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Hell's Gate: Explore Unique Geothermal Reserve in Rotorua with Maori Carving and Mud Baths
4.7
221 Ratings
Tikitere
Immerse yourself in the wonders of Hell’s Gate, a unique geothermal reserve in Rotorua. Explore the interactive geothermal walk, try Maori carving, and indulge in healing mud baths. Book your guided tour now!
Immerse yourself in the wonders of Hell’s Gate, a unique geothermal reserve in Rotorua. Explore the interactive geothermal walk, try Maori carving, and indulge in healing mud baths. Book your guided tour now!
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Hell’s Gate Geothermal Reserve & Mud Spa - Combine all three of Hell’s Gate’s most popular experiences with this package. Take part in the guided or self-guided, interactive geothermal walk, before indulging in our geothermal mud baths and sulphur spas. It’s a Rotorua experience you’ll never forget.
- Hell’s Gate Geothermal Reserve & Mud Spa - Combine all three of Hell’s Gate’s most popular experiences with this package. Take part in the guided or self-guided, interactive geothermal walk, before indulging in our geothermal mud baths and sulphur spas. It’s a Rotorua experience you’ll never forget.
What's Included
- Guided or Self-Guided Geothermal Walk
- Complimentary Māori carving
- Bathe in Mud Bath & Sulphur Spas
- Guided or Self-Guided Geothermal Walk
- Complimentary Māori carving
- Bathe in Mud Bath & Sulphur Spas
What's Not Included
- Food & Drink
- Towels & Swimwear
- Food & Drink
- Towels & Swimwear
Additional Information
Spend a few hours experiencing the wonders of Rotorua’s most unique geothermal reserve at Hell’s Gate. Take part in the guided or self-guided interactive geothermal walk, before trying your hand at Maori carving in the interactive carving house. Then indulge in our geothermal mud and sulphur waters, experiencing the healing properties local Maori have…
Spend a few hours experiencing the wonders of Rotorua’s most unique geothermal reserve at Hell’s Gate. Take part in the guided or self-guided interactive geothermal walk, before trying your hand at Maori carving in the interactive carving house. Then indulge in our geothermal mud and sulphur waters, experiencing the healing properties local Maori have been using for centuries. It’s a Rotorua experience you’ll never forget.
Complimentary guided tours depart daily, please see Hell’s Gate website for latest departure times.
- We recommend that women do not use our bathing facilities whilst pregnant. However, it is an individual’s choice and we recommend that you seek advice from your health professional if you are wanting to bathe.
- Not recommended for travellers with heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- The minimum age for the Mud Bath is 2.5 years, and for the Sulphur Spa is 6 months.
- Children are considered those aged 5 -15. Under 4s are free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Location
Hell's Gate Geothermal Reserve & Mud Spa
351 State Highway 30
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(221 Ratings)
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Jet62277568163
Oct 25, 2024
Not to be missed!! - Our Hells Gate experience was incredible! Our tour guide Liam, was knowledgeable, friendly and funny. When we ran into him after the spa, he had more info for us and told us the history of the park. We did the experience; tour, carving and mud pools and spa and it was well worth it.
Seeing and hearing how they move paths, or build bridges in order to not impede on the natural process of geothermal activity was great. I find tourist attractions often feel a little cold, like the environment has been changed to suit the viewer, but you really felt like a guest in nature at Hells Gate.
An incredible experience.
Ngā mihi nui!
Kate
Review provided by Tripadvisor
William_f
Oct 22, 2024
Definitely worth the $$ - Super nice staff, great guide on the tour with lots of local info. The baths were also amazing. Definitely recommend 👍
Review provided by Viator
John_f
Oct 14, 2024
Great geothermal experience - Going here, I expected to most enjoy the spas and mud bath, but I actually thoroughly enjoyed the geothermal walk. You wouldn’t know it when driving up, but hidden inside is a geothermal wonder. The geothermal walk reminded me of all the marvels this planet has to offer.
Review provided by Viator
Canberra364
Oct 10, 2024
Spectacular scenery- one of a kind - What a great experience. We did the Guided tour, mud baths and thermal spa pools. There is a strong sulphur smell but you get used to it after a while and after all this is what you are here to experience. The pools, geysers, and exhibits presented were very interesting and our guide was able to explain a lot about the park as we walked through. We then hit the mud baths and enjoyed the mud and the thermal hot pools. We took a plunge in the cool icy bath before showering off and washing our swimmers in some soapy water. We hired towels for a small cost so we didn’t need to bring them. Once back to our hotel we washed swimming gear as advised. The smell has almost disappeared. We thoroughly enjoyed our 3 hours of relaxing time at Hell's Gate. Staff were very helpful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carolyn_d
Oct 8, 2024
A great experience! - We joined the 2.30pm free guided tour at Hell's Gate, led by a local young man. This walking tour was set at an appropriate pace for guests of all ages. It was a rainy, cool afternoon, but this made the experience even better. Following the tour, I enjoyed a mud bath and soak in the geothermal pools, and felt relaxed within the environment - again, with others of varying ages.
Review provided by Viator
Dragonbaby
Oct 5, 2024
Great experience with Luuk - We were excited to do the mud bath and thought we would go for the whole experience as well. I wasn’t sure if after Waiotapu we would be impressed. With Luuk as our guide, we had a wonderful time. I think if I did a self guided tour it would not have been as good for us. The map has information on each spot which is labeled. And going on your own is much faster if short on time. But Luuk told us wonderful stories and made the experience memorable. It was like being on another planet. The features were very neat. And it was cool to understand the history and where the mud comes from before doing the mud bath. We did our carving lesson which was fun and we got a souvenir to take home. Then we headed to the mud bath. The staff holds your things even before the walk in a bin so you don’t have to carry them which was nice. The mud bath was so nice after the walk. We took a waterproof phone lanyard (like you use for the beach). This allowed us to take photos in the mud bath. Then for a shower and a soak in the regular geothermal water pool. There is a locker room as well as changing rooms near the geothermal pools. We packed flip flops which I would recommend. We did remember as they suggested to leave our jewelry back home as the sulfur tarnishes them. It was a fun half day. I would highly recommend it. If needed, free WiFi via a QR code at the desk. Staff was very friendly and helpful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ceantelb
Oct 13, 2024
Just the right amount of mud - This was a great trip. Out tour guide Luke, was clever and had some interesting tidbits about the country to share. The mud is fantastic and very interesting to look at. It's amazing, some of the temperatures that it gets to.
PLEASE do not wear a bathing suit you plan on keeping! In reading the previous posts we were concerned that our clothes would be ruined after bring at the mud spa. We went to The Warehouse nearby and bought whatever they had on clearance. It is true that you will continue to smell the sulfur coming from your pores (we are one day out). In the end we threw away our suits, towels and clothing we wore afterward. It was extremely painful to do, but it was either that or waste the money on laundry.
Our only disappointment was the gift shop. I felt that some of the take away mud products could have been better.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leellieandrews
Oct 6, 2024
So relaxing - We had gone with the family expecting the baths to be super smelly but once we had gone in it was not as bad as we had thought. The mud itself was so relaxing and I could’ve spent hours in there if it was safe. You have to be careful around your face because if you get it too close to your eyes it can sting really bad. I also made the mistake of ignoring the advice to take off my makeup before going in and the mud stuck to my face and I had to really scrub to get it off! My skin felt really good for a good few days after the cleanse it was amazing. I had smelt a little like sulpher for 24hrs after though. I had a fresh ear piercing so could not take my earrings out and they did tarnish but a little bit of toothpaste and it came out easily. Overall would recommend this to do when in Rotorua.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Victoria_k
Oct 5, 2024
Great dos - Enjoyed the mud bath and spa experience. Did not enjoy the tour of the grounds as the tour leader was disrespectful to local culture
Review provided by Viator
Bt105
Oct 20, 2024
An experience that is okay - We made reservations and had the shuttle pick us up in town. Michael our driver was so nice, welcoming and lovely to have a conversation. Check in at the desk was very matter of fact, I did not get her name, but she was just your checked in , here is a map, go do your self tour, then go to spa. Interesting there was a guided tour just 15 minutes later but she never even offered. We did the self tour and read the information as we went along, it was interesting and eerie at the same time to walk around the gysers and mud. Then we went to the carving station, which was fun and much more difficult than we thought. It was nice souvenir to take home. Then off to the mud baths nad pools, We brought things we planned on throwing away including towels. As for the baths themselves, they were okay, it is an experience and that is what we are chalking it up to. After the mud bath you go into another pool , then can alternate between the pools. There is a shower there to clean up after. here is also a gift shop and snack area that serves sandwiches etc. Michael was right there and ready to take us back after ward and again we enjoyed speaking with him .
Review provided by Tripadvisor
