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Hells Gate and Wai Ora Spa mud baths!
zoomHells Gate and Wai Ora Spa - New Zealand's most active and interactive geothermal park. The home of New Zealand's famous mud baths and minerals spas as well as the spritual and relaxing Mirimiri Maori Massage!
Hells Gate and Wai Ora Spa is raw, angry and a little ugly, Hells Gate is the place where the smell comes alive bubbling to the surface with purpose and intensity. Here you can get hands on with the earth and the Maori culture as you stroll through this untamed wonderland. Learn to carve and weave flax as the Maori people do and you can take away your efforts as a memento of your time with us!
At the Wai Ora Spa get down and dirty in the only geothermal mud baths in New Zealand with beautification minerals which help to clear the skin, all before you relax in the mineral spas. If your looking for something truly one of kind try a Wai Ora Massage based on the traditional Maori style of massage known as Mirimiri, which not only relaxes the body, but through karakia (Maori prayer) relaxes the mind as well.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
Hells Gate and Wai Ora SpaCommercial organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Rotorua Region ▷ Tikitere |
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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? Paid access/participation The experience costs money to access or take part in. |
The included tour was fantastic!
Big park.
Similar to Nature Connection but self guided.
Expensive.
Expensive but they gave us a concession.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
---|---|---|---|
10/10 | 14 |
|
10% |
9/10 | 15 |
|
11% |
8/10 | 32 |
|
23% |
7/10 | 30 |
|
22% |
6/10 | 13 |
|
9% |
5/10 | 15 |
|
11% |
4/10 | 4 |
|
3% |
3/10 | 10 |
|
7% |
2/10 | 5 |
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4% |
1/10 | 1 |
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1% |
3.0/5
We got a deal through GrabOne ($45/person instead of $75).
We arrived, checked in & were sent up to where our "spa attendant" would take care of us. She told us our time in the mud baths was limited to 20 minutes, but we could spend as much time as we wanted in the hot springs. That was it. This is important to note.
The mud baths were awesome. It's a bit more like muddy water than the thick mud I was afraid of. The showers on the outside of the building were A+. Fantastic water pressure.
We showered & headed over to the hot springs & my fiance accidentally splashed a little water getting into the hot springs & I could feel mascara mixed with water dripping into my eye. I tried to wipe it away.
Huge mistake. In wiping my mascara off, I got the water from my hands in my eyes. It felt like someone had set my eyes on fire. An older gentleman who worked there saw me & said, "Oh my god, your eyes!"
I got water from the water cooler & washed my eyes out. I got out & went to the outdoor shower & washed off. I jumped into the cold plunge pool & held my face under with my eyes open. All of these suggestions were made by the man working there. I was miserable. Finally I gave up & went to shower again & get some eye drops from the office.
I put a whole tube of eye drops in each eye. Nothing. My eyes are pouring tears & my nose is dripping.
We get to the Redwoods Tree Walk & the girl behind the counter asks what's the matter. I tell her, "We just went to Hell's Gate. It would really be worth the 5 seconds it would take them to tell you, 'Hey, just make sure you don't get the hot springs water in your eyes.'"
"They didn't take you through the health and safety briefing? I used to work there & there was a whole list of safety things we had to go through with you."
"Nope. They just said don't stay in the mud pools more than 20 mins."
"Oh wow. That's bad. Yeah, there's a whole protocol they're supposed to take you through."
Reviewed about 6 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
A fantastic, free guided walk explained the geographical features and cultural significance of the other worldly, wonderful collection of volcanic curiosities.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
Customer
4.0/5
We did only the spa, we enjoyed the mud pool and the hot pools very much.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016
Customer
4.0/5
This was a very interactive walk through a thermal activity area.
Not as tourist orientated as some of the more commercial areas.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016
Customer
4.0/5
A beautiful walk around the hot bath (you do not bath in these ones!!!).
Up to 140 degrees. And smoke coming out from them everywhere. Guy was an amazing guide - we even saw a waterfall close to and learnt a lot about this phenomonen. To finish: bath.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016
Customer
4.5/5
Absolutely loved this place.
We arrived just as a guide was heading off with some others and we were invited to tack on the end of the tour. Our guide was fantastic. Yes it smells, but people if you have come to Rotorua, shouldn't you expect that!! (It actually wasn't as bad a some people make out.) What did you come here for if not to experience the wonders of this natural habitat. That includes the smell. I learnt so much about this area from this short walk around the park with a guide. I would recommend this place to anyone really interested in how and why this place actually exists. Truly amazing.
Reviewed about 8 years ago
Customer
4.0/5
Great thermal area to be able to explore at your own pace.
The mud baths and thermal spa is a must-do activity. The mud baths are not quite what we expected, muddy water with mud in a pot available to smear over yourselves, but fun to do all the same. The thermal spa pretty hot. Well run and organised, and friendly staff.
All in all a good day.
Reviewed about 8 years ago
Customer
1.0/5
Hells Gate pools are under construction so there is only 1 sulphur pool.
Usually there are 3. We thought this place is way overpriced. Make sure construction is done if you're going to go!
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
Customer
3.5/5
Expensive.
Circle around hot springs interesting with describing what is going on. Personnel nice and smiley.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
Customer
3.5/5
Great to see the volcanic area with mud pools, sulpuhur bath etc.
Reviewed over 11 years ago
Customer
1.0/5
Hells Gate pools are under construction so there is only 1 sulphur pool.
Usually there are 3. We thought this place is way overpriced. Make sure construction is done if you're going to go!
Reviewed almost 6 years ago
Customer
3.0/5
We got a deal through GrabOne ($45/person instead of $75).
We arrived, checked in & were sent up to where our "spa attendant" would take care of us. She told us our time in the mud baths was limited to 20 minutes, but we could spend as much time as we wanted in the hot springs. That was it. This is important to note.
The mud baths were awesome. It's a bit more like muddy water than the thick mud I was afraid of. The showers on the outside of the building were A+. Fantastic water pressure.
We showered & headed over to the hot springs & my fiance accidentally splashed a little water getting into the hot springs & I could feel mascara mixed with water dripping into my eye. I tried to wipe it away.
Huge mistake. In wiping my mascara off, I got the water from my hands in my eyes. It felt like someone had set my eyes on fire. An older gentleman who worked there saw me & said, "Oh my god, your eyes!"
I got water from the water cooler & washed my eyes out. I got out & went to the outdoor shower & washed off. I jumped into the cold plunge pool & held my face under with my eyes open. All of these suggestions were made by the man working there. I was miserable. Finally I gave up & went to shower again & get some eye drops from the office.
I put a whole tube of eye drops in each eye. Nothing. My eyes are pouring tears & my nose is dripping.
We get to the Redwoods Tree Walk & the girl behind the counter asks what's the matter. I tell her, "We just went to Hell's Gate. It would really be worth the 5 seconds it would take them to tell you, 'Hey, just make sure you don't get the hot springs water in your eyes.'"
"They didn't take you through the health and safety briefing? I used to work there & there was a whole list of safety things we had to go through with you."
"Nope. They just said don't stay in the mud pools more than 20 mins."
"Oh wow. That's bad. Yeah, there's a whole protocol they're supposed to take you through."
Reviewed about 6 years ago
Customer
5.0/5
A fantastic, free guided walk explained the geographical features and cultural significance of the other worldly, wonderful collection of volcanic curiosities.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017
Customer
4.0/5
This was a very interactive walk through a thermal activity area.
Not as tourist orientated as some of the more commercial areas.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016
Customer
4.0/5
A beautiful walk around the hot bath (you do not bath in these ones!!!).
Up to 140 degrees. And smoke coming out from them everywhere. Guy was an amazing guide - we even saw a waterfall close to and learnt a lot about this phenomonen. To finish: bath.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in October 2016
Customer
4.0/5
We did only the spa, we enjoyed the mud pool and the hot pools very much.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in November 2016
Customer
4.5/5
Absolutely loved this place.
We arrived just as a guide was heading off with some others and we were invited to tack on the end of the tour. Our guide was fantastic. Yes it smells, but people if you have come to Rotorua, shouldn't you expect that!! (It actually wasn't as bad a some people make out.) What did you come here for if not to experience the wonders of this natural habitat. That includes the smell. I learnt so much about this area from this short walk around the park with a guide. I would recommend this place to anyone really interested in how and why this place actually exists. Truly amazing.
Reviewed about 8 years ago
Customer
2.5/5
Stinky as hell!
Really nice to see those hot pools for the first time, but the smell was nasty and the entrance price was way too high.
Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016
Customer
4.0/5
Great thermal area to be able to explore at your own pace.
The mud baths and thermal spa is a must-do activity. The mud baths are not quite what we expected, muddy water with mud in a pot available to smear over yourselves, but fun to do all the same. The thermal spa pretty hot. Well run and organised, and friendly staff.
All in all a good day.
Reviewed about 8 years ago
Customer
1.5/5
Too expensive and nothing special.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
Customer
3.0/5
You have different packages.
Walk to see the sulphur waters and mud spa. Honestly for the price, having a look at the sulphur water is enough.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
Customer
3.5/5
Expensive.
Circle around hot springs interesting with describing what is going on. Personnel nice and smiley.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014
Customer
3.5/5
Great to see the volcanic area with mud pools, sulpuhur bath etc.
Reviewed over 11 years ago
Customer
3.5/5
It was interesting.
Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in March 2012
Customer
4.0/5
Similar to Nature Connection but self guided.
Mud spa worth trying, beneficial to chronic skin conditions. Relaxed atmosphere.
Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in March 2012
Customer
1.5/5
Very expensive and not interesting.
Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in March 2012
Customer
4.0/5
A lot of thermal activity on a small piece of ground.
Friendly staff. Information shee of walk was outdated. We did not use spa facilities.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
Customer
2.5/5
Paid for the walk around - a bit pricey, four year old was bored half way around.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
Customer
2.5/5
Stroller friendly, would recommend Wai-o-Tapu over this if funds were limited.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
Customer
4.0/5
First paid activity we did in New Zealand.
Never seen anything like it, staff looked after us and we even carved our own wooden plaques. Slightly expensive considering some thermal parks are free.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
Customer
2.5/5
Not amazing but especially active thermal park.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
Customer
3.5/5
Thermal Springs - very interesting but a little pricey ($63 for two).
Expensive.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
Customer
4.0/5
Good experience - not cheap - well described in leaflets.
Reviewed over 12 years ago
Customer
1.0/5
Only boring mud pools, that you can see in 'Craters of the Moon' for free.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2011
Customer
4.0/5
Excellent attraction, like walking into another world/universe.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in November 2011
Customer
4.5/5
The included tour was fantastic!
Very funny as well.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in November 2011
Customer
4.5/5
Expensive but they gave us a concession.
Best Mud Bath - have never felt better. My body felt really great for days afterwards.
Reviewed over 12 years ago
Customer
3.5/5
Very interesting but would go for a guided tour next time.
A bit more information would be fine.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in April 2011
Customer
4.0/5
Good but poor value.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in November 2011
Customer