C J B
Ranking: 10/10
Winter morning: nothing better
Parking plenty up Spa Road. 5 min gravel path to bridge, footwear required.
Pools consist of two hot teirs, one with steamy water fall, the other accesses the cool river. MAX room for twelve, anymore would be a bad experience. Hooks supplied under bridge for towels and currently a toilet/changing facility is being built with lookout. Existing toilets and playground are back at parking area.
Felix Koehler
Ranking: 10/10
Really nice and free spot. You have kind of natural whirlpools beneath a beautiful river. We really enjoyed it.
Sarah Dorsett
Ranking: 8/10
Free thermal springs. When you are in the river, the mix of hot and cold is a strange sensation. Nice for a quick stop off.
George Bellwood
Ranking: 9/10
Two thermal springs trickle into the cold river and create an excellent set of bathing pools.
Lewis Cole
Ranking: 8/10
After a two hour hike, we were lucky enough to come across another hiker who informed us that the hot spring at the bridge at the beginning of our hike was worth the extra walk.
Lucie Revay
Ranking: 7/10
It is really cool how the hot water from the spring mixes with the cold water. One moment you are cold, next thing you know the water is boiling. Very crowded though.
Nadja Guiliani
Ranking: 7/10
Free and wonderful. Nature has given a place where you can go and enjoy cold and hot water coming from the ground. But it can get too busy.
Simon Schatz
Ranking: 10/10
Central location. Free. Good thing to do on a rainy day.
Philipp
Ranking: 7/10
Nice hot springs to take a relaxing bath. No entry fee but kind of crowded for sunset. Bring some cold beers.
Gregor
Ranking: 10/10
It is like a hot tub, just without bubbles! Very lovely! Do watch out for the carpark gate - it closes at 8pm.
Sam
Ranking: 8/10
Really amazing and mind blowing that you swim in the river and it is really hot. It is a little bit overcrowded.
Marek Dvonsky
Ranking: 8/10
Fantastic hot water - relax.
Johannes Koch
Ranking: 10/10
It was free and safe to stay with the car and the river was really chilly.
Robert Klub
Ranking: 10/10
A 40 minute walk from the Huka Falls to reach the pools. It is simply a bay where two hot streams are merging with the Waikato River and you can sit and relax.
Patrick Veber
Ranking: 8/10
This is a free activity. You can park at the Spa Thermal Park and walk to the Otumuheke Stream and have a bath in the hot stream and the cold river at the same time.
Jamie Serieux
Ranking: 8/10
Really lovely spot and great park area.
Anders Hauke
Ranking: 9/10
Very relaxing beach. Nice surroundings. Friendly staff.
Mikkel Palleson
Ranking: 10/10
This spa is amazing. It is free, authentic, cosy and easily accessible. It is by the Huka Falls river, so you can swim in both hot and cold water, just metres apart.
Melissa Fuster
Ranking: 8/10
A very hot river. So relaxing!!
Eric Hertort
Ranking: 10/10
The Taupo thermal pools are really nice. There is a small river with hot water which goes in a bigger river and therefore are some small pools.
Alex Reeve
Ranking: 10/10
Do not pay for thermal parks! The Spa Park near Lake Taupo is a must visit. It is a free thermal pool that connects to the river allowing a great hot/cold mix.
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Maartje
Ranking: 9/10
A cold water, warm water stream come together. Really nice for a swim, it is for free and not crowded at all. Clear and quiet place. Park the car where a small bridge crosses the river. It is right under the bridge.
Fabian
Ranking: 4/10
Nice view and location, but the water was not deep enough to really get in there.
Clara Loizeil
Ranking: 7/10
Free and funny. Free spa next to the river.
Sebastian and Susanna
Ranking: 9/10
Was free and when we went there there was only one person so it was a perfect start to the day.
Shany Maydan
Ranking: 10/10
Such a cool natural and free place. Just along the trail of the river, which was cold (there is a beautiful stream of hot springs so you can sit in between and enjoy the best combo of hot and cold.
Jade Cownley
Ranking: 9/10
Hot thermal pools to laze around in and when it gets a bit too hot you can just float over to the river. Can get very busy though.
Polly Rider
Ranking: 9/10
Free natural thermal springs in Taupo - opposite the AC Baths. Was like having a hot bath!
Erik Hafuer
Ranking: 9/10
A little bit too crowded.
Pierre Planchez
Ranking: 9/10
Free hot springs. Crowded in summer but go under the bridge and you will have your own private pool!
Nimh Oudhof
Ranking: 10/10
The best really hot thermal we have seen and natural and beautiful place!
Vincent Schaeflier
Ranking: 9/10
Really nice place.
Laura
Ranking: 10/10
Great! Water was so warm.
Alisa
Ranking: 9/10
Hot pool in the nature! Slippery and quite full.
Lola
Ranking: 10/10
Nice to be there for a few hours. Good to relax.
Julia Schabenberger
Ranking: 9/10
Great to relax.
Stephen Revah
Ranking: 9/10
Nice for a short bath of hot and cold water, not too many people.
Florent Bouillon
Ranking: 8/10
Very, very no stressful. We went there twice in two days, to spend the end of the afternoon and after that we slept very well.
Agathe Dupuis
Ranking: 10/10
Really pleasant spot, we can swim in the river or stay in the hot water - it is a very good place.
Jenny Finch
Ranking: 9/10
Great thermal springs, on the way to Huka Falls, nice way to while away some time in the sunshine!
Hadler
Ranking: 7/10
It was a nice distraction for the track which we started at the Huka Falls, It was not overcrowded and one could have a nice dip in the water before heading back.
Jesseca Klausch
Ranking: 10/10
First (and only) hot springs we found for free, very nice and warm (hot) water, different pools with different temperatures, next to a cold river (nice to change warm and cold), they looked nice and you could get a massage from the waterfalls.
Victor Herranz
Ranking: 10/10
So good and nice.
Max Meternich
Ranking: 10/10
Hot water comes in the river. Go swimming for free. Really good.
Philip Donachie
Ranking: 9/10
Easy to get to and great fun for all ages. Roasting in hot water and cooling off in the river afterwards.
Andreas Jung
Ranking: 10/10
Directly on the Waikato River, a hot spring with waterfall for free, you can site and lie in natuerelle hot pools and it is too hot you can go in the cold river. After relaxing you can walk to the Huka Falls, amazing how strong the water is......
Zuzana Holubova
Ranking: 8/10
It is hard to find this place, next to the river is a stream with hot water, the best time for a visit is during the night.
Guillaume Yedoux
Ranking: 8/10
So hot!!!!
Mattias
Ranking: 8/10
Super hot stream with nice bathing location. Almost too hot though.
Cecilia Anderson
Ranking: 9/10
We took a bath in the thermal park which was wonderful. It was amazing to bath in a hot spring in the real nature. It was nearly too hot, but still wonderful.
Lea Darotchetche
Ranking: 8/10
Nice place near town. There can be a lot of people. The hot pools are near the river so when you swim, it is hot on top and cold in the bottom - strange and fun!!
Arnaud Memay
Ranking: 7/10
Free hot pools in Taupo! Perfect bath between river and hot pools, natural! Very strange, hot in your top, cold in your bottom.
Callum
Ranking: 9/10
Lots of people, bit off putting but once you are in, it is great.
Luca Willensrock
Ranking: 9/10
Hot water river that goes into a cold river-great to sit in those hot natural "whirlpools".
Julia Ahrend
Ranking: 10/10
Nearly too hot, but definitely worth going and enjoyable.
Molly Ladd
Ranking: 8/10
Amazing place - a scalding hot waterfall drops water into a series of sitting pools, then mixes with the nearby river. There is always a perfect spot for any temperature! The downside is it can get very crowded. Its family-friendly, so no nude bathers please!
Missy and Chaz
Ranking: 10/10
A hot stream you walk right up to and hop in! What could be better??
N smith
Ranking: 9/10
Magic spot, especially if you get it to yourself, the waikato river is beauty here too
Jessica Marling
Ranking: 10/10
Fantastic spot to step and relax. There are natural hot pools/hot waterfalls that you will love.
Camille and Lucie
Ranking: 9/10
Little wild springs next to the Waikato River. You just have to sit on the stones and enjoy steam and hot water.
Johannes Mullner
Ranking: 10/10
Really nice and hot.
Clement_Weather
Ranking: 7/10
There are historical (going back donkey's years) and ongoing concerns about the security of vehicles in the carpark here. Don't leave anything of value in your car. If you really have to then hide it out of site. The place is frequently cruised by locals looking to help themselves to other people's property.
Jaroslav Gajdos
Ranking: 10/10
Free bath in hot stream.
Rankers TravellerVoted Awards 2014 Spas & Thermal Pools Winner
Yves & Sylvia
Ranking: 7/10
Great little hot river.
Maximilian Heller
Ranking: 9/10
Better than paid hot pools!
Luis Valenzuela
Ranking: 7/10
Awesome, felt nicely removed from the main tourist track. Back to nature!!!
Carl & Desiree Potter
Ranking: 9/10
Excellent experience swimming in natural hot spa.
Annie
Ranking: 10/10
Spa Park hotspot is a must - at the start of the Huka Falls track, take your togs and relax in the shallow hot spots, very relaxing.
FamilyGuy
Ranking: 9/10
Great Setting & a choice of temperatures to suit, from warm to HOT. Quite easy to find: Head up Spa Road: Past the Bungy on your left is Spa Park. Park in carpark & follow path down to the river. (Follow the Huka Falls trail). Do respect the area & plse don't litter.
Rissa W
Ranking: 9/10
Great place to relax and soak in the open air, and can't beat the location right on the banks of the mighty Waikato. Get changed at the toilets before you walk down to the park, as there are no facilities at the water's edge.
Gema
Ranking: 9/10
The hot spring is really nice and is free. The views for the lake is wonderful.
Aimee Pollett
Ranking: 7/10
Hot - cold options but beware of litter, esp broken glass.
Vanessa Hanzen
Ranking: 10/10
Really nice, not too crowded.
Natthien Le Gall
Ranking: 8/10
Very hot creek arriving in cold Waikato, very nice.
Rebecca Stones
Ranking: 10/10
10 min wallk through the park to a hot water spring on the edge of the river. Great evening sun, take a picnic and chill out in the hot water. Gates shut at 7pm.
Matthijs Muijsers
Ranking: 9/10
A free dip in natural hot water. If your have got sunburnt the day before, probably too hot....
hooperuk
Ranking: 10/10
What a fabulous experience. Jump into hot pools adjacent to river. Really exhilarating experience with hot and cold (if you choose!)
Hailey & Fin
Ranking: 10/10
Awesome pools! Hot water flows down into the Lake so you sit where it's halfway hot & half cold! So nice!
John N
Ranking: 10/10
Great spot for a swim where thermal spring joins the river.
WiebkeS
Ranking: 10/10
Very relaxing after a walk, great and its free
Lars Haf
Ranking: 10/10
Unknown by tourists, better than paid pools, more natural.
Blair Malcolm
Ranking: 10/10
Free - if you there there early or late enough you'd have the place to yourself.
Pieter Neeleman
Ranking: 10/10
Beautiful to go in water by nature that's warm, a less distance it's cold from the river.
varenaee
Ranking: 9/10
Free hot pools in a stream. Lovey spot next the the Waikato river and close to Taupo.