Without scaring you too much, the city of Rotorua is situated on a rhyolitic supervolcano which has created some incredible geothermal activity. This was one of the main drawcards for us when adding Rotorua to our itinerary as this natural wonder isn’t something our children have really explored.
Hells Gate Rotorua with Kids
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On our last trip, sans kids, we visited Hells Gate Rotorua and wanted to do it again with our kids. When it comes to Rotorua hot springs we think it is the best spot to head as it not only includes sulfur pools and mud pools but an awesome Rotorua geothermal park which is safe to visit. Hells Gate is definitely worth exploring if you are keen to learn more about geothermal Rotorua. It is also New Zealand’s only Maori owned thermal pool which gets the big thumbs up from us.
As early as 1871, Hells Gate has been drawing visitors to its gates to enjoy its healing properties. In fact, it is due to Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw who visited in 1934 and declared “this could be the very gates of hell” that the site traditionally called Tikitere is now styled as Hells Gate.
Hell’s Gate Geothermal Park
Hell’s Gate is the place to head for a geothermal Rotorua experience. This Rotorua geothermal park will bring you up close to steaming fumaroles, boiling mud and erupting waters. If that’s not extraordinary enough, there’s even a hot water waterfall – Kakahi Falls, the largest hot waterfall in the southern hemisphere! It’s truly unique.
Formed around 10,000 years ago in a series of geothermal eruptions, Hells Gate which was traditionally called Tikitere features 50 acres (20 ha) of geothermal activity. This is accessible by guided or self-guided tour. Of course, being quite an active area with steaming hot steam and gas escaping on the ground, it is vital that you stick to the paths and follow the loop walk around the site. This will take around an hour, depending on your walking speed.
So you can experience the park well there is signage throughout the geothermal park explaining what you are seeing. There are also bridges and viewing platforms so you can get a good look at what you are seeing. So what will you see?
On the lower loop, you will be able to see around 12 different hot pools that have depths of over 25 metres. That’s like a swimming pool length into the ground! In some of these, such as the Sodom and Gomorrah hot pool, the temperature can reach over 100°c. Crazy! This same pool can erupt 2 metres into the air when the pressure builds up. On average, the pools are around 70°C.
The lower and upper loops are separated by a lovely bush area where you can see Kakahi falls which is 4 metres in height and as we boasted earlier, the largest hot waterfall in the southern hemisphere. Its temperature sticks to around 40°c. Historically it was used by Māori warriors to clean their wounds after a battle. Of course, the sulphur in the water was great at disinfecting injuries.
Don’t give up when you are at the falls and think that you have seen it all – you certainly haven’t. The top loop is not to be missed. It is up here that you will spot more expansive hot pools of varying activity as well as steaming fumaroles. A fumarole is an opening in or near a volcano from which hot sulphurous gases emerge. It’s quite fascinating.
Watch out for the large mud volcano which is taller than all of us at around 2 metres. Some visitors will see mud violently bubbling in the crater, while others will see it hardened. It hardens every 6 weeks or so, at which time the pressure builds up over a few days before it explodes into a muddy eruption spreading mud a further 2 metres into the air and all around. I’m not quite sure if I am pleased or disappointed that we missed out on that!
If you are curious what is the highest temperature recorded in the geothermal area, it is the Steaming Cliffs pool which as a recorded 122°c at the surface. I would not want to fall in! Other pools around the area are a little cooler at between 40 to 90°c. They were used for cooking as well as treating some skin and bone issues. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see members of the Hell’s Gate team farming some of the mud for the mud spa!
Be very careful to stick to the paths and make sure you resist poking your finger into the mud or water! In some ares the kids will love identifying the sulphur crystals on the surface of the ground.
Hell’s Gate Hot Springs
There are two parts to Hells Gate Rotorua: the Geothermal Park and the Geothermal Mud Bath and Sulphur pools. We’ve covered what we think is the best Rotorua Geothermal Park above in some detail, but what about the hot springs and spa?
On arrival, you will be given a large portable crate to put all of your clothing and valuables. You will cart this around from each pool to ensure they are safe.
Hell’s Gate Mud Bath
Some say that soaking in geothermal mud can naturally increase blood circulation and help cleanse and soften your skin. I’m not sure how much research has been done to validate the claim, but our skin certainly felt a whole lot softer and fresh afterwards.
It was not long ago that Māori warriors bathed in the mud after a battle to exfoliates their scarred skin and help it recover. With three large pools to soak in, you’ll get your skin up to ship shop condition as well.
I was a little apprehensive about soaking in the mud. The concept I had in my head was super thick mud with a toothpaste consistency that would glug all around me and fill every orifice. I was not keen but it was on the kid’s New Zealand bucket list so how could I not? I was quite pleased to discover that the water is warm, a muddy brown but only a little thicker than normal bathing water as the mud mostly settles to the bottom. In fact, I have since learned that each pool holds 40 – 60kgs of mud which is suspended in the geothermal water, on the bottom of the bath and in containers for easy access. Perfect
Our family had our own private pool. Whilst our time bathing was timed, it was enough to allow us to laze in the pull after covering each other with the mud. The pool even has bench seating within so you can just sit and relax.
Hell’s Gate Sulphur Pools
There are a number of sulphur pools to choose from at Hell’s Gate, each providing a different temperature. You can start at the cooler pool and move you away to the warmer pools as your skin becomes used to heat, or just stay in the one pool It’s up to you. The relaxing sulphur spa overlooks the geothermal reserve. We spent over an hour just floating around in here.
Hells’s Gate Plunge Pool
Hell’s Gate Plunge pool is super cold! I could not manage to put more than a toe in without shrieking in horror. However, the kids delighted in challenging each other to jump in and seeing how long they could handle it. I think the premise of the pool is to close your pores after the warmth of the mud bath. Whatever reason, it put the hell into Hells Gate. Never again for me!
Booking Your Visit – Hells Gate Experiences
We booked our visit in advance so we could not only explore the large geothermal park but also enjoy the mud baths and sulphur pool. On our earlier visit without kids, we had booked a private bath and massage. On this trip, we decided to explore options that would provide us with access to the whole geothermal park before a relaxation session together. We were surprised that there is now a multitude of options.
Hell’s Gate Geothermal Walk
If you are pressed for time or just don’t feel like lounging in a mud bath, Hell’s Gate Geothermal Walk might be up your alley. This package provides you with your choice of a guided or self-guided tour of New Zealand’s most active geothermal reserve. You will be able to see the land coral, watch an active mud volcano erupt and walk around the park to see the multitude of geothermic marvels
At the end of the tour you can soak your feet in the healing mud pool or try your hand at Māori carving.
Time allowance: 60 to 90 minutes depending on your walking pace
Cost: $95.00 NZD per family
Hell’s Gate Sulphur Spas
If time is a factor and you are keen to try the naturally heated geothermal waters without exploring the Geothermal park in entirety, you might like to try the Hell’s Gate Sulphur Spas. It is said that these waters have restorative properties and are a great way to rejuvenate tired bodies. This package includes soaking in the sulphur spa and the cool plunge pool
Time allowance: You won’t want to stay in the pool for a long time. I recommend discussing time allowance with the team at Hell’s Gate
Cost: $60 NZD per family
The Inspire Experience
The Inspire Experience is a great way to combine exploring the geothermal park with a relaxing soak. This package provides you with an opportunity to head out into the park for a guided or self-guided tour. The kids will love seeing the bubbling earth and erupting mud on your walk around the reserve before all of you have a chance to soak in the sulphur spa and experience the cool plunge pool.
Time allowance: 60 – 90 minutes for the geothermal walk PLUS time for your soak
Cost: $145.00 NZD per family
The Soothe Experience
Volcanic mud is renowned to have all kinds of restorative and healing properties. In Rotorua it has been used by the Māori for over 800 years for its cleansing ability. At Hell’s Gate you can spend a day relaxing in the spa, enjoying the mud bath, sulphur pool and cool plunge pool. The Soothe Experience does not include access to the geothermal park.
Time allowance: After thorough consultation with health professionals and Kaumātua, a recommendation of 20 minutes per person per day in the mud pools was given for health and safety reasons.
Cost: $195.00 NZD
The Excite Experience
We chose the Excite Experience for our family as it included access to the geothermal park on our choice of a guided or self-guided tour, then bathing in the mud baths, sulphur pool and cool plunge pool. The kids are still raving about this experience!
Time allowance: 60-90 minutes for the geothermal park. The mud bath is timed.
Cost: $235.00 NZD per family
Secluded Experience
Just like the Soothe Experience, this package provides you with access to the mud baths, sulphur pool and cool plunge pool except in a private or semi-secluded setting. Your family will experience the thermal mud in a private mud bath, before relaxing in semi-secluded sulphur spas.
Time allowance: While the mud bath is timed, the sulphur pools and plunge pool are available for your use during the day.
Cost: $265.00 NZD per family
Tikitere Experience
This experience combines a guided exploration of the geothermal park with a private mud and semi-private sulphur spa experience. Begin your visit by walking through the reserve, where you’ll see erupting waters, active mud volcanoes and land coral. Afterwards, enjoy a private mud bath and sulphur spa, experiencing the healing properties local Māori have been using for centuries.
Time allowance: 60-90 minutes for the tour. The mud bath is timed for your health. Access to the Sulphur pool during opening times
Cost: $300 NZD per family
You can book your Hells Gate Experience direct or head to our Klook Affiliate link for a discount price!
What to wear
There’s no escaping the fact that bathing in geothermal water and mud leaves an interesting smell to your skin and clothes which can be hard to remove if you unaware of the correct technique.
When visiting Hell’s Gate and enjoying what must be the best of all Rotorua Hot Springs, you have two options when it comes to suitable attire: you can bring your own or hire them on the day!
Swimming costumes are available for hire at Hell’s Gate and are commercially laundered after each use. This is a great option if you haven’t packed any for your trip or if you are unsure how to launder them yourself to eradicate the sulphur smell afterwards.
If you do bring along your own swimming costumes, you will need to wash them with cloudy ammonia afterwards to ensure you don’t have a residual sulphur smell. I had no idea where to get this and one set of bathers still have the smell some months later. It is only now that I have learned that you can purchase a small packet of laundry powder from Hells Gate itself.
I highly recommend removing all jewellery as the waters will tarnish them!
Facilities
Hells Gate has a lovely, shared change room for guests enjoying the mud bath and sulphur pools. Of course, there are also showers to utilise after you enjoy your relaxation. I suggest bringing along toiletries so you can soap yourself and wash your hair if you wish.
Towels can be hired on site which I recommend over bringing your own as they will smell afterwards.
Opening Times
Hells Gate is open every day of the year except for Christmas Day. The times are dependant on th etime of year
Summer 1 October – 31 March | Geothermal Reserve 8.30am – last entrance 6.30pm (light dependent) |Spa facilities open 8.30am – last entrance 8:30pm
Winter 1 April – 30 September | Geothermal Reserve 8.30am – last entrance 4:00pm | Spa facilities open 8.30am – last entrance 7:00pm
Getting to Hells Gate
By Shuttle
Hell’s Gate provides a complimentary shuttle pick-up and drop-off, available from within the Rotorua central area. Bookings are essential. Contact Hells Gate to book
By Car
Hells Gate is easily found by car and has plenty of parking. It is found at 351 State Highway 30, Tikitere, Rotorua
Click here to book your experience via KLOOK! (Including FREE shuttle).
We self-funded our trip to Hells Gate on our New Zealand North Island tour. All opinions are our own of course!
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