The Best New Zealand Onsens, Thermal Pools and Hot Springs

Nature and wellness are hot on everyone’s travel list these days, and what better place to turn up the heat than New Zealand.

Whether you’re slipping into lakeside luxury at Taupo, enjoying a mountain-side soak in Queenstown, or simply getting back-to-basics with some mineral-rich mud bathing in Rotorua – from the North Island to the South, these are the best New Zealand onsens, thermal pools, and hot springs.

North Island

Hell’s Gate, Rotorua

For an authentic New Zealand hot springs and wellness experience, you can’t go past Hell’s Gate in Rotorua. Utilised for centuries by Maori warriors as a place to heal battle wounds, the active geothermal reserve and mud spa is steeped in history and myth. The good news is mere mortals like us can also access its mineral-rich waters, with a soak in the sulphur pools and mud baths said to aid everything from circulation to skin conditions. Packages start from $90 for adults.

Address: 351 State Hwy, 30 Tikitere, Rotorua

Polynesia Spa, Rotorua

The adults-only priest pools at Polynesia Spa in Rotorua.

 Also in Rotorua, Polynesia Spa is New Zealand’s first geothermal bathing facility, with the spa’s 28 hot pools sourcing water from two natural springs. With its range of day spa treatments and bathing options, and with its prime location overlooking Lake Rotorua, Polynesia Spa is perfect for visitors seeking a conveniently close nature and wellness experience. Pool access starts from $32.95 for adults.

Address: 1000 Hinemoa St, Rotorua  

Wairakei Terraces, Taupo

Wairakei Terraces in Taupo — Wairakei Terraces is an adults-only thermal health spa set amongst natural bushland. (Credit: Getty/agcreations)

Formed thousands of years ago by a volcanic eruption, Lake Taupo is home to a multitude of geothermal wonders including geysers, bubbling mud pools, and silica terraces. It’s also where you’ll find Wairakei Terraces – an adults-only thermal health spa set amongst natural bushland. While $27 gets you a swim admission in up to four differently heated pools, you can add on a relaxing terrace walk for $15 or a treatment from the onsite spa.

Address: 671 Wairakei Drive, Wairakei, Taupō

Hot Water Beach, Coromandel

Hot Water Beach in Coromandel — Dig your own personal thermal spa in the sand. (Credit: Miles Holden / Tourism New Zealand)

Wellness is for everyone and the great thing about New Zealand is there’s an option for every budget, with some experiences having no price tag at all. Get back to basics by digging your own spa pool at Hot Water Beach, on the Coromandel Peninsula. To access naturally heated mineral water from beneath the exposed sandbar, visit the beach’s southern end at low tide, and don’t forget your shovel.

Address: Hot Water Beach, Coromandel Peninsula

Ngawha Springs, Northland

Near Kaikohe, in the Te Tai Tokerau Northland, Ngawha Springs is managed by the Parahirahi Ngawha Waiariki Trust. An iconic and culturally significant place for the Ngapuhi iwi people, each of the 16 geothermal pools located here contain their own characteristics and healing properties. As an ancient Maori site, a visit to Ngawha Springs is also a chance to learn the area’s history and mythology.

Address: 303 Ngawha Springs Rd, Ngawha

South Island

Onsen Hot Pools, Queenstown

the Onsen Hot Pools in Queenstown — Arguably one of the best views in the world.

Perched over the Shotover River, this luxurious day spa in Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s best for good reason. Not only does Onsen Hot Pools offer bathers exclusive alpine views during the day, but their cedar-lined hot tubs now come with retractable roofs, meaning evening sessions can be spent soaking under the stars.

Another new addition is the Tri-Bathe experience, combining steam showers, hydrotherapy hot pools, and cold plunging. Add on refreshments and onsite spa treatments for optimum indulgence. 60-minute sessions start at $117 for 1 bather.

Address: 162 Arthurs Point Rd, Arthurs Point, Queenstown

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The Bathhouse, Queenstown

Opening in December last year, The Bathhouse Queenstown might be the ski town’s most recent wellness addition but its inspiration stems from an age-old tradition, having been modelled on the classic bathhouses of Europe. Complete with Finnish saunas, hot and cold pools, infrared rooms, and treatments, the relaxing new addition on Brecon Street in the centre of town is perfect for those wishing to unwind after a day on the slopes. 60-minute sessions start at $99.

Address: 35 Brecon St, Queenstown

Hot Tubs Omarama

This scenic sanctuary in the countryside of northern Otago is the perfect place to relax by soaking in the beauty of the Waitaki District’s snow-capped peaks. Whether you want a solo session or group experience, day or night, Hot Tubs Omarama’s sauna facilities and sustainable hot tubs, made from locally sourced wood and filled with pure mountain water, will have you feeling revitalised and relaxed. 90-minute sessions in private tubs for 1-8 people start from $100 for 1 adult.

Address: 29 Omarama Avenue

Tekapo Springs, Lake Tekapo

Tekapo Springs in Lake Tekapo at sunrise — Tekapo Springs at sunrise. (Credit: Miles Holden / Tourism New Zealand)

In the heart of the South Island, Lake Tekapo is the setting for this day spa, cafe and wellness park that includes a series of hot pools sourcing pure water from deep underground, plus cooler pools, sauna, and steam rooms. As a family friendly complex, Tekapo Springs also has mini golf, snow tubing and ice skating in winter.

Located within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, Tekapo Springs offers New Zealand’s only guided hot pools and star gazing experience. Hot Pools all day passes start at $42 for adults, and $112 for families.

Address: 300 Lakeside Drive, Tekapo

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The best onsens, thermal pools and hot springs in New Zealand