Hells Gate & Wai Ora Spa

Hells Gate's 'New Zealand Wai Ora Health & Wellness Centre' is the first of its kind in New Zealand.

The private mud spa complex features traditional full body massage, private mud baths, free form sulphur spa, body mud scrubs, facials and body mud masks - all set within Rotorua's most active geothermal reserve.

The pure, natural ingredients found at Hells Gate & Wai Ora Spa, combine with the finest geothermal mud that is sourced onsite, to give visitors an authentic New Zealand Mud Spa experience, which is unsurpassed. In fact, the geothermal mud found at Hells Gate is some of the finest in the world.

Each mud bath contains between 70 - 100 kgs of geothermal mud, both in suspended and solid form, which can be liberally smoothed over the skin whilst in the mud bath. The silky smooth geothermal mud, in combination with the sulphurous geothermal water, opens the skin's pores allowing the active ingredients to gently exfoliate and treat the skin while in the bath leaving it very clean and soft to touch. The traditional mud bath experience of 20 minutes is followed by the relaxing sulphur spa, either overlooking the geothermal reserve, or in the private North Island Sulphur Spa, complete with geothermal hot waterfall.

A cornerstone of the uniquely New Zealand Mud Spa experience is the traditional Wai Ora massage. This massage system is based on the concepts of Mere Mere, the traditional Maori massage regime that has been practiced for hundreds of years. The massage, undertaken by trained Maori staff, is available as a half hour or a full one-hour package between the hours of 9.00am and 8.30pm daily. For the uninitiated the Wai Ora traditional massage involves some energy balancing, joint manipulation - as what may be experienced in a therapeutic massage, similar to the universal Swedish massage, and face/head massage that is both uplifting and relaxing at the same time. The facility has eight purpose built massage rooms that impress on the client the sense of New Zealand and all that it offers down to the Manuka (New Zealand's native Ti Tree) oil essence that gently permeates the rooms.

Hells Gates' special geothermal muds and waters have been looked after for centuries by the Kaitiaki (Guardian) Warrior 'Wai Ora', after whom the spa is named. Join those whom have experienced the health-giving waters and muds of Hell's Gate & Wai Ora Spa New Zealand's only mud bath spa complex, traditionally themed and set in a most spectacular geothermal reserve.

Wander through Rotorua's most active geothermal valley, an eerie presence overwhelms you as you view a landscape of bubbling mud, exploding waters, the largest hot waterfall in the southern hemisphere and the soft serene healing waters of sulphur lake.

Located on State Highway 30, approximately 5 minutes past the Rotorua Airport on the Whakatane Highway. Hells Gate & Wai Ora Spa is open every day from 8.30am - 8.30pm. Enjoy the 'Ultimud' New Zealand experience.

Suggested Duration
Geothermal Walk - 45 mins - 1 hour
Mud Bath - 20 minutes
Spa - 30 - 40 minutes
Half hour and full one hour traditional Wai Ora massages
Facial - 45 minutes
Body Scrub - 1.5 hours

Dining

Volcanic Cafe - Hot food, sandwiches, beverages available.

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