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Hells Gate Geothermal Reserve

Relax with a spa experience or simply walk the grounds of Rotorua's most active geothermal area.

Hells Gate Geothermal Reserve: Our most recommended tours and activities

Rotorua: Hell's Gate Geothermal Walk, Mud Bath & Sulphur Spa

1. Rotorua: Hell's Gate Geothermal Walk, Mud Bath & Sulphur Spa

Discover the best of Hell's Gate Geothermal Park in Rotorua with daily guided tours, a map for a geothermal walk, and multiple spa experiences. Enjoy mud baths, a mud foot pool, sulfur spas, Māori carving, and more. Located approximately 15 minutes from the town's center, Hell's Gate awaits. When you arrive, choose to start your visit by discovering the geothermal features using an included map or join one of the daily guided tours. After learning about the history, features, and uniqueness of the geothermal area and the unique healing muds of Hell's Gate, experience New Zealand’s historic spa for yourself. Soak in unique thermal mud and acidic sulfurous waters that have been used by the local Maori for more than 800 years. The warm geothermal mud opens and cleans the skin’s pores, while the sulfur spas give your skin gentle exfoliation and deep cleansing. 

Hells Gate Mud Bath and Sulphur Spa Experience

2. Hells Gate Mud Bath and Sulphur Spa Experience

Enjoy a therapeutic mud bath and sulfur spa at Hells Gate Geothermal Reserve, located just a 15-minute drive from central Rotorua. A round-trip shuttle service option from Rotorua is also available. Soak in the thermal mud and acidic, sulfurous waters as the local Maori have done for over 800 years. Apply the natural geothermal mud to your skin while relaxing in the warm sulfurous waters for 20 minutes. Follow the mud spa with a cool shower before relaxing in the hot sulfur mineral spa. The warm geothermal mud opens and cleans the skin’s pores, and the sulfur spa provides a gentle exfoliation and deep cleansing.

Rotorua: Hell's Gate Geothermal Walk

3. Rotorua: Hell's Gate Geothermal Walk

Discover Hell's Gate Geothermal Reserve and Mud Spa ((Tikitere) in Rotorua. Join a guided walking tour around one of the most active geothermal sites in New Zealand. Get to know the reserve and see New Zealand's largest active mud volcano. Located an approximately 15-minute drive from central Rotorua, arrive at Hell's Gate to start exploring the site's extensive history. Explore independently with an included map, or join a guided walk (subject to availability). Hell's Gate boasts New Zealand's largest active mud volcano, the Southern Hemisphere's largest hot waterfalls, and even examples of land coral. See boiling hot pools and erupting waters with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Celsius.

Available activities

Other Sightseeing Options in Hells Gate Geothermal Reserve

Want to discover all there is to do in Hells Gate Geothermal Reserve? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Hells Gate Geothermal Reserve

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 193 reviews

This was an amazing stop on our trip. We bought the full experience and our tour guide was knowledgeable and funny and shared so much not only about the different hot springs but about the Māori culture that surrounded the springs. We got to make our very own Māori wood carving, not just fun for the kids! And finished up with a long and luxurious mud bath/ sulfur pool soaking experience. I would recommend this experience to anyone!

An amazing place. Check in was efficient. Staff was excellent. Tour was informative. Whole experience was wonderful.

definitely recommend for anyone interested in trying mudding besides the smell of the sulfure it was wonderful

amazing guide Mark that made that walk so interesting, really great mud spa after that

Very informative guide - a ‘do not miss’ activity if in Rotorua.