The 10 Best Tauranga Hot Springs Tours

1.Rotorua Geothermal Living Maori Village Tour Whakarewarewa 6.5hours Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 145 reviews · from $166Our pick

Travel from Tauranga to Rotorua in a small, air-conditioned vehicle for a guided visit to Whakarewarewa Living Māori Village, a Māori concert with haka, and a light hangi-style lunch. You will also see geothermal pools, Pohutu geyser, Lake Rotorua, Government Gardens, Mount Maunganui, and Te Puke’s kiwifruit country.

“This tour was well worth it and Peter was an excellent guide. We really enjoyed the authentic Maori village with a tour guide and the cultural performance with the Haka. The village doesn't get any government money. The After the tour we Read more”

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2.Rotorua Geothermal Wonderland Tour – Departs Tauranga

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 123 reviews · from $166Top rated

Travel from Tauranga or Mount Maunganui to Rotorua in a 12-seat minivan with a local driver-guide. Visit Te Puia for Māori culture, crafts, kiwi birds, geysers, and mud pools, then walk among the redwoods. Guides may include Nicolle, Russell, Tracy, Buddy, or Lloydy.

“It was great! Nicolle was one of the best guides we’ve ever ever had…the guides at the geothermal park were very good.”

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3.Boutique tour , Mt Maunganui, NZ farm, Rotorua lakes/geothermal

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 50 reviews · from $137

From Tauranga’s cruise port, Arrow Tours takes you by air-conditioned minivan to Mt Maunganui, Te Puke, Rotorua, and its geothermal country. Expect a busy 6 to 7 hours with local guides such as Toby, Kerry, Terry, or Roger, plus optional Māori cultural experiences and photo stops at the blue and green lakes.

“Our driver/guide, Thierry, was very knowledgeable and engaging. The tour was fascinating and we were mesmerized by our chance viewing of a Maori funeral procession. However, we were quite surprised by all the commercial and residential development surrounding the Rotorua geyser field.”

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4.Hell’s Gate Geothermal Park & Mud Spa Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 41 reviews · from $183

Travel from Tauranga’s cruise port to Hell’s Gate Geothermal Park for a self-guided walk among mud pots, hot pools, and New Zealand’s largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere. Then enjoy a 20-minute mud bath, sulphur spa pools, a cool plunge, and Māori carving. Drivers such as Cookie, Grant, and Martin add local stories along the way.

“Mud baths were very relaxing. The carving activity was interesting. Overall this excursion was worth the time.”

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5.Waimangu Geothermal Valley & Lake Rotomahana Tour – 7hrs

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $176

Travel from Tauranga to Waimangu Volcanic Valley in a small, air-conditioned van with a local guide such as Robert or Russell. Walk 4 km past hot springs, volcanic craters, and the world’s largest hot spring, then take a 45-minute cruise on Lake Rotomahana beneath Mount Tarawera.

“The guide provided a lot of information. He was very helpful and knowledgeable. The group was small which is a more intimate feeling.”

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6.Private, via beaches, Kiwi farm to Rotorua 8 lakes & Geothermal

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews

Travel privately from Tauranga to Rotorua with a local guide such as Toby, Steve, or Thierry. Visit Mount Maunganui, a kiwifruit orchard, Whakarewarewa Māori village, geothermal features, lakes, native forest, and Okere Falls. The $950 vehicle price covers up to four people, transport, water, and the cultural concert.

“My family and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Our guide was knowledgeable, prompt and thorough. This is definitely one of our family's adventures that will last for a lifetime. Our young adult kids enjoyed the experiences too. Went to so many awesome places with great views and visited the Kiwi farm and Maori village. Thank you!”

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7.Mount Maunganui Hot Pools Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7 reviews · from $15Best value

Spend about an hour at Mount Hot Pools beneath Mauao, using five outdoor pools heated from 32 to 39°C. You can move between spa pools, hydrotherapy water, massage jets, and a children’s pool. Towels, swimwear, private pools, and massages cost extra. Mobile tickets are accepted.

“Very pleasant. Unfortunately my husband couldn’t walk that far and I didn’t realise we could have caught the local buses from the cruise terminal to your beautiful venue. It would have done him the world of good as he had just had a hip replacement. Your facility is beautifully warm and clean set in a beautiful landscape. I loved it!”

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8.Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7 reviews · from $155

Travel from Tauranga to Rotorua in a small group of up to 12, with snacks, bottled water, and scenic stops along the way. At Hell’s Gate, take a geothermal walk, view Māori carving, bathe in mud, and soak in sulphur pools. Guides such as Greg and Sherril also add local stories and flexible sightseeing stops.

“Our guide was great and the mud bath was great but we felt rushed because the only lunch available was a very slow snack bar at Hells Gate. I recommend the tour incorporate a quick lunch before instead of the garden stop so that the soaking time isn’t rushed. Otherwise 10/10”

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9.Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Valley, & Hot River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $155

Travel from Tauranga to Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, one of New Zealand’s most colorful geothermal areas. Your 6 to 8-hour day also includes Rotorua’s Redwoods, Sulphur Point, and Government Gardens. A guide, bottled water, snacks, transport, and admission to Wai-O-Tapu are included. Guide Greg has been praised for his care and humor.

“Worth place to visit , great experience with lakes which is surreal. Driver is nice and the transport vehicle is comfortable.”

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10.Te Puia Geothermal, Kiwi and Māori Art

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3 reviews · from $148

Travel from Tauranga to Rotorua with a driver-guide, snacks and water, then visit Te Puia for Pōhutu Geyser, Māori arts, a cultural performance and the Kiwi Conservation Centre. Short stops may include the Redwoods, Government Gardens, Sulphur Point and Kuirau Park. Lunch is not included.

“I wish we would have more time. The geyser boiling peak was not on the time we were there, but the place is super cool and the history is very rich. I recommend this tour. The only downside is the tour bus doesn't have loud speakers and it was difficult hear the vehicle operator at some points. Everything else was A+”

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