skating rink. The real highlight is a night-time soak. Float on a hammock in 38 °C water and look up at hundreds of stars in the dark sky reserve. Tekapo Springs website See our Mt Cook & Mackenzie guide.
10. Hot Tubs Ōmārama, Ōmārama. These outdoor cedar tubs are filled with fresh mountain water. In winter, wood fires heat them. Soak in the sun by day, or come at night to stargaze on clear evenings. The location is midway between Wānaka and Tekapo, so the drive is a highlight too. Hot Tubs Ōmārama website See also our Wanaka guide.
11. Ōpuke Thermal Pools & Spa, Methven. Just over an hour from Christchurch, this spa sits at the foothills of Mt Hutt, also known as Ōpuke. The adults-only Tranquility pools have a swim-up bar and views of the Southern Alps. Serenity has private hot tubs and sauna access, with food and drinks delivered to your tub. The pools are heated with solar energy, and the business operates as carbon zero. Ōpuke on newzealand.com
Free Hot Springs in New Zealand You Can Reach on Foot
Not every one of the best hot pools in New Zealand has a ticket office. A few of the country’s wildest soaks are free, but they take effort to reach.
12. Welcome Flat, Westland. The most southern hot pool in the country is free to use, but you have to work for it. Follow the Copland Track for seven hours to a Department of Conservation hut and campsite. The pools are a short walk from the hut, with some of the best wilderness views in New Zealand. Read the Copland Track guide and see our West Coast guide.
Closer to Auckland, the Kaitoke Hot Springs Track on Great Barrier Island leads to free natural pools in the forest.
At a Glance: Where to Soak
Use this quick comparison to match the hot pools in New Zealand above to your trip.
| Hot spot | Region | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Wai Ariki | Rotorua | Luxury and Māori-led wellness |
| Waikite Valley | Rotorua | Pure geothermal water |
| The Lost Spring | Whitianga | Couples |
| Hot Water Beach | Coromandel | Digging your own pool |
| Ngawha Springs | Northland | Quiet, limited numbers |
| Hanmer Springs | Canterbury | Families and variety |
| Onsen Hot Pools | Queenstown | Views and spa treatments |
| Tekapo Springs | Mackenzie | Stargazing and winter fun |
| Hot Tubs Ōmārama | Waitaki | Stargazing in cedar tubs |
| Ōpuke | Methven | Adults-only relaxation |
Tips for Visiting Hot Pools in New Zealand
These tips apply to most hot pools in New Zealand, whether you choose a spa or a beach.
- Check the tide: Hot Water Beach works best around low tide.
- Book ahead: some places, such as Ngawha Springs, limit daily visitor numbers.
- Pack for the walk: bring slippers or jandals if you are moving between pools and treatment rooms.
- Look up: at Tekapo and Ōmārama, clear nights give the best stargazing.
- Travel with care: follow the Tiaki Promise when you visit natural places.
- Confirm details: prices, opening hours and booking rules change, so check each operator’s website before you go.
Plan Your Hot Pool Escape
You can build a whole trip around a soak. Pick two or three hot pools in New Zealand that suit your style, then plan the rest of your route around them. In the North Island, pair Rotorua hot pools with a visit to Rotorua and Taupō. In the South Island, link Queenstown, Tekapo and Hanmer Springs for a mix of views, stars and spa days. From wild hot springs in New Zealand’s backcountry to luxury day spas, there is a soak for every kind of traveller. Browse our hot pools and health spas activities and volcanic and geothermal experiences. To fit it all together, compare our North Island tours, South Island tours and North & South Island tours.
