Polynesian Spa Rotorua: Deluxe Lake Spa Hot Spring Bathing

About This Experience

The Deluxe Lake Spa is Polynesian Spa's lakeside bathing area: five mineral hot pools built into rocks and gardens on the shore of Lake Rotorua, a cold plunge, heated recliners and a lounge with lake views, from $48 per person on GetYourGuide. There is no set session length, so you can stay from opening until the pools close, and towels, lockers and toiletries are included.

Four of the pools are shallow, about 0.7 m deep, and filled with alkaline water from Rachel Spring, which the spa describes as soft on the skin. The fifth takes slightly acidic water from Priest Spring, the spring where bathing on this site began in 1878. Temperatures run from about 36 to 41°C. One pool is covered and another partly covered, so a light shower does not end the evening. Between soaks you can stretch out on one of ten geothermally heated recliners or move indoors to the relaxation lounge overlooking the lake.

This is the area to pick if the view and the comfort matter to you. It is calmer and more finished than the larger Pavilion Pools next door, and the included towels and changing rooms with shampoo and hairdryers mean you can come straight from a day of sightseeing with just your swimwear. In 403 GetYourGuide reviews (4.5 average) guests return again and again to the clean facilities, the lake views and the range of pool temperatures; one notes that a loud group spoiled the quiet, which can happen in any shared pool.

Unlike the Pavilion Pools, which are 12+, the Deluxe Lake Spa admits all ages and children under 2 go free, though under-8s must be actively supervised in the water. Couples wanting a quieter soak often come in the evening: the spa stays open until 11pm with last entry at 10pm. If you are pregnant or have a heart condition, check with your doctor before booking.

Highlights

• Five open-air mineral pools on the Lake Rotorua shore, set among rocks and gardens
• Four shallow Rachel Spring alkaline pools and one slightly acidic Priest Spring pool, 36 to 41°C
• Cold plunge pool for switching between hot and cold water
• Ten geothermally heated recliners beside the pools, plus an indoor lounge facing the lake
• Towels, lockers, shampoo, soap and hairdryers included in the ticket
• No set time limit: soak for as long as you like, with the spa open until 11pm

What's Included

• ✓ Entry to the Deluxe Lake Spa at Polynesian Spa
• ✓ Four shallow (0.7 m) Rachel Spring alkaline mineral hot pools
• ✓ One slightly acidic Priest Spring mineral hot pool
• ✓ Cold plunge pool
• ✓ Ten geothermally heated poolside recliners
• ✓ Large indoor relaxation lounge
• ✓ Premium changing rooms with towels, secure lockers, soap, shampoo and hairdryers
• ✓ Free entry for infants and children under 2

Not Included

• Food and drinks (the on-site café sells both)
• Swimwear (adult swimwear can be hired or bought at the Spa Essentials Shop)
• Private pools and day-spa treatments
• Transport to and from the spa

What to Bring

• Swimwear made for swimming (no cotton, denim, leggings or underwear)
• Flip-flops
• Reusable water bottle
• A dry change of clothes
• A bag for wet swimwear

Good to Know & Caveats

• Polynesian Spa is open every day, 9am to 11pm; last pool entry is 10pm and guests are asked to leave the pools from 10:40pm.
• The Deluxe Lake Spa is open to all ages; children must be accompanied by an adult, and under-8s must be actively supervised in the water by a carer aged 16 or over.
• Of the five pools, one is covered and one is partly covered; the rest are open to the sky.
• The area holds a maximum of 80 people at a time.
• Remove jewelry before you soak: the mineral water can tarnish silver and some gold.
• Spend no more than about 15 minutes at a time in the hotter pools, drink plenty of water, and do not bathe after alcohol.
• Not suitable for wheelchair users.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your visit for a full refund.

Meeting Point

Make your own way to Polynesian Spa at 1000 Hinemoa Street on the Rotorua lakefront and go in with your booking; there is no pickup.