Mud Spa & Nature: Auckland to HELL's GATE, Rotorua & Blue Springs
Description
Experience the best of New Zealand’s natural and cultural highlights in one unforgettable day. Explore Hell’s Gate, the country’s most active geothermal park, with steaming vents, bubbling mud pools, erupting waters, and colorful mineral terraces, while learning about Māori traditions and the historical use of geothermal energy. Then, relax at Putāruru Blue Springs, famous for its crystal-clear, vivid blue water and tranquil native bush walks, perfect for photos and quiet reflection. Finish with a visit to Tirau, a quirky rural town known for its corrugated iron sheep and dog buildings, creative architecture, and charming cafés. This journey offers an ideal mix of adventure, culture, stunning scenery, and unique New Zealand experiences that leave lasting memories.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Morning Pick-Up from Hotel Auckland CBD: 5:45am onward It will take approximately about 15 minutes to complete the pickups. Departure 6:00 am Travel: Auckland to Tirau Approximately (2hrs drive covering 175kms) via SH 1.
You will be boarding a shuttle bus service provided by Hell's Gate at 9:50am at iSite Rotorua and will be heading to Hell's gate geothermal experience. Next, you will visit Hell's Gate Geothermal Park: Experience the dramatic geothermal landscapes, including a self-guided walk through bubbling mud pools, steaming vents, and sulphur lakes. Enjoy a rejuvenating mud bath or sulphur spa. The mud bath experience is limited 20 minutes for health and safety reasons. Please have your lunch at the Hell's gate before boarding the shuttle bus at 1:30pm A shuttle bus will drop you at iSite Rotorua city. You will be joining the other tourists again, and we will be doing an hour driving highlights tour of Rotorua, while we pickup our lovely co-tourists from other attractions and drop off anyone who is checking in to Rotorua Hotels.
After completeing the Hell's Gate Experience, you will be returning to iSite, Rotorua using the Hell's Gate Shuttle by which departs at 1:30 PM. You will be picked by our tour guide at 1:50 PM from iSite, Rotorua.
From iSite, Rotorua, with other customers on board, a 50 minuted drive, we will head to Putāruru Blue Springs is a crystal-clear freshwater spring in Waikato, New Zealand, known for its vivid blue color and exceptionally pure water that supplies much of Auckland’s drinking water. Surrounded by native bush, it offers an easy scenic walk and tranquil views.
Tirau is a small, charming town located in the Waikato region of New Zealand, known for its quirky corrugated iron sculptures and creative architecture. Positioned along State Highway 1, it serves as a popular stopover for travelers heading to Rotorua, Taupo, and beyond. The town is famous for its giant corrugated iron sheep and dog buildings, housing the local i-SITE visitor center and a wool shop, adding to its unique character. Tirau is also home to cozy cafes, boutique shops, and local art, making it an interesting and delightful stop. Arrive 8.15 am 2. Dog and Sheep Shaped Corrugated Metal Buildings, Tirau New Zealand We recommend travelers to take a bathroom break and buy coffee or snacks. (15 minutes). You can pre-order to some of the recommended cafe's while we are on the way to Tirau to save time. Departure 8.30 am Travel: Tirau to Mudpool - Wai-O-Tapu Approximately 1hr 10mins(80 km) via State Hwy 5
From Tirau, we head back to Auckland CBD, on the way back, we will drop off our friendly tourists at the Airport Transfer, and Airport hotels.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pickup only from hotels located within AUCKLAND CBD or Airport Regions. Kindly arrive at your hotel entrance at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time. Look out for a vehicle displaying the sign or the vehicle number provided to you for easy identification. To ensure a smooth experience, please make sure you have shared the correct hotel address and contact details with us. If possible, we recommend using a local SIM card or enabling international roaming, and installing WhatsApp for convenient communication throughout your trip.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Traveling time will be approximately 12hrs including the tour guide, meal, attraction and sight seeing
Reviews(1)
Not enough time at Hell's Gate in the actual springs/baths. Although the tour was informative and interesting it didn't leave us with enough time to enjoy the springs and baths. Also, the driver wasn't aware of ongoing road construction so we were delayed over an hour and half causing everything else we were supposed to do to be rushed. There was little communication between us and the driver about the plan once the construction delays happened. Some of this construction had been going on for a while so the tour company should have been aware of it and warned us as well as made alternative plans to avoid it if possible or at least communicated it to us in advance. Had I not reached out during the drive to corporate we wouldn't have known anything at all.
Hi Heidi, Thank you for your feedback—we truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. We are aware of the ongoing roadworks, as we travel to Rotorua daily. However, on that particular day, an unexpected issue occurred further down the route, approximately 10 km ahead, causing a significant delay. We completely understand how frustrating this must have been, and this is why we personally reached out to reassure you and provide updates. During this time, our team was actively communicating with the New Zealand Transport Authority to assess the situation and explore alternative routes. While we were working to find solutions, we also received multiple messages through the Viator platform. As our driver was seeking backend assistance to navigate the delay, these messages made it more challenging to coordinate efficiently. Despite the difficulties, we made a special diversion to ensure you arrived at Hell’s Gate before 10:30 AM, prioritizing your experience while balancing the needs of the rest of the group. Regarding your time at Hell’s Gate, the itinerary included the full allocated duration for the guided tour, mud spa, and hot pools. We also coordinated with Hell’s Gate staff to arrange a special guide who ensured you seamlessly joined the ongoing tour. The time recommended for the pools is set by Hell’s Gate for health and safety reasons, as the sulphur-rich waters require limited exposure. As this was a group tour, we had to adhere to the scheduled itinerary to accommodate all travelers while complying with New Zealand’s driving regulations, which restrict the total working hours of our drivers. If you were looking for a more flexible schedule with extended time at Hell’s Gate, a private tour would have been the better option, allowing for a fully customized experience. We value your feedback and will continue striving to improve our communication and planning. Our goal is always to provide an enjoyable and seamless experience for all our guests. Regards, ENZOY TOURS
