New Zealand sits right on the Pacific Ring of Fire, creating a geothermal wonderland where natural hot springs bubble up from deep underground across both islands. From luxury resort pools overlooking pristine lakes to wild hot pools accessible only after epic hiking adventures, the country offers an incredible variety of soaking experiences.
The mineral-rich waters aren’t just relaxing – they’re credited with healing properties that have drawn people for centuries, from ancient Māori settlements to modern wellness seekers. What makes New Zealand’s hot springs truly special is how they’re woven into the country’s most spectacular landscapes, creating the perfect combination of natural therapy and breathtaking scenery.
Here is a list of 20 scenic hot springs that showcase the very best thermal experiences this island nation has to offer.
Ngawha Hot Springs, Northland
Māori have used these culturally significant thermal pools in New Zealand’s far north for centuries, and they remain one of the most authentic geothermal experiences in the country. With 16 individual mineral baths, the Te Waiariki Ngawha Hot Springs are famed for their healing properties and cultural significance to local Māori.
Each of these pools caters to a different physical need — from chest congestion and skin ailments to the treatment of burns. The rustic setting and therapeutic waters rich in lithium and sulfur create an atmosphere that feels both ancient and healing.
Kaitoke Hot Springs, Great Barrier Island
Accessible only by ferry or small plane from Auckland, these natural hot springs on Great Barrier Island offer a true escape from civilization. With warm water and a stunning outlook, the Kaitoke Hot Springs are a real slice of Kiwi paradise!
The springs emerge from the beach rocks during low tide, creating natural pools where you can soak while waves crash nearby and native bush provides a green backdrop to your remote island retreat.
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The Lost Spring, Whitianga
This luxury thermal complex on the Coromandel Peninsula combines sophisticated design with naturally heated mineral water that bubbles up from 2,000 feet underground. Complete with a day spa, restaurant, and geothermal hot springs, The Lost Spring in Whitianga is your one-stop shop for a day of relaxation and pampering.
The geothermal water of The Lost Spring is said to bubble from 667 metres below through a small crack in the bedrock. The pools are artfully designed to blend with the natural landscape, creating an oasis of tranquility just minutes from Whitianga’s beaches.
Hot Water Beach, Coromandel
This world-famous beach allows visitors to dig their own personal hot pools in the sand during low tide, creating one of New Zealand’s most unique thermal experiences. A real Kiwi treasure and one of the best beaches in Coromandel, Hot Water Beach is the perfect place to take visitors from abroad.
Free to access, it’s simply a matter of turning up to Hot Water Beach on either side of low tide and digging a hole. The underground thermal springs heat the sand to perfect soaking temperatures, while the dramatic coastline of Cathedral Cove provides stunning scenery for this DIY spa experience.
Fernland Spa, Tauranga
Set among native ferns and bird-filled forests near Tauranga, this thermal spa offers a serene escape with pools fed by mineral-rich waters heated by volcanic activity deep underground. The mineral water that fuels this spa comes from an aquifer deep underground and is heated by hot volcanic rock, infusing it with minerals, ions, and other trace elements that are great for healing, soothing, and rejuvenating the skin.
The natural bush setting creates a peaceful atmosphere where you can soak while listening to native birdsong and feeling completely disconnected from urban life.
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Polynesian Spa, Rotorua
Perched on the shores of Lake Rotorua, this iconic thermal destination has been New Zealand’s premier geothermal bathing experience for decades. Immerse yourself in New Zealand’s original geothermal hot pools experience. At Polynesian Spa, you can indulge in slightly acidic waters that relieve aches and pains, or alkaline waters that nourish skin.
The combination of steaming pools, lake views, and sulfur-scented air creates an authentically Rotorua experience that has attracted visitors from around the world for generations.
Wai Ariki, Rotorua
The newest luxury addition to Rotorua’s thermal scene combines contemporary architecture with traditional Māori healing practices in a stunning lakeside setting. Located on the shores of Lake Rotorua, Wai Ariki is the newest player in the luxury spa market. If you love contemporary architectural design and indigenous healing practices, Wai Ariki is the place for you.
The modern design celebrates Māori culture while providing world-class facilities that showcase how traditional thermal bathing can be elevated to an art form.
Hell’s Gate, Rotorua
This active geothermal park offers the unique experience of soaking in hot pools while surrounded by bubbling mud, steaming vents, and the dramatic landscape that gives this place its intimidating name. Hell’s Gate is a varied (and fabulous) geothermal park just outside of Rotorua.
The thermal pools here are fed by the same geothermal forces that create the park’s otherworldly landscape, allowing visitors to experience the raw power of New Zealand’s volcanic activity while enjoying therapeutic mineral waters.
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Kerosene Creek, Rotorua
This free natural hot spring combines the best of both worlds – thermal pools heated by underground springs and a cool creek flowing alongside for temperature regulation. Just over 30 minutes outside New Zealand’s geothermal wonderland, Rotorua, sits this spectacular natural hot spring where you can bathe right beside a waterfall.
Kerosene Creek is heated from a geothermal spring and balanced out by the cool flowing waters of the namesake creek. The natural rock pools and small waterfall create a picture-perfect setting that feels like a hidden paradise tucked away in the New Zealand bush.
Waikite Valley Thermal Pools, Rotorua
Home to New Zealand’s largest single source of pure geothermal water, these pools offer an authentic thermal experience in a natural valley setting just 30 minutes from Rotorua. Only 30 minutes’ drive from Rotorua, Waikite Valley Thermal Pools is the largest single source of 100% pure geothermal water in New Zealand.
The waters emerge from underground at their natural temperature, flowing into pools surrounded by native bush where you can soak while listening to birdsong and enjoying views of the geothermal valley.
Tokaanu Thermal Pools, Taupo
These thermal pools at the southern end of Lake Taupo offer a more intimate alternative to the busier attractions, with natural hot springs set against the backdrop of New Zealand’s largest lake. The pools range from scorching hot to pleasantly warm, allowing visitors to find their perfect temperature while enjoying views across the lake to distant mountains.
The location provides easy access for travelers exploring the Taupo region while maintaining a peaceful atmosphere that feels removed from the tourist crowds.
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Wairakei Terraces, Taupo
This combination of natural geothermal terraces and modern thermal pools showcases both the spectacular geology of the Taupo region and its cultural significance to Māori. Located a short 10-minute drive from Taupō’s lakefront, Wairakei Terraces and Thermal Health Spa are steeped in rich Māori history.
With waters said to be enriched with healing and therapeutic properties, Wairakei Terraces is a must-visit when you are next in the region. The silica terraces create a stunning natural amphitheater where visitors can learn about geothermal processes while soaking in mineral-rich pools.
Otumuheke Stream, Taupo
This free thermal soaking spot along a natural stream provides one of the most accessible and scenic hot spring experiences in the Taupo region. The steaming geothermal water of the Otumuheke Stream is certainly the most popular with bathers. Here, visitors can soak beside a waterfall or relax in natural rock pools without worrying about an entry fee.
The combination of thermal water and cool stream creates the perfect natural temperature control system, while the parkland setting makes it ideal for families and budget-conscious travelers.
Morere Hot Springs, Hawke’s Bay
These unique saltwater hot springs set among native forest offer a rare combination of geothermal activity and coastal proximity on New Zealand’s East Coast. This area is known for its wide range of New Zealand activities, from outdoor adventures to delicious wine.
The hot springs here are quite a rare example of natural hot springs that also happen to be made of natural salt water, enhancing the benefits that you already see at other natural geothermal centers. The private and public pools are surrounded by nikau palms and native bush, creating a tropical atmosphere that feels distinctly different from the country’s other thermal destinations.
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Mangatutu Hot Springs, Hawke’s Bay
Hidden deep in the Kaweka Forest Park, these remote hot springs require a challenging drive and short hike but reward visitors with completely natural thermal pools overlooking the Mohaka River. Thermal water issues from a deep, undercut, steaming hole on the top terrace.
The water trickles down a riverside bluff and, after a short way, is channeled into two pools. About 90 km northwest of Napier, the springs and campsite are a popular and largely natural attraction in Hawke’s Bay and one of the few places left to enjoy thermal pools for free.
The wilderness setting and free access make this a favorite among locals who don’t mind the rough road to reach these pristine pools.
Welcome Flat Hot Springs, West Coast
These legendary hot springs require a challenging 7-hour hike along the Copland Track but offer one of New Zealand’s most spectacular combinations of wilderness adventure and thermal relaxation. Welcome Flat has a natural rock bivouac, which is frequently used for shelter, and a system of hot springs, which trampers often bathe in after walking the lower track.
The pools are located at ‘Welcome Flat,’ just 5 minutes walk from the back country Copland Hut, and are surrounded by native forest and mountain views. Soaking in these remote pools while surrounded by the snow-capped Southern Alps represents the ultimate New Zealand hot spring experience for serious outdoor enthusiasts.
Hanmer Springs, Canterbury
This historic thermal resort town in North Canterbury has been attracting visitors since the 1800s with its natural hot springs set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. At Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools and Spa, New Zealand’s largest thermal reserve and water park, there’s something for everyone.
The variety of pools ranges from family-friendly complexes with waterslides to adults-only thermal pools, while the surrounding alpine setting provides year-round scenic beauty that makes this one of the South Island’s most popular thermal destinations.
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Maruia Hot Springs, Canterbury
Nestled in a remote valley in the Southern Alps, these Japanese-inspired hot springs offer an elegant retreat surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery. Finally, we come to the Maruia Hot Springs, located in the Southern Alps a little way east of Hanmer Springs, about 2.5 hours from Christchurch. Stunning landscapes surround Maruia Hot Springs.
The pools blend traditional Japanese onsen design with New Zealand’s rugged landscape, creating a unique cultural fusion that provides both relaxation and stunning mountain views.
Tekapo Springs, Canterbury
These hot pools overlooking the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo combine thermal relaxation with some of the best stargazing opportunities in the world. Few hot pools the world over can boast a snow tube park and outdoor skating rink too, but that’s exactly what you’ll find at Tekapo Springs Hot Pools.
Night-time dips are a highlight of any visit to this tourist hotspot, an hour’s drive from Queenstown or Christchurch. The location in the Aoraki Dark Sky Reserve means evening soaks offer incredible views of the Milky Way, while day visits provide stunning alpine lake and mountain scenery.
Where Earth Meets Wellness
New Zealand’s hot springs represent more than just places to soak tired muscles; they’re windows into the country’s geological soul and cultural heritage. From the ancient Māori traditions surrounding thermal waters to the modern luxury spas that have elevated hot spring experiences to an art form, these geothermal treasures connect visitors to both the land’s natural power and its human history.
The country’s commitment to preserving both natural hot springs and developing sustainable thermal tourism has created destinations that range from completely wild to thoughtfully luxurious. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or spiritual renewal, New Zealand’s diverse collection of hot springs proves that sometimes the most profound experiences emerge from the simplest pleasure of warm water and stunning scenery.
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