Rotorua: Hell's Gate Geothermal Walk & Mud Spa

4.7 (1,277 verified reviews)

Couple laughing as they smear gray geothermal mud on their arms and faces in the Hell's Gate mud bath

Family on a boardwalk path through a steaming geothermal field at Hell's Gate

Couple coated in mud in a steaming mud pool, with a handrail and flax plants behind

Outdoor sulfur spa pool on a timber deck under shade sails, with cabbage trees and blue sky

Two visitors photographing steam billowing from a white rocky geothermal vent in bright sun

About This Experience

This ticket bundles everything Hell's Gate offers into one visit: a walk through an active geothermal reserve, a mud bath, the sulfur spa pools, a cool plunge and a Māori carving session, from $65 per person on GetYourGuide. Allow about three hours. With 1,260 reviews at a 4.7 average, it is the most-reviewed bathing ticket on this site.

Start with the geothermal walk. Free guided tours leave at 10:30am and 2:30pm, or you can follow the map on your own past steaming vents, boiling mud and the bush around Kākahi Falls, billed as the largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere. Then change for the mud bath, where you coat yourself in warm geothermal mud for up to 20 minutes, then move to the sulfur spa pools. The operator says local Māori have used this mud and sulfur water for over 800 years, and describes the mud as gently exfoliating; reviewers say their skin felt soft afterwards. A cool plunge finishes the bathing, and in the carving workshop a carver guides you through making a small piece of your own to take home.

This is the pick for travelers who want a single afternoon that mixes sightseeing, something hands-on and a soak, and for families, since the mud bath is open from age 2.5 and the sulfur spa from six months. It is not a quiet spa. The walk smells strongly of sulfur, as one reviewer warns, though she found the spa itself had little smell, and your swimwear will need a wash. Bring old swimwear and leave jewelry at home.

Hell's Gate sits just outside the city, east on State Highway 30 past the airport, and a free shuttle from central Rotorua runs if you book it. From 1 October 2026 to 30 April 2027 the park is open until 9pm, with last entry for the full experience at 5:30pm; check your slot leaves time for the walk. Pregnant travelers and anyone with heart problems, high blood pressure or limited mobility should not book.

Highlights

Geothermal walk past steaming vents, boiling mud pools and Kākahi Falls, guided or on your own
Free guided walks daily at 10:30am and 2:30pm
Twenty minutes in a geothermal mud bath, then a soak in the sulfur spa pools
Cool plunge pool to finish
Hands-on Māori carving session where you make a small piece to take home (ages 12+)
Summer hours to 9pm from 1 October 2026 to 30 April 2027

What's Included

✓ Entry to the Hell's Gate geothermal walk
✓ Map of the geothermal walk route
✓ Optional daily guided tours
✓ Mud bath
✓ Sulfur spa pools
✓ Cool plunge pool
✓ Māori carving session

Not Included

Swimwear and towels (available to hire or buy on site)
Food and drinks
Transport (a free shuttle from central Rotorua runs if booked in advance)

What to Bring

Old swimwear, since it will smell of sulfur afterwards
A towel
Comfortable walking shoes for the geothermal walk
A rain jacket for showers on the walk
Leave jewelry at home: the mud and water tarnish most metals, especially silver

Good to Know & Caveats

Mud bath time is limited to 20 minutes per person per day for health and safety.
Minimum age is 2.5 years for the mud bath and 6 months for the sulfur spa; carving is for ages 12 and over.
Children under 15 must be supervised at all times.
Guided walks run at 10:30am and 2:30pm; you can also walk the route on your own with the map.
Hell's Gate is open 10am to 9pm every day except Christmas Day, with last entry for the full experience at 5:30pm.
Swimwear and towels will smell of sulfur afterwards, and the minerals tarnish jewelry; wait 24 to 48 hours before putting silver back on.
The guided tour, carving and cool plunge are complimentary extras subject to availability; refunds apply only if the core walk and mud spa are unavailable.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your visit for a full refund.

Not Suitable For

Pregnant travelers
People with heart problems
People with high blood pressure
People with mobility impairments

Meeting Point

Hell's Gate is at 351 State Highway 30, Tikitere, just east of Rotorua past the airport; drive yourself or book the free shuttle from central Rotorua.

What Travelers Say

Rated 4.7/5 by 1,277 verified GetYourGuide travelers.

One of my favourite places to visit in Rotorua. This place never disappoints. Plenty to do and lots of fun for the whole family. From the guided walk, carvings and the mud spa/sulphur pool, there is something for everyone. Would highly recommend.
— Kirsten, 2026-09

We were following in my husband’s late mother’s footsteps who visited the site over 36 years ago. We joined the tour and were given a lot of very interesting information. This took 1.5 hours then we were warmed up in the mud baths & pools. Skin has never felt so good 😊 Well worth the money!
— Tina, 2026-09

We were very sceptical going here as we’d previously been to the thermal parks elsewhere and struggled with the smell so the idea of laying in it was a bit worrying. But it was great, the walk again was smelly but great to see, the wood carving was fun, even being able to take a piece home. The spas itself was lovely and relaxing with little to no smell, you do still have to wash your bathers afterwards though. 😅 Overall, it was a lovely and relaxing experience.
— Sharnie, 2026-09

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in this Hell's Gate ticket?

The geothermal walk (with a map, plus optional free guided tours at 10:30am and 2:30pm), the mud bath, the sulfur spa pools, a cool plunge pool and a Māori carving session. Swimwear and towels are not included but can be hired or bought on site. The ticket is from $65 per person on GetYourGuide.

How long should I allow?

About three hours. The listing gives a duration of three hours, and reviewers describe a guided walk of around 1.5 hours followed by the mud bath and spa pools. The mud bath itself is limited to 20 minutes per person per day, so most of the bathing time is spent in the sulfur pools and cool plunge.

Can children do the mud bath?

Yes, from age 2.5. The minimum age is 2.5 years for the mud bath and 6 months for the sulfur spa, and children under 15 must be supervised at all times. The carving session is for ages 12 and over. Several reviewers describe it as fun for the whole family.

Will my swimwear smell afterwards?

Yes. Hell's Gate warns that swimwear and towels will smell of sulfur after your visit, so bring old swimwear. The minerals also tarnish most jewelry, particularly silver, and the operator recommends waiting 24 to 48 hours before putting it back on. Leave rings and chains at home or in your bag.

What are the opening hours?

Hell's Gate is open 10am to 9pm every day, and last entry for the full walk, mud bath and spa experience is 5:30pm. It closes only on Christmas Day.

How do I get to Hell's Gate?

Hell's Gate is at 351 State Highway 30, Tikitere, just outside Rotorua. Head east on SH30, about five minutes past the airport, then turn toward Whakatāne; the park is 3 km down that road. A free shuttle runs from central Rotorua but must be booked in advance.

Who should not do the mud bath?

The listing says it is not suitable for pregnant travelers, people with heart problems or high blood pressure, or people with mobility impairments. Mud bath time is capped at 20 minutes per person per day for health and safety. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before your visit if your plans change.