Spa Park Hot Spring

The Spa Park hot springs are one of the island’s finest natural, free, and undeveloped hot springs— surprisingly located just minutes from downtown Taupo. It’s as if Mother Nature has merged with Tourist Nature! These hot pools are amazing— a too-hot steaming stream cascades down a hillside and then commingles with the chillier Waikato River. The waters blend to make a popular group soaking experience—there’s a temperature “just right” for everyone!

Seems like locals have largely abandoned the spot in the summertime to the hordes of backpackers fresh from the “Crossing.” Maybe the locals know that they get it all to themselves the rest of the year—wow, this must be heaven in the winter. Regardless, no matter who you are, how old, or how fit…as long as you don’t expect any sort of solitude, you’ll enjoy a social soak and swim.