I heard of Secret Spot Rotorua for the first time a few years ago. Chris and I had gotten a little lost in the Whakarewarewa Forest with our bikes that day. When we finally emerged from the forest a little bit sore (well, me anyway), saying how lovely it would be to get a cold drink now, I spotted a construction site with a sign, saying: “Coming soon: Secret Spot”

I was enticed! What sort of secret was this spot going to unveil once it opened? 

It certainly didn’t look like much just yet. A building, a lot of dust. I just had to find out! So after a bit of googling, I found them on Instagram and followed Secret Spots journey from a construction site to the lush green space with cedar hot tubs they are today. 

When I visited Rotorua recently, I was invited to check out Secret Spot for myself.

The entrance sure is worthy of keeping a secret. Shrubs and the main building shield the hot tubs and cafe from the outside world like a sanctuary. After checking in and getting changed, I cross the little wooden bridge past the ‘shinny dip’ tubs (foot baths for complimentary use when you order a drink, how cool!) and look for my allocated tub. 

I’m was told to take the Chill Pill…alright. Isn’t that my default mode anyway? All the Secret Spot hot tubs have playful names, I especially love the “O for awesome”, a classic kiwi meme from Wheel of Fortune. 

I find my Chill Pill, one of 12 deep cedar tubs that are lined up in the back of Secret Spot. All tubs are connected by a wooden walkway, with enough space to the next tub to feel private (but still visible to your neighbours, so don’t get any weird ideas). All pools look right out to the soothing green Whakarewarewa Forest, mossy forest floor and a calming stream, fern trees everywhere else. From the moment I step into my hot tub, I can feel all the stress washing away, quite literally. Bliss and serenity are all I feel as I soak and take in the greenery surrounding me. 

A harakeke kete (woven flax basket) is already waiting for me with tab water and kombucha. For a moment I wish I didn’t have to drive back to Auckland later as Secret Spot is one of the few licensed hot pools in New Zealand and a glass of bubbly would feel so much more appropriate...oh well. 

After blissfully soaking for a while, Eric comes to check on me. Eric is one half of the pair of brothers who brought Secret Spot to life. He tells me how he and his brother Keith used to go mountain biking or kayaking somewhere off the grid around Rotorua. At the end of the day, they’d always take a bath in a natural hot pool in the middle of nowhere only a few locals knew about. A real-life secret spot. Eric explains how they dreamed about creating a place that’s easily accessible, which re-creates that feeling of having stumbled across something awesome and secluded, a place only insiders know about. Secret Spot Rotorua was born.

I find they totally hit the nail on the head. The hot tubs at Secret Spot do feel secluded and intimate, with a hint of the coziness of staying at a friend’s place. It really is a secret worth sharing. Plus, Secret Spot Rotorua is one of the very few dog-friendly attractions in Rotorua (apart from walking tracks) and I can’t wait to show this amazing place to Chris and our fur-baby Bailey when we visit Rotorua together the next time! And then we will have that bubbly! 

Have you visited Secret Spot Rotorua before? What was your experience? Tell me! 

Secret Spot is licensed

Only very few hot pools in New Zealand are licensed (Lost Springs in the Coromandel, Onsen in Queenstown, Ōpuke Hot Pools in Methven) and Secret Spot Rotorua is one of them! 

This means you can not only order an alcoholic drink and take it to your cedar tub, there’s a button next to the tub you can hit whenever you need a refill. A waiter will then come, take your order and bring your drinks right to your tub while you soak and relax. How awesome! 

You can get a free ‘Shinny Dip’

Secret Spot is not just hot pools, it’s also a licensed cafe that’s open all day. Drink a coffee, a Good George beer or cider and munch on a snack while dipping your legs in one of the complimentary foot baths (or ‘shinny dip’ as they’re called here). 

They are dog-friendly!

Dog-friendly attractions are so hard to come by in New Zealand. Secret Spot Rotorua is completely dog-friendly. Doggos are not only welcome to hang around the cafe and the shinny dips, you can even soak in the hot tubs and have your fur-baby tied up right next to your tub. Obviously, dogs are not allowed in the hot tub.

Here’s an idea: Make it a weekend getaway and stay in a pet-friendly room at Jet Park Rotorua. 

They’ve got a designated bike parking spot

Being located right next to the biking entrance to Whakarewarewa Forest (or Redwood Forest), Secret Spot is a super popular location for after-biking drinks and shinny dips. No wonder do they have their own designated parking lot for bikes. 

Visit on the weekend for a soak with live music

If you visit Secret Spot on a weekend afternoon with good weather, chances are they have some sort of live music and a burger or sausage sizzle going. Check out their Facebook page to see if something’s on when you’re going. 

How many tubs do they have and how many people can fit in one?

Secret Spot has 12 deep cedar tubs and each tub can fit up to six people. If you’re not overly close as friends or a family, I’d suggest booking four people tops per tub. Six people would be a very intimate experience.

How long can I soak in the tub?

Your total timeslot is an hour. This means you have 15 minutes to get changed and 45 minutes to soak in the warm water. Don’t worry if you don’t have your phone or a watch. When the colourful light next to your hot tub switches on, it’s your 15 minutes notice to prepare yourself mentally to leave to vacate the tub. 

Is the water thermal water?

No, it’s fresh spring water from a hidden spring in the adjacent Whakarewarewa Forest. This means you won’t have to worry about your jewellery, it won’t go black like in other hot pools around Rotorua. It also doesn’t smell of rotten eggs as there’s no sulphur in the water. 

The spring water is crystal clear as it has filtered through the volcanic soil for about a hundred years before bubbling up in the forest. The water is ph-neutral, making it as tolerable for sensitive eyes and skin as it can get. 

How often and how exactly is the water cleaned?

The water is constantly cleaned and replenished. This means the water is even refreshed while you’re bathing, without you noticing. The water you first dipped your toe in will not be in the tub anymore by the time you finish your session. Like magic! 

No chemical treatment is used to clean the water. Plus, cleaning with chlorine would mean the tubs would need to be drained which, as I’ve been told, isn’t good for the cedar tubs as they get leaky when they dry. 

To keep the water ph-neutral and clean, Secret Spot uses electronic oxidising, silver and copper ionising, and ultrasonic processes. 

How warm are the pools at Secret Spot? 

The hot tubs are usually 38 - 40°C (100 - 104°F) warm, a bit warmer on cold days and a bit colder on hot days. 

When is the best time to visit Secret Spot hot tubs?

Everyone’s got different preferences but I love to soak in outdoor hot pools on a cold winter’s day, maybe even with some rain or snow. I usually like to bathe at night for the colourful lights that illuminate my surroundings. At Secret Spot, it would mean losing some of the views of the forest, though, which is why I’d probably choose dawn.

But you also can’t go wrong with a chilled-out weekend day-soak while live music plays and burgers sizzle in the background.

Are there spa treatments at Secret Spot?

Unfortunately not. The one thing I personally missed is the possibility to get a massage before or after soaking in the hot pools. It would really round off the relaxing experience. And I’m sure a lot of the mountain bikers would totally appreciate a foot massage after riding, too. I’ll keep you posted if it’s going to happen. 

Where is Secret Spot Rotorua

It’s actually a pretty open secret where Secret Spot is located. You’ll find them at the mountain bike entrance to Whakarewarewa Forest, a few minutes outside of Rotorua. Driving from Rotorua, follow SH5 for a very short while, then turn left into Waipa State Mill Road. It’s even signposted from the road.

Secret Spot Rotorua
13/33 Waipa State Mill Road
Whakarewarewa
Rotorua 3073

Why not make it a Rotorua getaway? On our very own booking website Weekend Getaways NZ, you’ll find getaways of 1 - 3 nights as well as discount codes for your favourite attractions, tours and accommodation all over New Zealand!

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Read more about Rotorua:

• Find all articles about Rotorua here!

• Looking for more hot pools in Rotorua? Click here!

• See if Jet Park Rotorua Hotel could be the hotel for your getaway.

• Read more about the best attractions in Rotorua

• On a budget? There are a lot of FREE things to do in Rotorua.

• Trying to decide which geothermal park you should visit? This article compares all of the geothermal parks in Rotorua to help you find the right one.