Rotorua Hot Springs Map

Rotorua’s hot springs fall into five areas: two spas on the city lakefront you can walk to, Hell’s Gate a short drive east at Tikitere, Secret Spot’s cedar tubs on the edge of the Whakarewarewa Forest, the out-of-town pools and streams a half-hour drive away, and the lake springs you can only reach by boat. If you only have a day and a car, pair a lakefront spa with Hell’s Gate. Below is where each place sits, the address to put in your phone, and how to get there.

The city lakefront: walk from your hotel

Two of Rotorua’s main spas sit on the shore of Lake Rotorua, in the city itself. Polynesian Spa is at 1000 Hinemoa Street. Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa is at 1047 Whakaue Street, within walking distance of the central business district, with free parking on site. If you are staying in town, you can walk to either and skip the car altogether.

Polynesian Spa is the one for mixed ages: the Deluxe Lake Spa has five open-air mineral pools by the lake, from $48 per person, and it is open until 11pm. Wai Ariki admits guests aged 16 and over only, and its two-hour Restorative Journey costs from $100 per person. Our guides to Polynesian Spa and Wai Ariki cover each in full.

Kuirau Park, also in the city, has free foot pools. It is a public park with fenced geothermal ground, so stay on the paths.

East on State Highway 30: Hell’s Gate

Hell’s Gate Geothermal Park & Mud Spa is at 351 State Highway 30, Tikitere, just outside the city. Drive east on SH30, and about five minutes past the airport turn right toward Whakatāne; Hell’s Gate is 3 km down that road. Without a car, use the free shuttle from central Rotorua, which you must book in advance.

The Geothermal Walk, Mud Bath & Sulphur Spa costs from $65 per person and rates 4.7 from 1,277 reviews. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for the walk and 20 minutes in the mud. From 1 October 2026 to 30 April 2027 the park is open 10am to 9pm, with last entry for the mud bath and spas at 7:30pm, which makes an evening visit easy. Read our review or the Hell’s Gate guide.

The forest edge: Secret Spot

Secret Spot Hot Tubs is at the Mountain Bike Car Park, 13/33 Waipa State Mill Road, beside the Whakarewarewa Forest, so it suits a day of riding or walking among the redwoods. There is parking for cars and buses, and the listing notes public transport nearby. The tubs are private cedar hot tubs filled with heated fresh spring water, not geothermal water. The 45-minute forest hot tub costs from $26 per person. More on Secret Spot.

Out of town: Waikite Valley and Kerosene Creek

Waikite Valley Thermal Pools are at 648 Waikite Valley Road, about 30 minutes’ drive from Rotorua. The pools sit beside Te Manaroa Spring, and an eco trail leads to it in daylight. The operator also sells a combo ticket with Wai-O-Tapu. See the Waikite Valley guide.

Kerosene Creek is a naturally warm stream about 30 km south of Rotorua near Waiotapu. It has no facilities, access and conditions change, and break-ins at parked cars have been widely reported, so check locally before you go and leave nothing in the car. Our free hot springs page covers it and the other free soaks, and our guide to natural hot springs ranks every geothermal soak around Rotorua.

On the lakes: springs you reach by boat

Manupirua Springs on Lake Rotoiti can only be reached by water or air. The Lake Rotoiti evening kayak paddles there for a soak, a barbecue and glowworms, from $131 per person and rated 4.9 from 65 reviews, between 1 November and 30 April. Te Rātā Bay’s hot water beach is on the southern shore of Lake Tarawera, a different lake, where a hot spring runs down a stream into the water; guided boat trips go there.

Every soak on one table

Coming from Auckland? The drive is about 2.5 hours and roughly 230 km. Day tours such as the Whakarewarewa village and Polynesian Spa trip handle the transport for you; see Rotorua hot springs from Auckland. If you would sooner wake up near the water, our where to stay page covers hotels near the spas.

Staying safe off the paved paths

Never enter fenced or unmarked geothermal water: natural springs can be scalding. In any natural pool, keep your head above the water at all times and do not dive, splash or duck under, because the amoeba that causes the rare amoebic meningitis lives in untreated warm water and enters through the nose. If a headache, fever or vomiting follows a few days after a natural soak, see a doctor immediately.

Ready to make the drive east? Check Hell’s Gate availability.