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Public access hot river at Spa Park, Taupo
Free natural hot pools, in town! Choice!
Otumuheke Stream (hot river) winds its way through a series of small hot pools, merging with the mighty Waikato river at Spa Park in Taupo.
There is a walking track beside the stream, the higher you go the hotter the pools get.
Please respect the natural environment around you, keep the place clean and enjoy a soak in the thermal goodness!
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Taupo District CouncilCouncil organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Taupo Region ▷ Taupo |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Great to relax.
Spot still good.
Really nice place.
Great!
This spa is amazing.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 36 |
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40% |
9/10 | 26 |
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29% |
8/10 | 16 |
|
18% |
7/10 | 10 |
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11% |
6/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4/10 | 1 |
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1% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5.0/5
Spot still good.
Just close to the « Lil something » coffee. Clean change room and toilets.
Keep this place clean.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
5.0/5
Parking plenty up Spa Road.
Winter morning: nothing better
5 min gravel path to bridge, footwear required.
Pools consist of two hot teirs, one with steamy water fall, the other accesses the cool river. MAX room for twelve, anymore would be a bad experience. Hooks supplied under bridge for towels and currently a toilet/changing facility is being built with lookout. Existing toilets and playground are back at parking area.
Reviewed over 6 years ago
5.0/5
Really nice and free spot.
You have kind of natural whirlpools beneath a beautiful river. We really enjoyed it.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
3.5/5
It is really cool how the hot water from the spring mixes with the cold water.
One moment you are cold, next thing you know the water is boiling. Very crowded though.
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
4.0/5
Free thermal springs.
When you are in the river, the mix of hot and cold is a strange sensation. Nice for a quick stop off.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.5/5
Two thermal springs trickle into the cold river and create an excellent set of bathing pools.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.0/5
After a two hour hike, we were lucky enough to come across another hiker who informed us that the hot spring at the bridge at the beginning of our hike was worth the extra walk.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in March 2016
3.5/5
Free and wonderful.
Nature has given a place where you can go and enjoy cold and hot water coming from the ground. But it can get too busy.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
5.0/5
Central location.
Free. Good thing to do on a rainy day.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
3.5/5
Nice hot springs to take a relaxing bath.
No entry fee but kind of crowded for sunset. Bring some cold beers.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
5.0/5
It is like a hot tub, just without bubbles!
Very lovely! Do watch out for the carpark gate - it closes at 8pm.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
2.0/5
Nice view and location, but the water was not deep enough to really get in there.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
5.0/5
Spot still good.
Just close to the « Lil something » coffee. Clean change room and toilets.
Keep this place clean.
Reviewed over 1 year ago
5.0/5
Parking plenty up Spa Road.
Winter morning: nothing better
5 min gravel path to bridge, footwear required.
Pools consist of two hot teirs, one with steamy water fall, the other accesses the cool river. MAX room for twelve, anymore would be a bad experience. Hooks supplied under bridge for towels and currently a toilet/changing facility is being built with lookout. Existing toilets and playground are back at parking area.
Reviewed over 6 years ago
5.0/5
Really nice and free spot.
You have kind of natural whirlpools beneath a beautiful river. We really enjoyed it.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
4.0/5
Free thermal springs.
When you are in the river, the mix of hot and cold is a strange sensation. Nice for a quick stop off.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.5/5
Two thermal springs trickle into the cold river and create an excellent set of bathing pools.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.0/5
After a two hour hike, we were lucky enough to come across another hiker who informed us that the hot spring at the bridge at the beginning of our hike was worth the extra walk.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in March 2016
3.5/5
It is really cool how the hot water from the spring mixes with the cold water.
One moment you are cold, next thing you know the water is boiling. Very crowded though.
Reviewed almost 8 years ago
3.5/5
Free and wonderful.
Nature has given a place where you can go and enjoy cold and hot water coming from the ground. But it can get too busy.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
5.0/5
Central location.
Free. Good thing to do on a rainy day.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
3.5/5
Nice hot springs to take a relaxing bath.
No entry fee but kind of crowded for sunset. Bring some cold beers.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
5.0/5
It is like a hot tub, just without bubbles!
Very lovely! Do watch out for the carpark gate - it closes at 8pm.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
4.0/5
Really amazing and mind blowing that you swim in the river and it is really hot.
It is a little bit overcrowded.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
4.0/5
Fantastic hot water - relax.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
5.0/5
It was free and safe to stay with the car and the river was really chilly.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
5.0/5
A 40 minute walk from the Huka Falls to reach the pools.
It is simply a bay where two hot streams are merging with the Waikato River and you can sit and relax.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.0/5
This is a free activity.
You can park at the Spa Thermal Park and walk to the Otumuheke Stream and have a bath in the hot stream and the cold river at the same time.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.0/5
Really lovely spot and great park area.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.5/5
Very relaxing beach.
Nice surroundings. Friendly staff.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
5.0/5
This spa is amazing.
It is free, authentic, cosy and easily accessible. It is by the Huka Falls river, so you can swim in both hot and cold water, just metres apart.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
4.0/5
A very hot river.
So relaxing!!
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
5.0/5
The Taupo thermal pools are really nice.
There is a small river with hot water which goes in a bigger river and therefore are some small pools.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
5.0/5
Do not pay for thermal parks!
The Spa Park near Lake Taupo is a must visit. It is a free thermal pool that connects to the river allowing a great hot/cold mix.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
4.5/5
A cold water, warm water stream come together.
Really nice for a swim, it is for free and not crowded at all. Clear and quiet place. Park the car where a small bridge crosses the river. It is right under the bridge.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
2.0/5
Nice view and location, but the water was not deep enough to really get in there.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
4.5/5
Was free and when we went there there was only one person so it was a perfect start to the day.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in December 2015
5.0/5
Such a cool natural and free place.
Just along the trail of the river, which was cold (there is a beautiful stream of hot springs so you can sit in between and enjoy the best combo of hot and cold.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in December 2015
4.5/5
Hot thermal pools to laze around in and when it gets a bit too hot you can just float over to the river.
Can get very busy though.
Reviewed about 9 years ago and experienced in February 2015
4.5/5
Free natural thermal springs in Taupo - opposite the AC Baths.
Was like having a hot bath!
Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in November 2014
4.5/5
A little bit too crowded.
Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in December 2014