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Tours/Tauranga/Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa

Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa

3.7(9)Tauranga6–8 hours
VIATOR3.5(8)TRIPADVISOR5.0(1)
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
+11 photos
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa

At a glance

Duration
6–8 hours
Price from
$166 / person
Location
Tauranga
Rating
3.7 / 5 · 9 reviews
Languages
EN
Group
Small group, up to 12
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Tino Pai Tours
Meeting point
Meet at the TINO PAI TOURS sign board on the grassy mound directly opposite the port gates by the flag pole.

Description

Bound for Rotorua (appx 1.5hr), enjoy an array of our all inclusive snacks & bottled water, sit back and take in the many beautiful scenic views. Take a geothermal walk which takes between one and one and a half hours, as well as Māori carving. Then bathe in our world-famous mud baths and soak in the sulphur spas and cool plunge pool. TIME PERMITTING WE WILL MAKE VARIOUS OTHER STOPS AT LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS

Tour Options

Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa
Hells Gate Incl Glowworm Cave

Redwoods Glowworm Cave: Prepare to be enchanted by our newest attraction – a breathtakingly beautiful 70-metre eco cave with 1000s of real glowworms

Itinerary

Hell's Gate Geothermal Reserve & Mud Spa
Admission included120 min

Take a self-guided interactive geothermal walk before indulging in geothermal mud and sulphur waters, experiencing the healing properties local Māori have been using for centuries. It’s a Rotorua experience you’ll never forget. Includes geothermal walk which takes between one and one and a half hours, as well as Māori carving. Then bathe in the world-famous mud baths and soak in the sulphur spas and cool plunge pool. The mud bath has a time-limit of 20 minutes once a day for health and safety reasons. The minimum age for the mud baths is 2.5 years of age, whereas for the sulphur spa is 6 months of age. Children must be aged 12 and over to participate in the carving. Your swimwear and towels will have a sulphur smell to thereafter your experience and will need to be cleaned thoroughly. We recommend using old swimwear, or if you have any concerns to hire or buy from Hell’s Gate, subject to availability.

Government Gardens
15 min

TIME PERMITTING ONLY: Rotorua Government Gardens - Originally known as Paepaekumana, the local Māori iwi (tribe) gifted 50 acres of land to the Crown in the late 1800'a 'for the benefit of the people of the world". At the Government Gardens you'll see the Wangapipiro Rachel Pool which is known for its therapeutic water which has antiseptic properties due to its alkaline content.

Redwoods, Whakarewarewa Forest
15 min

TIME PERMITTING ONLY: Known to locals simply as ‘The Redwoods’, the 55,000ha Whakarewarewa Forest is a playground for mountain bikers, walkers, hikers and horse riders set amongst magnificent stands of towering Californian Redwoods, lush native forest and exotic trees. The Redwood Memorial Grove was planted in 1901, dedicated to the memory of the men of the New Zealand Forest Service who dies in the two World Wars. These iconic trees tower above you at approximately 67 metres (219 feet) tall providing incredible photo opportunities. This easy short walk also features a boardwalk over an old thermal pond, home to unique aquatic plant life.

What's included

Included
Bottled water
Snacks
Not included
Lunch

Traveller Ratings

Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor

3.7
9 reviews
5
5
4
1
3
0
2
1
1
2

Important Information

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Comfortable footwear is recommended
  • Bathing at Hells Gate is not recommended for pregnant travelers

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund

Frequently asked questions

How long does Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa take?

Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa lasts about 6–8 hours. The itinerary has 3 stops.

How much does Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa cost?

Prices start at $166 per person for this Tauranga experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.

Can I cancel Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa for free?

Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is Meet at the TINO PAI TOURS sign board on the grassy mound directly opposite the port gates by the flag pole. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.

What languages is Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa offered in?

The experience is available in EN.

Is this a private or a group tour?

It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.

Will my booking be confirmed immediately?

Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.

Is Hells Gate Geothermal, Mud & Sulphur Spa worth it?

Travellers rate it 3.7 out of 5 across 9 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Tino Pai Tours.

Reviews(9)

Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor

S
Spencer_S
April 9, 2026 · via Viator
Horrible experience. Very unprofessional staff.

Left my jacket there and they tried to extort $40 to send it back to me even though it was a $20 jacket. Also, I would not advise anyone to go into those sulfur pits as you will never get the smell out of your clothes or nostrils. I wish I was joking but it's true.

Operator response

Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad to hear that Hell’s Gate staff were able to locate your jacket. Please note the shipping cost was quoted directly by Hell’s Gate and reflects their international postage rates. We have always found the Hell’s Gate team to be friendly and professional, and there was certainly no intent to overcharge. Regarding the sulfur and mud pools, these are natural features of the geothermal park and the strong smell is part of that environment. We do advise guests that the smell can cling to clothing and recommend bringing suitable gear. Hireage options are also available on-site, and Hell’s Gate staff provide a full orientation on arrival, including guidance on what to expect before entering the pools. We appreciate you sharing your experience.

A
Anonymous
February 9, 2026 · via Viator
Impressive

Very informative and nice tour with impressive experiences. Hell gates and glowworms are both worth visiting.

Operator response

Kia ora and thank you for choosing Tino Pai Tours. Hells Gate is impressive so glad you thought so too. Thank you for your positive feedback I will be sure to pass it on. Delighted you enjoyed your day with us. Safe travels.

D
Diane_T
January 8, 2026 · via Viator
Tour Operator Lied

The tour operator was very unorganised. We were told to join the tour but were not told that this would leave us no time to experience the actual mud bath which is what we paid to experience. The tour operator then lied to us and said that she received notification from cruise liner that we were with advising that the ship was leaving earlier and rushed us to leave. When we got back to our ship, we found out that the ship was leaving at the scheduled time. We then realised that the tour operator lied to us as she wanted to leave early.

Operator response

Thank you for your feedback. We would like to provide clarification regarding the events and decisions made during your tour. You arrived at Hell’s Gate at approximately 2:00pm. Upon arrival, the driver provided a briefing advising that the planned departure from Hell’s Gate would be around 5:00pm. While the tour description allocates approximately two hours at Hell’s Gate, on this occasion we allowed closer to three hours at the site. The Hell’s Gate guides also conducted a briefing, outlining approximately one hour for the walk, around 20 minutes in the mud pools, and advising that the remaining time could be spent in the sulphur pools. At approximately 4:30pm, we received notification of deteriorating weather conditions approaching the port, along with advice that your ship would be required to disembark earlier than originally scheduled. Based on this information, I instructed all drivers that vehicles were to return to port to ensure passengers arrived safely and on time. According to the port schedule, the ship did depart earlier, and all passengers were returned to port safely only minutes before the storm began. The total time spent on the tour that day was approximately seven hours, which is consistent with the advertised 6–7 hour duration. Passenger safety is our highest priority, and we work closely with port authorities to ensure guests are returned safely and in a timely manner, particularly when weather conditions change unexpectedly.

T
Teresa_M
January 3, 2026 · via Viator
Our guide was great and...

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

Operator response

Kia ora Teresa, many thanks for choosing Tino Pai Tours. We will take the suggestion about lunch on board thank you. The baths are great and super relaxing so glad you enjoyed the experience. NZ has alot to offer hope you get to see more of it.

M
Marsha19692019
January 3, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Mud and Majesty

Fantastic trip. What a great time. The lakes and scenery were amazing. I really enjoyed walking through the redwoods. Messina was a great guide and the geothermal pools were breathtaking. The mud bath and spring soak were very cool

Operator response

Kia ora Marsha, many thanks for choosing Tino Pai Tours. Hells Gate is a very popular tour and you were lucky to get away with the weather that day. So pleased you enjoyed your day and Messina is a true gem. Much more to see on your next trip.

Q
Quinn_B
January 2, 2026 · via Viator
Great experience

Our guide was very nice and knowledgeable. She made stops along the way to enhance our experience and explained all the beautiful things we were seeing. The spa itself was also something really neat to do. Highly recommend.

Operator response

Kia ora Quinn, many thanks for choosing Tino Pai Tours. Wonderful to hear you enjoyed your tour with us. Sherril really does deliver for her passengers. The spa is lovely a very popular tour this year. We hope to see you again.

R
Randi_M
December 6, 2025 · via Viator
Glorified Taxi

No information upfront on what to bring and what to expect. No overview before the trip began. Very difficult to plan and anticipate anything. Glorified taxi service at best.

Operator response

Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry you felt unprepared and didn’t receive enough information before or at the start of the tour. We’re reviewing our communication and briefing process to ensure guests know exactly what to bring and what to expect. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and will use it to improve future experiences.

L
Leo
November 22, 2025 · via Viator
Can’t miss experience in Tauranga

As a cruise passengers this was an amazing experience to see beautiful vicinities of Tauranga and Rotorua and experience Hell’s Gate geothermal wonders and mud spa. Comfortable vehicles (Mercedes Sprinter Van). Our guide Greg was very energetic and knowledgeable and everything went smoothly and efficiently.

Operator response

Kia ora Leo and thank you for choosing Tino Pai Tours. You are correct in that Rotorua is a must see with so much on offer. Greg has recently joined our team so he will be very happy to hear your wonderful review. We hope to see you on NZ shores again.

K
Kevin_J
November 8, 2025 · via Viator
Hot mud and glowing worms

Hell’s Gate mud bath was fun, glow worm tour was interesting. Small group size made it very enjoyable.

Operator response

Kia ora Kevin, thank you for choosing Tino Pai Tours and for your kind words. Hells Gate is truly a gem of Rotorua amongst many others. Maybe next time you will have longer in Port and we can show you the extras. Many thanks.

$166/ person
3.7(9)
Duration6–8 hours
LanguagesEN
ConfirmationInstant
Check availability on Viator →
Booked and paid on Viator.com
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

No booking fees from Excurgo
Payment and confirmation are handled by Viator
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Excurgo earns a commission from Viator when you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.

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