The earth has a lot of mysterious wonders, and Hells Gate Geothermal Park is one of them. Located in Rotorua, New Zealand, this place offers a unique geothermal experience which includes a walk along hot boiling pools, a mud volcano and sulphur lakes as well as a geothermal mud bath and sulphur spa.
Geothermal Park
Drizzle and mist were in our way when we arrived at Hells Gate Geothermal Park. Although the weather did not cooperate when we visited, the place did not fail to impress us. Are we in another world? It is not hard to understand why Irish Playwright, George Bernard Shaw, named this place Hells Gate. A short walk past hot pools and boiling mud of different temperatures will leave you thinking you really have reached the gates of Hell. It’s actually quite unnerving how close we were to this extreme environment.
Don’t let the English name fool you, Hells Gate is a place rich in Maori culture. A walk in the geothermal park takes you to different sites where people have come to heal wounds, bathe and even cook in the past. Highlights of the geothermal park include a mud volcano, cooking pools, hot sulphur lakes and the Kakahi Falls, the largest hot waterfalls in the southern hemisphere.
Geothermal Mud Bath and Sulphur Spa
The Hells Gate mud bath and two sulphurous spas are located right next to the geothermal park. This place allows you to experience authentic geothermal mud and sulphur waters in the same way as both European settlers and Maori have for hundreds of years.
What do you think it would be like to bathe in those geothermal hot pools? Like us, you don’t have to wonder anymore. Hells Gate provides the unique experience of the geothermal mud bath and sulphurous spas, where you can soak and reap the benefits of this landscape. After a long day of sightseeing in Rotorua, this place was definitely the perfect way to end to our trip.
Check out Jon’s post, “Crazy Driving and Psychedelic Scenery in Rotorua, New Zealand” for other activities we did in Rotorua.
Disclaimer: We received were hosted by Hells Gate Geothermal Park. Thoughts and opinions in this post are our own.
Hells Gate Geothermal Park
Location: State Highway 30, Tikitere, Rotorua, New Zealand.
Tel: +64 7 345 3151
Email: bookings@hellsgate.co.nz
Hells Gate Map
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Have you been to Hells Gate Geothermal Park or a similar geothermal site? Have you tried a geothermal mud bath or sulphur bath? Let us know.
Wow, that’s really unique. I didn’t hear about that one before, but it soudnds stunning!
Yeah, it’s unlike any other place we’ve been to. Thanks for the comment!