If there was only one thing Rotorua was famous for, it must be geothermal activity. Driving into Rotorua, you can often smell you’re close before you even pass the town sign. A hint of sulphur lingers over the town, sometimes faint and sometimes pretty strong.

I kind of like the smell. Because as yucky interesting the air smells, geothermal activity usually means hot pools and hot pools usually mean relaxation and wellness. And exactly this is the case here. The Rotorua hot pools and spas are some of the best you can find in New Zealand. 

Soaking in warm water is a year-round experience, really, especially when you have your own spa bath tub in the hotel room. But nothing beats an outdoor spa in the middle of winter. There’s just nothing comparable to sitting in a hot pool, being relaxed and cosy, while snow falls around you. I know, it doesn’t usually snow here but it does get cold in winter and the hot springs in Rotorua will warm you up. 

Read on as we take you through all the Rotorua hot springs to bathe in, both free of charge and against an entrance fee (some of them generously offer a discount to Discover Aotearoa readers), dotted all over Rotorua. And to round off the soaking experience, we tell you which hotels either have private in-room spa baths or their very own geothermally heated outdoor pools. You’ll be relaxed in no time!

By the way: If you feel like heading to Rotorua for your next relaxing getaway after reading all about the lovely pools, check out our wellness getaways in Rotorua over on our sister site Weekend Getaways NZ! 

Alright, let’s dive right in (haha):

Rotorua hot pools and spas

Located right on the lake’s edge, Polynesian Spa is the most famous and popular in Rotorua. A total of 28 pools are fed from two hot springs. The pools are divided into different sections that cost a separate entry fee but can be mixed and matched as you please:

The pools at Deluxe Lake Spa look like natural hot pools, surrounded by rocks and front-row along the lake. Four pools are alkaline, one acidic. When you book a spa treatment, the entry to these pools are included.

The Pavilion Pools are just as inviting. They’re for adults over 12 years old and are located within the premises of the original Polynesian Spa hot pools from 1979. Five pools are Alkaline, the other 3 acidic. There’s also a reflexology walk through icy cold water.

The Family Pools have two alkaline and one fresh water pool. The pools have a small water slide, a lifeguard is present at all times.

The private pools can be hired for 30 minutes at a time and you can choose between the Lake View Deluxe and the Sky View Pools.

Make it a getaway and book your next relaxing Rototura weekend with Weekend Getaways NZ.

Location: 1000 Hinemoa Street, Rotorua 3010

A completely different setting to Poly Spa but just as charming, the Waikite Valley Thermal Pools Rotorua are located in the bush of the Waikite Valley near Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and Waimangu Valley, so a little outside of the town centre. It has 5 hot pools to soak in plus 4 private pools. The Eco Trail on the property takes you around the largest single source of boiling water in New Zealand.

Next to the pools is also a campsite with powered and non-powered sites for tenting and motorhome/caravan camping. The nightly price for camping also includes unlimited access to the thermal pools (minus the private pools) and the eco trail. And on top of this, the campsite is dog-friendly. You’ll have to mention at the time of booking you’re bringing a dog to reconfirm. 

Location: 648 Waikite Valley Road, Waikite Valley 3077

Secret Spot is the newest addition to the Rotorua hot pools. The spot is not that secret, as they’re located right next to the main biking entrance to Whakarewarewa Forest. In 12 cedar tubs, you get to relax under the fern trees with your significant other or a group of up to 6 people in total. 

For those who’re not too keen on a proper soak, a ‘shinny dip’ in one of the footbaths in the cafe area in Secret Spot comes free with your drinks.  

Dog-owners will love the fact that they can bring their furry friends along to Secret Spot. It’s not often the case you can bring your doggos to a bar. And even better, dogs are allowed to wait for you at the hot tubs while you relax in the warm water!

Bubbling from a freshwater spring in the Whakarewarewa Forest, the water for these pools is not geothermal, meaning your silver jewellery is safe and you won’t smell of sulfur.

Read more about my experience at Secret Spot Rotorua

Location: 13/33 Waipa State Mill Road, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua 3073

The geothermal park with the most enticing name is also New Zealand’s only geothermal mud spa. Rotorua mud is said to have healing properties and while I don’t know if that’s true, I can definitely confirm my skin has never felt softer after our muddy bathing session!

You get to play in the mud for a 20-minute session before showering off the healing dirt and then soak in the sulphur pools for as long as you like and enjoy the views over the steaming, bubbling geothermal field that is Hell’s Gate.

By the way: The best way to enjoy Hell’s Gate Rotorua is by doing the full experience. First, walk through the geothermal field (try and join one of the scheduled free guided tours, they add huge value to the experience) to see a massive hot water waterfall and a mud volcano. Then grab your togs (swimming gear) for a rejuvenating mud and sulphur bath.

Location: State Highway 30, Tikitere, Rotorua 3010

Manupirua Hot Pools are located on the edge of Lake Rotoiti. They’re only accessible from the water or air, which gives the pools some default coolness. But they really are a gem. You can sit in the hot pools overlooking the water and/or enjoy a drink and snacks at the cafe next door, also overlooking the water. Both are open year-round. 

The most awesome way to get to the hot pools is by float plane (I mean, talk about luxury, right), you can book one of the boats going there or join an evening kayak tour. If you have your own boat or jet ski, even easier. Getting to the Manupirua hot pools is part of the fun here.

Location: Lake Rotoiti, let the boat/plane take you there

Being a tad off the beaten path, Waitangi Soda Springs are located between Lake Rotoma and Lake Rotoehu, off the road to Whakatane. A lovely unpretentious pool are an important part of local tribes. 

Location: 59 Manawahe Road, Rotorua 3074

As you’d imagine, with so many hot pools in Rotorua, you can find plenty of hot spots (ha!) you can soak in for free. Bathing in a natural hot spring somewhere surrounded by nature still feels very special to me. I mean, you can actually swim somewhere where the hot water just flows by default, where in most cases it hasn’t been channelled from the spring into an artificial pool. That’s pretty awesome of nature, don’t you agree? 

Kerosene Creek

Once upon a time, Kerosene Creek was only known to the locals. This changed (I assume by word-of-mouth and the internet was probably to blame, too) and by now, Kerosene Creek has become the most popular free hot spring in Rotorua. Then again, it is one of the coolest I’ve seen, too.

Kerosene Creek Rotorua is not just a hot pool, it’s a hot river, including a hot waterfall!!!

And it’s free! You can find it on the way to Wai-o-tapu Thermal Wonderland, off the road to Taupo. You can soak in the hot stream, sit on top of the waterfall or swim a few rounds at the base of the waterfall. 

Location: Old Waiotapu Road, Waiotapu 3073

Hot Water Beach, Lake Tarawera

If you thought there’s only one Hot Water Beach in New Zealand (the famous one in the Coromandel), think again. There are four hot water beaches dotted over the North Island and one of them is on Lake Tarawera.

Despite being accessible only on foot or by boat (Totally Tarawera operates a water taxi), Lake Tarawera Hot Water Beach can be pretty busy. It’s not only a beach but a DOC campsite where you can pitch your tent and stay for the night. Additionally, it’s the start (or end) of the 15km Tarawera Trail walk. 

The hot water is channelled from its spring to the lake, probably so that it’s less like for people to burn themselves. The water is that hot! Camping on the lake, including a hot water stream to warm up in? Count me in! 

Location: Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve, Waimangu 3076

Te Wairua Stream

Walking from the Tarawera Hot Water Beach for about an hour on the Tarawera Trail, you’ll find a secluded free hot spring. I think I’m not overselling it when I say it’s absolutely serene and peaceful. 

Just don’t get too cosy because unless you’ve accessed the pool by boat, you still have some walking ahead of you, either back to Hot Water Beach or another 4 hours or so to Tarawera Landing.

Location: On Tarawera Trail, look for the unmarked path to the pools near the long-drops. 

Kuirau Park Foot Baths

If you’ve read some of my other posts about Rotorua before, you probably know I’m a huge fan of Kuirau Park, a free geothermal park. It not only comes with bubbling mud and a colourful, steaming lake, you also get to sit and soak your weary feet in a warm water pool. We loved this stop while on a bike ride around town. 

The foot baths are dotted all over the park, so just go for a wander and look for a sheltered pavillon type of building.

Location: One of them is at 2 Kuirau Street, Rotorua 3010

Hot and Cold Pool

Somewhere under a bridge and off the road that leads to Wai-o-tapu and one of the few free hot pools I’m still trying to find, Hot and Cold pool is called that because it’s a pool where a hot stream collides with a cold water stream. So if one spot is too hot for you to swim, just move towards the cold stream for a temperature adjustment. 

Location: Waiotapu Loop Road, Waiotapu 3073

Please be careful when using the free hot pools:

The free pools in Rotorua are untreated, meaning no chemicals are added to kill off risks. Don’t submerge your head under water as there’s a risk of Amoebic Meningitis in warm untreated water. 

I don’t know how about you, but I’m a total sucker for a spa bath or hot pool in my accommodation. Especially when we’re planning on doing something exhausting like hiking or there’s a risk of getting cold and wet, having a hot pool to soak in afterwards is my personal highlight on a trip. Give me a (unbreakable) glass of Pinot Gris while in the tub and I promise I won’t get out any time soon.

The following hotels in Rotorua either have a private spa bath in the guestroom or awesome hot pools on their property free to use for guests.

Jet Park Rotorua

Jet Park Rotorua has to be my personal favourite hotel in Rotorua. They have a complimentary outdoor spa bath in the pool area (no booking needed). Jet Park Rotorua also has one of the most amazing breakfast buffets I’ve seen in New Zealand (outside of 5* luxury hotels, they’re usually a category of their own). But that’s not all, they’re also incredibly family and dog-friendly. 

Click to book a Rotorua getaway at Jet Park or message me for a quote for a night at the Jet Park Hotel.

All rooms at the Silverfern Motel, on the road to Te Puia, come with your very own spa bath while only the Deluxe Rooms at the Millenium Hotel Rotorua have their own in-room bubbly bath. 

If you prefer the Japanese version of bathing, stay at Terume Hot Springs Resort. Their main pool is a geothermally heated onsen. Not like the one in Queenstown, a real onsen. You’ll have to be ok swimming naked, though (as is tradition). 

Waikite Valley isn’t the only campsite with thermally heated pools. Top10 Rotorua is close to the town centre and also has several hot pools for their guests to use.

And at Wai-Ora Spa Resort, right on Lake Rotorua’s edge, you get unlimited use of the outdoor pools and spa baths when you stay with them and can book into massages and a day spa without leaving the resort. 


Have you visited one or several of these hot springs in Rotorua? Which was your favourite of the countless Rotorua hot pools and spas? Let me know in the comments! 

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!

Check out the Rotorua getaways!

Read more about Rotorua:

• Find all articles about Rotorua here!

• 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.