Waingaro Hot Springs Hot Pool Details :: Waingaro Road, Waingaro, Waikato :: nzhotpools.co.nz for the hot pools, hot springs, geothermal pools of NZ

Pools are expensive $12 per person. Slide is only open sometimes and bumper boats well they look they have closed. They are not clean and very out dated. Staff are unfriendly would recommend thinking twice about this outing. [Steve Morrow, New Zealand]

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My Experience

If you're staying at the camping ground I'm sure its a treat, but as a hot pool venue for a connoisseur such as myself, I find it difficult to justify the 45min long and windy drive from Hamilton.

194 Bather Reviews

This place is disgusting, not at all like the website shows. I am sure this is false advertising. No one in their right mind would write a good comment about this place. After we paid at the "toll booth" we got a real look at the place, turned around and drove straight back out.

Jenna - NZ
Rating: 1/10 27th August 2010
This place is outstanding the person who left a description before was wrong. It's such a peaceful place. A awesome place to go to if your looking for some time out from your everyday city life. It's $12 to use the big pool and spa pool but remember it includes a big screen tv that they turn on at night for watching the rugby etc. There's a motel and a Pub if your planning on staying a few nights. They have awesome water slides too. If your game i recommend paying an extra $6 to use them as much as you want there awesome. There's a hot food bar where you can grab a bite to eat. And the scenery is simply amazing. 5 stars from this happy customer. Infact i'll be spending my 1st there.

Amy - Pukekohe
31st July 2010
Me and my family went down to Waingaro and stayed the night in their cabin. We had a awesome time, my kids had such a great time, awesome place to take your family down for the holidays or weekends highly recommended, my older boys loved the slides...will be going there all the time now, we had a awesome time that we will be going again next month..

Cynthia Masiutama - Auckland
Rating: 10/10 26th July 2010
my family have been going to waingaro for 13years now and this weekend was again most enjoyable. The facilities and cabins were very clean and as i had my grandson 14months with me i wanted to be sure it would be memorable. we will be back again.

wendy may - new zealand
12th July 2010
They have been false advertising the prices and times on the web for a while (should be $12, not $10...and they close early, not at 9:30pm). The Website and TV ad misrepresent the place. It is dirty and run down. The lack of effort on the gardening and basics makes you feel cheated after making the long drive and coughing up the $$ at the gate. The management are obviously writing their own reviews on this website, this one will no doubt be followed by another bogus one. It has now gone beyond quirky to shameful. Where's the manaakitanga?--shame on you Chood Singh. You have a beautiful bit of my country and you have chosen to whore it out. A bit of effort and a rethink of your values is what you need to do. Get rid of the false advertising and stop disrespecting the land and the people with your greed. Sell it off or shut it down. Read the other reviews here about the fibre glass splinters, stench, etc. People don't make that up.

Eric - Hamilton
Rating: 1/10 28th June 2010
the pools are lovely and warm and relaxing it cost $10 for adults and $5 for children 13 and under and the hydraslide is awsome and that only cost $6 per person,and so do the bumper boats.. there are also camping places to stay. they open at 8 am and close at 9 pm.. i recomend this to people of all ages.

jessica - new zealand
7th June 2010
Had a wonderful morning soaking in the very soothing hot pools this week. Great way to relax and rejuvinate oneself in the chilly weather. Very relaxing environment, close to native bush, no city noises - beautiful. We'll be going back again. A real slice of NZ.

Jan - New Zealand
2nd June 2010
I think there great and exciting

Susan Bamfield - Auckland
Rating: 10/10 10th May 2010
4 adults and two 5 year olds stayed saturday night, really enjoyed the lovely setting, collected wood and cooked over an open fire, the pools were clean with the temps. just right for swimming, relaxing or watching the kids. the water slides are fantastic fun. rooms were clean and staff friendly both at the pools and the hotel, which had excellent food and service. we all came home fitter,well fed, refreshed and very keen to return. great bush walk too. better a bit quirky than generic and plastic!!! once these 'timewarp' places are gone they're gone forever......thanks.

arem see - auckland nz
Rating: 8/10 9th May 2010
I have been there twice in the last 10 days. It has been the best destress time from daily life. john thompson I refer to, How dare you say Dont go there to other. Its best YOU DONT GO THERE. It is situated out in the hills near Waingaro and suits many people just fine. Get a life john and stay away from the place we LOVE TO GO

Katherine - new zealand
Rating: 9/10 6th May 2010
bad,bad,bad. The water was murky and cool. The hydoroslide and bumper boats were a no-go, and the staff were really not all there.... and the place has really got run down...

Mark - Tauranga
Rating: 1/10 3rd May 2010
I found the pools to be clean, the toddlers pool was emptied each night, scrubbed and refilled. We were in the pool when the main pool was being emptied ready for cleaning also. This is a great place, which does need a bit of a make over but nevertheless it has a great atmosphere and Amro you are the best hostess and all of our group (the knuckle bones!) enjoyed their daily visits over to see you. You are a character and look forward to meeting again soon. We will definitely be back for more swimming and fun with you.

Marilyn Kerekere - Tauranga NZ
Rating: 8/10 8th April 2010
great place to stay good pools and slide great staff hot water for showers need improving money for value very good if your camping all over a good time great pub up on the hill as well.

Sharlene Cole - Paraparaumu
Rating: 8/10 8th April 2010
Pools were a pleasant temperature. The only time I've been into an outdoor pool that is as big as at Waingaro that's been a nice warmth (and not cold) is out there. The grounds were clean and well taken care of. The murals look really nice

Tim - Hamilton, NZ
Rating: 10/10 6th April 2010
We went to Waingaro Hot Springs for the first time over Easter Weekend and had a great time. We found the pools clean. The children pool gets drained every night, they clean it and the next day it gets replaced with new clean water.The other pools seemed cleaned. The toilets were clean, smelling refreshed every time we used it. The staff were really friendly. We would recommend this place and we are looking forward going back there in the future. Loved the hot chips at the take away bar. The only thing we found could be looked at is the prices of the cooldrinks at the shop. Heavily overpriced. Thanks for a great weekend!!!

Debbie - Hamilton, New Zealand
Rating: 9/10 6th April 2010
We have made the trip out to Waingaro 3 times in the last 3 years. Although its never been wonderful we keep thinking that maybe, just maybe, the owners would have invested a little in the place. But no. We went for the last time was yesterday. First we checked the website for prices, only to find when we arrived that the prices had gone upAGAIN!!! (why bother having a website if you dont update it!!!!) And for what? The place is desperately in need of an upgrade and the water quality leaves a lot to be desired. It is not easy to relax when a large clump of hair and slime spat out by the filtration system floats past. No thanks, I will take my money elsewhere in future until this place gets the modernisation it needs.

Kate - Hamilton
Rating: 2/10 6th April 2010
First visit to Waingaro Hot Springs and I have to say We had a great time. The price was right, The weather right, and the staff couldn't have been more friendly! I don't know what exactly people are looking for given the cost?Sure you can go to Waiwera, but hey you will pay double the price!The take-away booth at the complex was really well priced, and my sons raved about the chips!The staff of the take-away were also very friendly.Thanks to the Life-Guards who were very friendly and patient with the children. I will definately be going back! Yes the place is a little old, but dirty, I didn't find that? Keep up the good work guys and keep the prices down!

Jacqueline C Hill - Pukekohe
Rating: 9/10 5th April 2010
Terrible, eeeewwwwwwww and yuck! Run down, shabby and a disgraceful place to be! PARAKAI HOT SPRINGS are the pools to go to, clean, friendly, well supervised and a plain GREAT EXPERIENCE!

Kat - Auckland
30th March 2010
DONT GO !!! are the owners wrighting there own review ????

john tompson - nz
Rating: 1/10 28th March 2010
We go to Waingaro Hot Pools regularly and love the friendly management. The pools are clean and hot. The complex is very very clean and well presented considering the age of the dwellings. I have read some of the comments and find it hard to believe that they are referring to this complex..

kate savage - new zealand
Rating: 10/10 22nd March 2010
I travel to the mainland regularly and visit Waingaro Hot Springs as it is on my list of `places I have to go`. I have read a lot of the negative comments and some are from people who have not visited this complex. (This concerns me.) I take my foreign visitors and friends who can`t say enough about the great experience that had while there and wish to return when visiting the country or region in the future. They find the staff very hospitable and the geothermal water and beautiful scenery intruiging. I believe the natural hot pools nationwide experience similiar issues that certain members of the public are blowing way out of proportion when commenting on this complex. I give the place 10/10 and good luck........

Riki Nathan - Great Barrier Island, N.Z.
Rating: 10/10 22nd March 2010
Used to go there all the time back in the '70s. It was a great place to go but now it's a dirty hole. I stopped going there about 2 years ago. It looks so unclean and run down. A child had vomitted in the pool and it had not been cleaned up, there were bits floating around the bathers, disgusting. We left, never to return unless drastic improvements are made.

Kathy Peakman - Hamilton, New Zealand
Rating: 2/10 13th March 2010
Thanks for all the feedback! As I will definitely not be taking my family there!!!! Ever!!!!!!

Natasha - New Zealand
10th March 2010
Waingaro Hot Springs needs to be bulldozed. The place is a disgrace and is damaging to the quality perception of the New Zealand Hospitality Industry.

David - Hamilton
Rating: 1/10 25th February 2010
We stayed here for one night. It was HIDEOUS. The highlight was leaving the vile place. They charged for a 1 year old baby - no equiptment provided for the baby i.e portocot/high chair. The cabin was hot with poor ventilation - opening the rear window resulted in the stench from the fetid duckpond wafting through the cabin. There was one hot shower for female campers that dribbled rather than sprayed. There were cold water showers with no doors in the public area. We had a large family gathering - we had to pay to use the bbq then were subjected to a headcount in the middle of it. We were not told that the cabins and flat were across the road from each other and they would not let us have cabins next to each other even though one was vacant. We are considering making a complaint about the false advertising on their website. I only hope that anyone considering staying there is fortunate enough to find this website- we didn't and if we had read the reviews already posted, would not have gone. When I complained to the owners, she complained to our relatives about us! It is an ugly, overpriced, smelly, poorly run, hovel.

Jonelle - Auckland
Rating: 1/10 1st February 2010
We stayed 12/1/2010. First hol in ages and it was awful! The room was right on a corner of a main road opposite the pub. The room was dated but relatively cleanish. We had to cross the main road on the sharp corner, no foot path! to get to the pools. The pool table and air hockey table had bird crap all over them. The kids took great delight in telling us of the various plasters they found in the pools. eg batman and sesame st plasters. Yuk! The slide was good apart from all of us getting fibreglass splinters in our butts. The view from the room while I was having a cuppa was of two young men having a wee around the side of the pub across the road. This happened twice. The takeaways from the pub were disgusting. The chips were barely defrosted and we were over charged. The pub goers parked outside our room so when they left later that night they were swearing and yelling at one another. I could go on but one positive thing was my daughter bought a pet frog that a young girl had fished out of the bumper boat pool. It was one of many frogs that were residing in the bumper boat pool. Instead of returning the next day as planned we checked out and went to water world in hamilton which was much better! We recommend water world instead.

E.Thatcher - nz
Rating: 1/10 25th January 2010
Waingaro hot pools. Who has been there and what do you think of the place? I went there on Friday 22-1-10, the place is ran down and the water looked dirty but that could have been sun block. (yea right) Their prices have gone up again $10 for adult and $5 for children, but there idea of a child is under the age of 13 years. So my 13 year old is now an adult (hmmm the age at other places is 16) is there legislation that says what the age on a child should be in NZ I thought that seen the price had gone up that they had made some improvements to the place. But nothing has been done to the place for years. They canâ€™t even offer hot showers in the changing rooms; witch is not much to ask for since that water they expect people to swim in feels dirty. They are running an advertisement on TV that was made in the 1980s showing a flash well-maintained place with bumper boats for hire, well the bumper boats have not been going for years. When I tried to bring these points up with them and asked for a refund I was told, â€œwe donâ€™t have to give you a refund as you have had a swimâ€ I for one will not be going back until I know that the place has had a change of owners I would love to here your thoughts about the place if you have been there. Ps Hamilton need a spa service for people that need it for heath complaints like chronic pain. So we donâ€™t have to travel that far.

Bigmac
23rd January 2010
DON'T GO THERE! I have travelled extensively and stayed at many venues but Waingaro Hot Springs get's the award for giving me the most hideous and bizarre experience I have ever had. The level of hygiene and cleanliness was very poor, the place is shabby. I noticed that someone had left a wrapped sanitary pad near the handbasin in the women's washroom as there was no rubbish receptacle, it remained there the entire 4 days that I was there, it was not removed. Management are rude and appalling. They illegally debited my credit card without my knowledge and then made me pay cash when I checked out. So I paid them TWICE AND THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO GIVE ME A REFUND. The matter is still under investigation. The managers are corrupt and mad. I would never recommend my family or friends to stay there. What a horrible experience I had, and an awful start to the beginning of 2010. Why are they allowed to continue ruining NZ's tourism reputation.

pauline mackenzie - Australia
Rating: 1/10 15th January 2010
**WARNING** WATCH OUT GUYS I went all the way from Auckland to enjoy what was given in the website but when we got there We were surprised to see our car is in the drive way and we had to pay first to get in the carpark. when we paid got inside we came to know that non of the slides were working and there was no sign of any bumper boats I don't know why they are mentioning the facilities what they don't have? And the standard wise it was crap water wasn't clean and is was way too small. So we didn't enter in the water and came back straight way. I will be rating this place below 1 out of 10.

Harpreet Singh - NZ
Rating: 1/10 2nd January 2010
Wanted to go for a relaxing evening soaking in the pools - but the smell of chlorine whafting over the premises put me off and the big television thats mounted over the pool shouted "go, harvey norman, Go" , giving the impression that its not a hot spring but some kind of noisy sports bar. Not for me, really -

Tina - Huntly
20th November 2009
Don't know what all you haters are on about, funny most negativity comes from Tamaki Makaurau, stay home if you want 5star. Stay at the Waiwera Motel Rooms, they are grotty, old and smell like mould, they're worth moaning about. Waingaro staff, you guys do a great job, don't let no haters get you's down, they obviously don't appreciate the tranquility of the place, the wairua that flows through, awesome for a relaxing holiday. And of course there's gonna be gunk in the pool, its a public pool, thats why you shower afterwards. Waingaro, you keep it real and we will definitely be back with family and friends. Highly recommend. Didn't want to leave.

Ross - Manukau, Aotearoa
Rating: 9/10 18th October 2009
Hosts - Friendly, Humble, lovely people, hard case too. Motel Room - Clean, tidy comfortable, peaceful and private. Awesome if you are wanting a lovely relaxing weekend/holiday for a family or couple. Pools - Perfect. A definite location to remember and recommend to all.

Felicia Ewe-Presland - Manukau, New Zealand
Rating: 9/10 18th October 2009
we stayed for the weekend 19-09-09 found the staff and facilities in motel very good,meal at the pub was fantastic,Dont understand the neg comments,snobby maybe,private spas excellent

ralph jameson - auckland
Rating: 10/10 5th October 2009
It is awesome

Ben
Rating: 10/10 29th September 2009
I recently took my 12yo twins with another dozen friends for a birthday outing, as well as adult friends, we all had a blast, the staff were very friendly the pools and facilities were very clean and we will certainly be going back soon, the kids loved the slides. The moral is you should not be put off trying something just because of some negative comments, sure it is an older venue, but is clean, tidy and lots of fun, try it.

Roslyn Brown - Pukekohe
Rating: 9/10 22nd September 2009
We had a great afternoon session here after driving down from Auckland. We were a bit worried after hearing the negative comments about it but that was all put to rest as we found the premises clean and tidy. The place has a retro feel to it, but the paint work and condition of the pools was probably on a par with Waiwera. Not too bad at all, but much more relaxing than Waiwera. Definitely coming again.

Balmoral - Auckland
Rating: 9/10 30th July 2009
regarding comment left by GTNZ - Auckland Rating: 1/10 11th June 2009 you forgot to say that when you left your accomoditaion you had left the motel door open and that you had left a bag in the motel when you left, this was also a busy weekend and were lots of people around, when the staff arrived at the motel to clean it that morning ( Around 2 hours after you left) the bag was found and taken to the office where we then tried to find some contact details, When you told us that things were missing we asked the staff concerning... Its alway best to keep valubles locked up or kept in a safe place not left for the dishonest ones

The Hot Spring's Staff
27th July 2009
we took our family here which involved 2 adults and 4 children it was massive and relaxing all our kids enjoyed themselves which was the whole purpose of going the hosts were very lovely and inviting would definitely go back, highly recomend to others of all ages would definitely go back thankyou very much.

maurice/koria - Tauranga
Rating: 10/10 10th July 2009
I was there 10 years ago but had the best evening ever, so much so i let everyone i know who is traveling that way to visit, they have only ever had a great time, always be smart and watch your stuff it can go missing in any hotel in any country i would go back in a heart beat.

Helen - UK
Rating: 7/10 24th June 2009
really fun,relaxing

James Quincey
Rating: 8/10 15th June 2009
Recently I stayed in their motels & I had over $1000 worth of iPod, cameras, etc removed from my bag in my room. There was no attempt to resolve the situation in any fashion & I would urge you to stay elsewhere.

GTNZ - Auckland
Rating: 1/10 11th June 2009
Though the facilities are a bit dated, you can have a fantastic time and stay at this place. We booked a 1 brm motel unit for 1 night which is newly refurbished and was very clean and warm and comfortable. Everything we needed was there and it was at a great price compared to some of the s==t that I've stayed in in central Auckland etc. We arrived after dark and late as usual but we were greeted with the utmost courtesy and prompt friendly service. We had a great one night and one morning here and the pools were clean. Thankyou very much for a wonderful relaxing stay, we will be back and will recommend to others.

Terry & Bev - Whangarei NZ
Rating: 9/10 26th May 2009
I would be lying if we had anything positive to say about this place.My advice is dont bother!

reiko and richard - nsw australia
25th May 2009
Was well maintained and quite clean when we went (May 09). Kids had a ball on the slides (extra $6).

Barry - Auckland
Rating: 8/10 9th May 2009
Still a great place to go, and the cleaness is getting better and better but we dont go there to look for problems..we go to enjoy ourselfs and we do, Sure the place is a bit grubby but its clean and tidy and the pricing is good, Make a nice cheap hoilday we you stay there. Outstanding place for the price as always. BUT.. you want a better place then you pay the price We'll be back soon

Pete & Debbie - Hamilton
Rating: 8/10 26th April 2009
wat ever is in your web doesnt match with the actual place.i have been there an very disappointed with it..not a good service staff doesnt know how to talk to customers. i would not suggest any of my friends or family to come over to hot pools

shal - auckland
25th April 2009
We felt a bit ripped off, its expensive even to enter the premises as a observer. Kids had a reasonable time but we probably wont visit again.

Scott the Kiwi - Auckland
Rating: 4/10 20th April 2009
the add on the tellie is of the pools years ago. they used to be like that waaaayyyyy back in the day but now theyre way overpriced and groody

kate - hamilton
Rating: 1/10 20th April 2009
Took my son there for his birthday last year and it doesn't look anything like the ad on tv, the place was a dump we wern't allowed on the slides until they had enough people yet that was the only reason why we went. The pools had a murky look to the water and we all ended up with ear infections, the bbq's were a rip off to hire and the bumper boats were all out of action overgrown and the pool was a green sludgy colour. I will never waste my time returning to this place again.

fran - Whakatane
6th April 2009
have been going to the springs since 1973, still remember when the pole was across the large pool, fun times they were. decided we needed a break so took the family on our first camping trip ever and found everything was great. Pools were clean, staff friendly and helpful, facilities clean and well kept. we look forward to our next trip back to this campground

Clive & Kyra - Tauranga
Rating: 10/10 31st March 2009
I am very glad I read this about the pools as we were planning togo down Sat 21st March - and after speaking to someone down there, they advised it is not what it used to be, so thank you for saving my friends and I time, money and going into the pools, one bad review I read is bad enough, but the amount of bad reviews I read is all the proof I needed.

JR - New Zealand
17th March 2009
Had an awesome time considering it was a last minute decision for the long weekend.. Felt like i was a little kid out on a camping trip..lol My family enjoyed the pools the slides was awesome.. The staff were also friendly and helpful.. Nothing wrong with the cabin we stayed in everything was clean. Thanks again Amro.. Will visit again...

Matilda - Auckland
Rating: 9/10 10th February 2009
not very friendly,cleanliness just GROSS.your bad waingaro pools.use to go there all da time as a ittle girl not again..

jennifer griffiths - ngaruawahia
Rating: 3/10 8th February 2009
My son choose to go there for his 9th birthday, and camped for 6 nights. We found the owners and the employees of the place more than helpful and friendly, couldn't do enough for us, we had a great time and look forward to retunring.

Sheryl Robinson - New Zealand
Rating: 9/10 16th January 2009
We stayed at Waingaro for 3 nights over New Year... We were looking forward to having a nice break and relaxing by the pool... we ended up playing cards for 3 days as 2 of the 4 of us had the squirts... not surprising when you read the reviews about the water quality...!!! My partner was wearing black boardies and when he was sitting in the hot soak pool, you could see the white floaty scum drifting past... enough to make the stomach churn really. We had barely been there 4 an hour before the camp manager was squawking at us... im used to camping / tramping and roughing it, but when you end up paying $80 for a cabin, you do expect a nice clean place to stay... even if it is not the flashest... we spent all night listening to something scampering through our ceiling... Raj the lifeguard rocks though

N & A
Rating: 3/10 6th January 2009
Apart from the high entry fee this facility is among the high rated must visit family venues on offer in the waikato,my family and i visit at least every 2 to 3 months and always enjoy the freindly nature of the prprietors.

Apanui - Ngaruawahia
Rating: 8/10 5th January 2009
As the pervious comment as mentioned ...we all have different thoughts, expectations, likings, needs, opinions etc.. And ... My husband and I are very particular with hygiene and cleanliness. We have just came back some Waingaro, stayed there on the 31st and wanted to leave the next morning, however we stayed till the 3rd and what we saw was yuck! The lack of cleaning in the cabins was horrible, you say you’re very particular on hygiene but if you saw the amount of effort and time was out into cleaning you would be amazed. We were outside our cabin, waiting for the next door cabin to be cleaned ready for us, we watched the workers clean, took 10 MAX to clean the room. A bit of spray on the tables, no bucket and mop, just a bit of dish washing liquid on the mop to clean the floor, no change of sheets, (yes we did bring our own linen), but when you find white marks all over the bedding that’s distrusting and when you still see food and beer stains on the table, if makes you wonder what s in the spray. Could have gone to Hamilton and paid $80 for a better room there The Sunday News wrote about Waingaro and I was astonished when I read that they tested the drinking water to find the resort has six times the normal level of E.coli, this explains why my partner and brother in law felt ill, had sore stomachs and bowl motions, the whole time, they didn’t want to use the pools because they had to keep running to the toilet. Long story short, not for us, not tidy, no big screen playing, not paying 6 bucks for 10 minutes to use bumper boats and that’s only goes if you have four people.

never again - waikato
Rating: 2/10 4th January 2009
an addition to my previous comment I just want to say that as we all know that many reporters like to pick on things that are so small and build a mountain out of it..what about the 90% goodness..NO THAT DOES NOT MAKE A STORY HIT FRONT PAGE NO! NO! NO!..its all about popularity and money..I also notice a few comments made by people that has actually never been to the place..but their comments is so intense that you really think that they have actually been there..however they were only based on what they read in this review..that is what so wrong with society today..instead of FACTUAL AND ACTUAL..we tend to condem something or someone by what we read and heard but not actually what we see and felt...we believe to what other people wrote and we specifically go out and spend our precious time looking for these faults and we get so blinded in seing the good side of things..LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST PEOPLE PUT MORE POSITIVE THOUGHT IN YOUR LIFE AND OVER WEIGH THE BAD!!!Life is what you make of..if you want to be picky picky..then I feel sorry for u..you live a shadow life..I may admitt the place need a few touch up and modenise it a bit, but thats all whats wrong with the place..disgusting, dirty rude etc is a bit exaggerated..My husband and I are very particular with hygiene and cleanliness..I tell you one thing, the place is not the Ritz but it was clean and efficient enough for us to take our children and have an AWSOME TIME and we will make it a regular place to visit

W & T - Auckland
3rd January 2009
Visited Waingaro for the first time 1/1/09 may need a littile touch up but however we had a ball, the children loved it the hydroslide absolutely fabulous but i think the price should include the slide, it was a bit too steep BUT it was not so bad..I know if i have read the comments in this site I know I probably would not have taken my family there..but I'm glad I didn't because it just shows not to judge anything by just reading it but actually be there and see it yourself before u can make a comment...we all have different thoughts, expectations, likings, needs, opinions etc...if you are into the ritzy snobby ways then I suggest you stay away..but if you are in for a mere cheap, fun, family orientated places with reasonable facilities to accommodate your needs and just have a nice relaxing time out then this is the place...I could not see any evidence of rubbish, grubby dirty facilities and unattended pools (life guards) as a matter of fact the guards were always on the alert and movng around the pools all the time..even my husband and I were having a little laugh at the fitness and age of the life guards..some of them were grandmas..lol..but they were on the roll..we cannot fault them on that..the owners are pleasant enough..sometimes people! ..for goodness sake..look outside the square..Amros is who she is..loud etc..and that just her tone of voice but really how she talk is not intended to be rude..I first thought of that I was ready to pounce back at her..but I stood back and studdy the women..she is not everyone perceive her to be..live a little people and stop picking on little things that aint important..life is too precious to spent all your ernergy on finding faults rather than finding happiness in the littlest things that you can find and you will see that life is not so bad after all...live to the fullest and enjoy..WAINGARO SPRING..WE WILL BE BACK

T & W - Auckland
Rating: 6/10 3rd January 2009
I think it is so family orientated and beautifully maintained, nice and clean and the scenary is beautiful, its just a beautiful place to camp or just visit and enjoy that your children are not exposed to these posers that just go to pool sides to expose or ust pose their body...we go to pools to have fun not show off..

tina - nz
Rating: 9/10 3rd January 2009
My husband & children went to visit the pools this weekend. We found the facilities extremely clean & tidy. Slides were operating and the kids had a ball. We laxed out in the lovely big hot pool. Staff were friendly & helpful, there was plenty to do. Both my boys loved it and want to go back for their birthdays. We checked out the cabins from the car and they looked modern and clean & tidy. We had an awesome family day there and I would highly recommend it.

Michelle Koefoed - Auckland, New Zealand
Rating: 8/10 4th November 2008
It should be very clear that the Hotel next door run by Lloyd and Mary DOES provide meals, takeaways, and beer, which has recently been denied to patrons at the pool when asking the pool operators. They also have comfortable accommodation as well, so please do not be put off by the operators at the pool as they are happy to take the hotel lease money but don't seem prepared to offer the pub operators the benefit of hosting visitors to the pool. I give them NIL out of ten.

Bob - NZ
1st November 2008
Further to my comments earlier, there are some positives (not all bad). The cabin I stayed in was clean and modern. The lady there was extremely friendly, as were the publicans next door. ( : I can't comment on the pools as they were closed. But I would not visit again (unless there was new management and/or an injection of funds to do it up).

Ingrid - Rotorua
29th October 2008
We saw the ads on TV - looked nice - lots of people told us it was run down and gone to the dogs, but we didn't think it could be THAT bad. It was ! They had no record of our booking or deposit, the owner didn't get off the phone to some mate or relative the whole time I was checking in, we wanted to buy milk at the reception and all the milk in the fridge was 3-5 days past the useby date. The owner got some from out the back, but then when I gave him a $5, he said they don't accept cash, only eftpos. The whole place was depressing and I woke up in the morning and said to my husband, "can we go now ?" As for the pools - they all ended up being emptied out due to mud having got in them. The bumper boats and waterslide weren't operating either. So the only time we got wet was in the shower. On the plus side, we checked out 2 days early and they gave us a full refund due to the problems with the pools.

Ingrid - Rotorua
Rating: 1/10 29th October 2008
I think the place is appalling

Maya Uerata - Pukemiro
Rating: 1/10 20th October 2008
It's been about 20yrs since I was last at Waingaro. Sadly - nothing seems to have changed. I guess I'm just spoiled, working for a Council run aquatic centre. But, for me, it certainly raised plenty of questions about health & hygiene. Particularly after 75% of our party fell ill after a day of being there. I appreciate that running & maintenance costs are probably a lot higher than they used to be... but what is the cost of lost business?

Hinemoa - Auckland
Rating: 2/10 15th October 2008
HI there I made my first visit to Waingaro Hot Springs today. It was just so beautiful and a great drive. I am at a loss as to why there was such bad publicity in the newspaper. I found no evidence of this, the pools were clean, the toilet block and the changing room was spotless. The staff were so friendly and were proud of their great asset. I luved it there and I will be back for a good relax in the sun with some great people. Cheers

Gail Neilson - Ngarauwahia
Rating: 10/10 11th October 2008
I had seen on internet in aussie this wonderful place and went along way to go when I finally got there the slides were out of action the kiddies pool was closed and bumper boats werent working. The main pool was half full and I still had to pay alot to get in without been told half was not operating discusted like the other comment I to will not be back. Clean ya acts up, there are way better pools out there for closer and cheaper with better pools to swim in.

natasha - australia
Rating: 1/10 2nd October 2008
My family and I went to visit this horrible place a few years ago and it sounds like nothing has changed! The whole place was disgusting and dirty. We stayed in the accomadation and thank god we had a can of fly spray! The worst part of the whole thing was the pool had thousands of white insect eggs floating on top of the surface of the water. The "farm animals" where a joke , no bumper boats just an over growen swamp where they should have been and the slide was out of action for "repairs"! The advertisment on telly is false advertising it may have looked like that 20 years ago but it doesnt look anything like that now! We will never go back.

l. price - nz
17th September 2008
We have been to Waingaro at least once a year for a number of years now. We ahve found the staff friendly and the pools and accomodation good. When we ask the kids where shall we go it is always Waingaro. Safe swimming for the kids and they just love the slides. We will be back.

Steve Smith - New Plymouth
Rating: 8/10 16th September 2008
me and my boyfriend wanted a night of relaxation and we got it we had a great time just the two of us.The pools were clean and refreashing as even the changing rooms were nice and clean.Me and my bf will definately be going back but tnext time will stay for longer as we go a romantic soothing night out under the stars...

Monique Satele - Kaitaia
Rating: 9/10 22nd August 2008
We drove from Auckland as we are a large family and waiwera's to expensive, so more less you get what you pay for nothing great but the pools were warm the children had a great time and we enjoy the facilities the best we could the drive was long and windy but on the way home we found a shorter route which wasnt windy and much faster. Overall we had an awsome day the lifeguards were Onto it as we had a few little ones it was hard for them to stay away from the slide that goes in to the pool the undercover with the tables were average but recommed to take a cloth or table cloth we forgot ours. but yeah 7 outa 10 for me..

Kimberlee - Auckland
Rating: 7/10 18th August 2008
Yuck, this place is gross. I don't know how it got a clean bill of health recently by inspectors. The owners must have had warning beforehand of the inspection. We went to Waingaro about a year ago. I thought it was quite run down and grotty then and following that visit I came down with a horrendous ear infection. So bad that had to have very strong antibiotics and tramadol for the pain. Gave the place the benefit of the doubt and when my kids and family wanted to go about 6 months later decided to try it again. This time the white resin tables by the big pool were covered in splattered blood, someone had shat in the hottest pool and the lifeguard was texting and not even in the remotest bit interested in what was going on in the pool. What a disgusting place, I suggest that it is sold or leased to people who will keep it clean and healthy. I'd pay a few dollars more for a spotless experience.

Rachel - Hamilton
Rating: 2/10 28th July 2008
Checkt out th ad on tv and thought sweet,loaded up th family and drove all th way down. What a discusting hole and an absolute rip off,stayed for 10 minuates then left after a real major getting our money back.Honestly the place is a joke. we drove 2 a clean motel in Hamilton with sky tv,spa,heated pool and had a ball.it was cheaper than the waingaro hole. still laugh about the whole gross experience.

shane - auckland nz
Rating: 1/10 1st July 2008
Waingaro Hot Springs WOW!!! What a place, since we found this place we have been going back year after year. Why? You ask Well im gona tell you, we have become good friend with the staff there now and they are always happy with a smile on there face. The Hot Springs themselves are all round awesome the pools are clean looking they have 3 pools there’s a hot pool for just soaking in, a cooler pool for swimming and a kiddies pool with life Guards walking around just in case we get into trouble, and I have seen a few get into trouble and those life guards were quick to act, the big slide is awesome, even better when they sell you an all day pass at such a cheep price, haven’t tried the bumper boats or the spas yet but have been told by other campers there awesome The grounds are always nice and clean always a good thing at camp sites and we go to a lot of camp sites around the country and feel that these one are among the cleanest, even the covered BBQ area was clean and tidy The Cabins Another great addition to the Springs, These were added a couple of years ago and we started to stay in them and found them very clean and user friendly with everything we needed to cook Breakfast, lunch or dinner we couldn’t ask for more, even if there was a pot or pan that we wanted to cook with they were there to find us the right one. To Sum it up ….Waingaro Hot Springs seem to be a very popular place as it’s always got lots of people there, they always smiling….All I got to say now is …. If you want a good relaxing holiday or just a nice day out with the family this is the place to go Friendly clean and the staff are outstanding and very helpful we even had a bonus last weekend when we stayed there 28/06/08 they had the A1 Karaoke man at the hotel and as far as I could see the campers and locals were having a good time, Yes folks the hotel meals are great if you don’t want to cook Thanks everyone I will be bringing my family back year after year….( Not sure what that reporter from the Sunday News was on but im sure he must have gone to the river bank not the hot pools or was desperate for a story).

Peter Shorten - Hamilton
Rating: 9/10 29th June 2008
Stayed there 14th June. Good old Kiwi weekend fun with the children. Could do with a lick of paint here and there, but so what? My 3 kids had a great time and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Watched the first half of the rugby in the pub next door and the second half on the outdoor screen from the lovely hot pool. Waterslide is warm water and fantastic. Not the Sheraton or Hilton but don't want it to be. I will come again and have recommended to others also.

Philip Holdway-Davis - Auckland
Rating: 8/10 22nd June 2008
OMG! When we read the article a few weeks ago, me and my family could not believe it. Everything we read was on the mark. It is a disgusting place. Our family spent easter weekend down there in 2006 and were so shocked with what we recieved it, we were shocked. Our Jug that was in our cabin did not work and when replaced with another one, it had really bad stains and looked unfit to boil water in it. We ended up not using the jug at all, since we did not want to ask for a third jug. We have small children and when we were at our cabin, extra safety measures had to be taken, as Mrs Singhs son would be in his car speeding around the site. He saw our children but did not make the attempt to slow down. We were going to complain about him to Mrs Singh, but later discovered it was actually her son. We just did not let our kids out of our site after that. We did see pubic hairs and plasters in the pool and were disgusted. It could be a beautiful place, but over the years they have let it go. At one point, me and my mother noticed a time where there was no life guard at all, we made sure our kids were fully supervised and were concerned with the lack of supervision. To top it off you could hear Amro Singh's voice from one end of the complex to the other, she was shouting all the time, to staff, to swimmers, still to this day, our family are disgusted and can still hear her voice, im glad that we can laugh about it now! Would not go back, anytime soon.

Shanz
15th June 2008
1000 apologies for coming to your ponds....you had no restaurant open=very hungry customer!!!your water was very nice and warm...maybe clean pubic hairs and plasters next time....i liked look of the slide....maybe fix or pull down

ranjeet singh - hamilton
8th June 2008
Have been using these pools off and on for the last 12 years.Yes they look a bit old but we have aways had a great time with the family there.If you want flash and ritzy go somewhere else,that simple.looking forward to our next trip,a good wholesome place,great for families.

Tania Hooper - NZ
Rating: 6/10 7th June 2008
Have been using these pools off and on for the last 12 years.Yes they look a bit old but we have aways had a great time with the family there.If you want flash and ritzy go somewhere else,that simple.looking forward to our next trip,a good wholesome feeling place,great for families.

Tania Hooper - NZ
Rating: 6/10 7th June 2008
We bring 100's of kids here from our camp. The comments in this site are intersting to say the least. We have been coming to these pools for at least the past 15 years. We love coming here and find it hard to understand the negative feedback. I have always found the management very polite and a pleasure to deal with. The Singns are lovely people and are comiited to meeting your needs and the needs of our children. We have had no issues with the hygene at the pools. I bring approx 800 peolpe here each year. We will be back!

Mike Buckley - Auckland NZ
Rating: 8/10 6th June 2008
Greetings to all you hot poolers out there. Sure we need to moniter the cleanliness of our public hot pools, we need to ensure our childrens health is not at risk should they put their heads under the water or accidently swallow some water. I have been swimming at these hot pools for 45 years and was horrified to find out that a sneaky Sunday newspaper journalist had used the hot pools complex as an opportunity to meet a deadline to submit a story knowing that bins would be full (good for them) and there may be signs that humans just may have recently occupied the kitchen and abolution block that day, (wow it must be safer not to let anyone through the gates). I will continue to go to Waingaro Hot Pools and use the complex as I have done in the past without fear of health problems and enjoy the lovely place. My concerns lie with the sneaky journalists who have set about to defame the owners, `did they own up to what he and his camera man got up to in the motel unit?) should we investigate? A Local

Katherine Savage - Ngaruawahia
Rating: 10/10 31st May 2008
I thought I had left the sound of my mum screeching at us as kids behind 25 odd years ago, But low and behold this lady has kept the feeling alive and well, Had our more than competent at swimming kids yelled at because they were in the deep end of the pool, Cmon lady at least we were there supervising them at poolside which is more than I can say for the the non existent lifeguards on saturday night during the super 14 final,Id like to find a kinder way of saying "Rude , Dirty , In need of a lot of TLC " , I think this place needs new management to survive as the current ones are a waste of time!!

Greg Eden - Pukekohe
27th May 2008
Took my boyfriend to waingaro for a relaxing spa and was suprised to see how run down the place was. The pool attedant was drinking a jug of beer while watching swimmers and when the sun set the owners turned the lights off while kids swam in the deep end of the pool... no pool assistant anywhere to be seen. It was a safety hazzard. just a matter of time before a child was to drown. To top it off the owner seemed shocked at the bad press it had recieved! Hello! The owners need to take note of the comments and make some changes! Very very disapointed!

Nesca - New zealand
26th May 2008
We found the Motel Accomodation and Pools very good. As far as we were concerned everything was just as we would like it. One problem. After the swim I was going to have a cold shower ( NO HOT WATER ) but I slipped on the smooth shiny plastic shower base as I stepped in. Fell backwards on to the concrete floor. There were no handles to grab and at first I thought I had broken my elbow and cracked my skull. I lay there for a couple of minutes before I could move.I reported it to the manageress and she said she would see me later. We left the next morning and none of the management were around. Ray

Ray Mckenzie - Auckland
Rating: 8/10 24th May 2008
We live locally and would often travel to Waingaro Hot Springs for birthdays, family outings, BBQs when our boys were younger. We took our granddaughter for her first visit to the pools Easter Sunday and was shocked to see out much the complex had deteriorated in 20+ years. Entry Fee expensive. Bring back this Waikato icon to its former glory. Something we can boast about.

Sally - New Zealand
19th May 2008
great value for money, clean campsite, well maintained - few issues ie: waterpressure. My wife, and children drank the water for four days and did not get sick. Have been to Waingaro twice now and will continue to do so. Amro is a friendly lady who makes you feel right at home, and my children were upset to read all the negative comments. as said before, very affordable and if you want to spend twice as much, go to other facilities!

Clive Ferguson and Family - Auckland
Rating: 8/10 18th May 2008
I have read, both Susan's and Leon's comments and have to agree. Neither my family or the group of friends that were their in April 08, found anything wrong. It is easy for someone to find bad in anything. This the press person Sunday News, really think that the pools are not regularly checked, this is a commercial complex. When I saw the pictures and have to search my brain, I can't remember seeing rubbish, Susan must be right in her location of where the rubbish is, where would the reporter like to stick it ... must have been a 'hat trick, a toenail, a bed stain, and a plastic bag in a sink, 'boy if this is the only reason to condem a place, those who are suffering in China would gladly take up residencey. A bit picky I think. As for E Coli, when is the second test being run, this time please confirm if a scientist is actually doing the collection of the samples. 100% agree with Susan, Leon, and other positive responses on this web site. I believe Waignaro pays to belong to this site, so they are expecting comments good and bad, so if you are going to say this place is dirty, where, is their rubbish everywhere, can't have scum on the pools water, as it is continuly being filled, back up what you write with constructive facts.... how can things you percieve to be wrong be changed, the Singhs are not responsible for the age of the pools, Waikato District Council are happy, (could you image the cost to bulldoze and start again), I see the Singhs challenge anyone to check them out ... come on, old is not dirty, our friends and my family will still use this place, ... come along and judge for yourselves.... if you don't like old, don't come .... make you own minds up.

Corinne
Rating: 8/10 18th May 2008
Just a small comment above in the Facilities listed the 'bumper boats are not listed, although they are made available, as they are not listed, here on this site, I would assume, if some one is going to the pools specifically to use the 'bumper boats' a quick phone call could save a wasted trip. Over Christmas they were running if this helps anyone. I would not put anyone off coming and enjoying an outing in the country, and soaking in the nice hot pools.

Corinne
Rating: 8/10 18th May 2008
Reading the comments in the Waikato times over the last few days took me by surprise. I’m a youth leader from Raglan, and I often take a handful of youth to the pools for an afternoon swim, or an overnight camp. I don’t think we have one bad word to say about the place. The pools seem nice and clean, there is a slight odor of sulfur, but only because the water is from a natural spring. Toilets are fine. The kitchen has provided us with many simple meals, and it’s been great watching some late night TV in the lounge. As for the customer service, the owners are definitely quirky. But I think it’s a part of the charm. In fact, my youth no longer like to sit in the car as I pay; they enjoy coming in and saying hello to Amro (because she calls them sweeties and honey pies). The price is not too bad. I always compare it with going to the movies or bowling. Where else can you pay $10 for 12 hours of entertainment? So I speak for myself and the 20ish different youth who have visited over the last year. We think the pools are awesome, and we will continue being regular visitors no matter what the press says. And to the owners, try to keep positive, and hopefully my crew will be out your way soon to cheer you up.

Leon Wiki - Raglan / New Zealand
Rating: 8/10 16th May 2008
We stayed at Waingaro at Xmas time, it was the first time we had been there. We cut our holiday short by 2 days due to the facilities been dirty, cold showers (one with no shower curtain) my children didn't like using the mens toilets as it was a breeding room for all sorts of bugs and flying insects (always dead bugs on floor) Prices were dear $6.00 for hydroslide, no discount for campers staying there. The whole place needs a make over. Advert on TV must have been done years ago. Nice drive to hot pools though but disappointing when you get there. The Pub next door was great, friendly staff and great food.

Shelley - Rotorua
Rating: 2/10 16th May 2008
It should be realised that the Waingaro Hotel is not run by the Singhs. Whilst the Singhs lease it from the council, it is sub leased to the current operators, who deserve no reflection whatsoever from these shoddy pool operators.They have created a nice little hotel,clean,good food and very friendly with very little help from their neighbours and no doubt bare the brunt of many complaints from the pools thinking it is part of the complex.

Bob - New Zealnd
16th May 2008
Stop the press !!! read the following facts ... 1. NZ Laborities in Hamilton conduct monthly water checks - all report Negative for E.Coli - Q - Sunday News says SGS contracted to conduct the analysis, but who did the collection of water - possible contamination at time of collection is a possiblilty if it was not collected by a Scientist. 2. These Pools are ACC Poolsafe Accredited - Certificate in Shop/Office - expiry - Feb 2009 3. MANZ - have visited - has the reporter contacted them for their response. We had a group function of 60 stay in all the accomodation in November - not one single complaint, about cleanliness of rooms, or linen, or service. We then stayed in Motel 2, on another occasion, after this, (the same room referred to in the article). By chance a huhu bug flew in the door to our bedroom, it landed on the sheets that I had folded back, and disappeared under the sheets, I pulled back the covers, to retreved the bug, I stripped it enough for hubby and I to remake the bed, first hand I know the sheets, and the electric blanket had no stains on them. The photo showing stains on the electric blanket just happens to be of the same bed - funny this. We have now moved a 25 foot caravan that sits above the complex, with a wide view. I have just finished a 9 day stay in the caravan. All I saw was a couple who, worked damn hard, from 6 in the morning till they returned home, at 11 at night. The pools are open from 9am - 9.30pm 7 days. Mr Chood Singh, dosed pools, emptied bins, helped with hanging out washing - Sheets and towels, worked in the shop/office area, Mrs Amros Singh, is the pulse of the place, her team, always on the go, doing lawns, weedeating, gardening, sweeping up leaves, painting timber railings, the complex is old, she does her best to have it looking it's best, with what she has to work with. As people book out from accomodation, the cleaning staff, go in and wip the sheets from the beds, replacing with clean, sheets, washed/vacum cleaned floors - I watched this happen. Inside the swimming pool complex the undercovered eating area, the lidded green wheelie bins are emptied, they are relined with plastic liners. The area is hosed out, the toodlers pool emptied, the changing rooms, washed clean and hosed out, as they work around the complex to the spa pool areas the same sort of routine, removing rubbish from bins, cleaning, mops and buckets in hand, Amros is there cleaning and supervising her team. Now to the photo's in the Sunday Times: 1. The photo of the blue rubbish bins. Every commercial site needs to have a place to store rubbish - this storage area is no where near the swimming complex, it sits beside the complex's workshop area, a flat area required for access for the rubbish removal truck. (look at the photo rubbish is in tied up bags) - and is on a platform above the ground. 2. Photo of child slide, with rubbish in the background, if you didn't know differently, you would think that this is the childrens play area, it is not. The childrens play area is very well kept and secure, with swings and slides, with bark on the ground for safety. 3. The photo of the water - if I saw swimming water like this I would run a mile - this is where the bumper boats are, but don't panic - obviously, they are not operating, and have not been for a while - when we booked our function, we requested the bumper boats be operating, (at the time of booking our function - this water was like this) at the time of our function it was perfectly fine, no one had any problems splashig each other. I have been to Rainbow's End and found the bumper boats operating - I suggest if bumper boats are what you are going to Waingaro for go over Christmas or School holidays. 4. The toenail - no one likes to come accross toenails - yuk - however in this case, only finding one, not the other nine would indicate to me, that the person cutting them, thought all had been collected, or this one has managed, some how to find its way to where the Reporter/Photographer found it. Some people cut their nails in the privacy of a bathroom, others outside, did the Reporter/Photographer bring it back inside with them maybe on their shoes, just maybe, it was one of their carried all the way from their homes to motel 2, attached to their clothing. 5. The stain on the electric blanket, I covered this above, yes their is a stain, when it got their, or how, this is on a double bed, it looks like urine to me, a stain of this size, for all those mothers out their that has had a child wet the bed, you don't just make a bed, this electric blanket would be binned, in fear of an electrical short. My question to the reporter, why did you not bring this to the attention of the owners, when you were their on the 28th April, why only show a photo on the 11th May. I have seen the miles of sheets on the lines, and the accomodation cleaned, I doubt that pubic hair was found. 6. The photo of the sink. Take a good look at the cloth, now an indication of cleanliness is the cloth, this is a chucks cloth, one would expect a gubby cloth, to be sitting their, since the article is about hygiene and cleaning standards. A few things to note when, apart from the clean cloth, is the depth of the water, obviously, as this is a communical kitchen the last person, didn't have many dishes, as their is not enough water in the sink, to do a load of dishes, and they were not very dirty, their is no bits in the water. Clearly a small amount of water is in the sink and a plastic bag, the person who last used this area, had rinsed out the chunks cloth, and wiped down the sink surrounds. This could have happened at any time of the day - this room is cleaned daily, and on a needs be during the day. A lot of people have written that this complex needs to be bulldozed - I would love to see nothing more, but lets get real, Mr and Mrs Singh are least holders, does anyone out their think that the Waikato Council are going to pull it down and rebuild it. I bring to the attention of the visitors to the complex - the water is tested regualarly, any upgrades that have been done by the Singhs are their to see. New Canopy at the entrance, New Cabins, new wheelie green lidded bins, - soap dispensers in the toilets, with hand dry blowers, large TV screen to watch your sports from the pool. Old is not necessarily dirty, I have not read one article that says, their was rotting smelling rubbish, or saying that around the pools is green slime, or the water smells of an odor, indicating old water, or cockrochers. Some have written in this feed back on this web site that have not visited in years, some not even in this country, reading only what was written in the Sunday News. Their are 'Guest Groans' written in the Sunday News, second one - Van Lit - Taupo, This person stayed on the 28th April, in what is refered to as the 'Flat' - I have read, the reason why this customer has written such scathing information. The writer expected 5 people (3 Adults 2 children) is stay in fully functional accomodation for $42.00 (including entry to the pool). Copies of their emails confirming this have been forwarded to the Sunday News Reporter. The 'Flat' sleeps up to 10, it has a dining suite, full stove, full size fridge, near new microwave, beds are all made with fresh linen, clean and tidy. This writer, read what is written, then ask yourselves would you have stayed the night. Now those of us who have meet the Singhs, Mr Singh is a quite gentlmen, Amros on the other hand, is full of life, loud and has a manner that could be taken as rudeness, she is very no nosense lady, she calls things as she see it, speaks her mind, 'matron like' - she and her husband are in a no nosense business, if she sees something happening, children jumping into the pool for example, do people expect her to stand their, whilst these children are focus on one thing, and may hurt themselves or someone else, to politely try and get their attention, or give them a blast on that loud speaker, which I have seen has immediate affect. She is loud, a soft spoken person, with not authority in their voice, how many children would listen, how long would someone like that last running a complex like this. Finally am I a friend of the Singhs no I am a client who read an article, which set alarm bells ringing, myself and grandchildren use the pools, and toilets, I went directly to the Singhs who provided me with confirmation their water is E Coli free, according to NZ Lab, and have given me a copy of the ACC PoolSafe certificate - The Waikato Times has written a response to the Sunday News article, down load it and read it. A lot of business have signs that say, if you are happy with our business tell others, if you are not, tell us !!! Finally, I won't be moving my Caravan, or staying out of the pools, I look forward to parking up my vehicle, relaxing in an awsome attmosphere whether it be in the swimming complex or the adjoining Waingaro Hotel, where Lloyd and Mary, welcome visitors, to stay for a meal or ale, and enjoy the entertainment on a Saturday Night, out in the wopwop, no one knows you, sing to keroke, one weekend, or dance to a live band the next weekend in their garden bar. This Hotel also has accomodation, like the swimming complex if you don't like old, don't come, if you want clean, good old fashion hospitality, both couples Chood and Amros, Lloyd and Mary, make you feel welcome. P>S - 4 years ago, I ended up in hospital extremely ill with Camphylobactor - food poison, can come from water or under cooked white meats - meats I am pretty fussy with, making sure they are well cooked, water I never thought twice about, now I check water out pretty carefully - and in a pool where getting water in your mouth is going to happen, I walked around inside the pool found the hot inlet water coming in, to hot to stand in front of, confident, clean water was coming in. I had already check the complex was on Bore water, from a young child, Bore water was always boiled, so I take my own, this is my choice, nothing to do with the complex. I hope in this very long email, I have opened some peoples eyes.

Susan - NZ
Rating: 8/10 16th May 2008
Our family has been camping here for nearly 3 yrs. We have a great time every time we come. Our kids love the slides and we think Amro is very friendly.

Brett & Deb - Auckland NZ
15th May 2008
We used to come here as a family quite often when we were younger. Went back just recently and I was shocked with the condition of the place. It was very dirty and we ended up leaving after an hour.

Jayshari - New Zealand
13th May 2008
I think we will always be a world occupied by a pecentage of people who will always find a flaw. Why is it that all of the complaints have not been discussed with the Proprietors of Waingaro Hot Springs.? Why is it, certain complainers have forgotten to mention of their attempted demand for refunds after staying all weekend in one of the motels which includes free all day access to pools during their stay. Why should OSH be brought in ? Possibly to remind some of the holidaying supervisors that any child or non - confident person should be supervised at ALL times by a person 16yrs or older! That Waingaro Hot Pools is Thermal orientated and should not look crystal clear. Gosh ... The things some of us do as working class citizens.. Complain when we're on holiday or trying to relax, then Complain at work about not having a holiday or time to relax.

been there many times - Hamilton
Rating: 5/10 13th May 2008
I am disgusted with this place the pool always look grotty the hygiene is shocking and as for the owner wow what a rude shocking person we waited at the gate for over 5 mins only to see her running down from he Pub on the hill the prices are way over priced they don't offer a family pass and even spectators cost as much as a swimmer I only live 20 mins tops from he pools but to to how dirty it is and how rude the owner is I would rather get in my car and travel an hour or more to Matamata hot pools than risk my children's and my own health swimming in these disgusting pool I am very surprised the business hasn't gone under yet the few times I did go out the complex was empty she needs new owners and get the old owner who has issues to go get counselling or something when you tell your customers off like your telling kids off what is that about

Karen - Ngaruawahia
Rating: 1/10 12th May 2008
After reading all the comments online i am disappointed at how patrons have been treated. I used to visit the pools with my youth group a few years ago. The pools back then were one of the most enjoyable times for me. Awesome service, clean pools and very friendly owners. The key back then was that the owners saw the complex as a "family friendly" place not a money grabbing place. To the owners now "to make money you need to spend money" not just on the complex but on your PR skills as well. Take note of the comments that are both negative and positive, swallow your pride and move forward. From the 90 odd comments made about the pools they can't all be wrong or racist. Waingaro is a part of the waikato history if you can't bring it back to it's former glory sell it to someone who can. IF i weren't living in Perth I would even try and buy it myself. When i return back home i will certainly go and have a look for myself. Denise - Perth Australia 12/05/2008

Denise - NZ
12th May 2008
Took my youth from Morrinsville Training Centre. They all got sick and vomitted. They waited for ages to get on the hydro slide. She asked me if i knew a 16 year old boy that wanted to come work for her. It was real expensive and the lady was quiet rude and not friendly. I am not racist

Ken - Te Aroha
12th May 2008
I too felt let down by this place. We had a spa, turned off the bubbles & the pool was full of floating pubic hairs eeeewwwwww. As per the article in the Sunday news - How did the owner come to the conclusion that dissapointed customers are being raciest? FILTHY IS FILTHY!!! what does race have to do with it! My suggestion: sell this place to somebody that has the hart & that will keep it nice, tidy & welcoming. Publicity has got you now yeaaa ha.

What have you done! - Auckland
12th May 2008
I bathed at Waingaro during the evening. The surface of the water, when viewed at a particular angle of light, had a layer of scum or whatever floating on the top. Obviously, the water had not been changed for a long time. UGGGH!

Claire - Hamilton
12th May 2008
absolutely the best spot for family holidays, excellent value for money, and very friendly staff! heaps of entertainment for the kids, and great with the pub handy for meals next door! amro is a very kind and generous lady and makes you feel at home! recomment this place to all (unless you are a snob who prefers to staying in top hotels).

anne ferguson - auckland nz
Rating: 10/10 11th May 2008
I have wondered when someone would complain. In February I had my elderly parents here from the UK. We went on a visit to the Hot Pools. When we arrived there was no one there to take our money. My daughter walked around the pools complex for about 15 minutes looking for someone to take our money. My daughter managed to find off duty assistant to come and take our money. All the while we had 6 people sitting in our car waiting. We proceeded to the pools. When we got into the pools the owner Amro Sing came running down to us demanding to know in a very unfriendly way if we had paid. When we assured her we had paid, what about the baby she said? Did you pay for her? We assured her we did. We then got ready to go into the pools. When we were in the pools Amro then shouted down from the shop area did our granddaughter who is 2 years old have a protective nappy on? At the time I was holding the child and pulled up her swimming togs to show the woman that she of course had a protective nappy on. It had been a year since I visited these pools and Amro reminded me once again why I did not visit them more frequently. Never again will I visit Waingaro Hot Pools. Amro’s attitude is disgusting. I shudder to think the number of overseas visitors that she has been rude to. It is almost as if the woman is not right in the head. As for the state of the place. It looks very shabby and run down. The toddler pool was empty on the day we visited. There was no life guard on duty. I hope the council are made aware quite clearly how this woman treats her paying guests. (Very rudely). I personally will never go back there never mind take another overseas visitor to the place. (In ending I would just like to add in the past we had a caravan at both Sapphire Springs and Opal Hot Pools for years) with no trouble from these owners at all. This woman needs to move on and let someone else bring these pools up to a decent standard for tourists. It used to be a lovely complex with friendly owners. If she is too old to cope with the place move on. Racial slur on her she says. No way, Look at the place woman and your attitude when speaking to people it is disgraceful. It is not bathing in the Ganges you are running. But a respectable tourism attraction in a civilised country. Go retire.

Carol - Hamilton New Zealand
11th May 2008
can see was once a nice place,but i have stayed there off an on only because could not find any other accomadation,at those times. an was not surprised to see the place hit the head line in the sunday news paper,for being a health risk.while staying there i have seen all the bad comments people have said about the place for my own eyes,just to add some of the things i also seen in the time i was there.black dirt ring around the top pool,green slim ring around the big bottom pool,dirty showers,unclean bedding,heaps of cats which lived where all the rubbish was kept.which are all dead now due to a resident ask by owner to shoot them all.i could go on an on an on.but you can go there and see for yourself .and only hope the owners will see all the bad comments an clean the place up and turn it back into the paradise it once was.

shimi
Rating: 1/10 11th May 2008
Having stayed there for a weekend I will never be going back. I used the kitchen as I was staying in a tent. There was no hot water tap in the kitchen, just a cold water tap and the boiler. Spills where still to be found uncleaned 2 days later. There were spider webs in the louvres that had been there so long that one spider hav hatched some babies and another had died and was dessicated. Only about 3 of the 12 elements on the stoves were working. Flyspots were clearly visible on surfaces. In the mens toilet on level C two louvres in the cubicle had been broken and replaced with transparent glass which meant that the people staying in level D could look right into the toilet cubicle. The bumperboats boasted about in an advert I heard while staying there were a joke. The bumperboat pool was approximately half filled by the recent rains. Most of the boats did not even have their inflated tubes attached. It appeared that only 1 or 2 were anywhere near ready to ride. In the 5 days I was there I never saw the takeaways open once. In order to emter the site people must stop outside the office. This causes a problem in that drive is too narrow for cars to pass someone waiting at the office. I was once stuck behind domeone for nearly 10 minutes before I was able to drive in. This place is a polar opposite to other camping grounds I have stayed at. 0 is too high a rating.

John - Auckland
11th May 2008
well did you know they own miranda hot spings is well and yes that going down really fast to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! all the staff are all so old and rud and not carre bout any one they just there to get there wages and how can they get away with fixing all there brake downs no wounder everything going down down down and i phoned them to see bout bringn a group and o my god this lady anwered the phone and was like sceraming at me (and by the way i dnot end up taking my group) she was just to rud

tracy - nz
11th May 2008
The staff are rude and nosy. The changing rooms stink and the place is dirty. The best thing would be to get rid of the appaulling staff and revamp the whole place. Waingaro was once a neat place to go but now is overpriced and shabby. Even though I live locally I go to Miranda.

Bronwyn
11th May 2008
Have visited this place a few times over the years and the quality simply keeps dropping. My flatmates and I used to have a running joke going about how far removed the reality was to the TV commercial. The management are full of excuses and appear to think all is well....well, read the damn' comments, people are leaving your squalid business in droves and you're playing the blame game. Thankfully the media have picked up the story and with any luck the couple who run the show will be pressured to get out and the lease handed to someone who knows how to run this valuable facility with the professionalism it deserves. The current lease holders should hand their heads in shame for believing they're on the right path, disgraceful!

Jules - Marlborough, NZ
11th May 2008
Ewwww dirty, dirty pools. The staff were bizarre rednecks, the "lifeguard" was clearly incompetent: Stopped watching the pool for ten minutes to go feed her guinea pig. Overall, dont bother going. This ump needs to be torn down

untwine richie - auckland
Rating: 1/10 11th May 2008
My comment is on the managers calling !Racism!, What the hell has the state of a public/private facility got to do with race?? From the photos in paper, I am appalled that they are still there, it only seems too obvious that they are keeping costs down and the biggest cost in this type of establishment is retaining good staff for cleaning, the managers should be doing alot of the maintenance themselves, and helping with cleaning would keep their costs down, They obviously don't give a ***** about the place as they are probably on a salary, and couldn't care what the turnover is. Maybe if they had to answer to the owners monthly, they would change their attitude.

Louise - New Zealand
11th May 2008
I nearly drowned at Waingaro hot pools at the bottom of the waterslide, while a supervisor chatted to a friend. The rushing water held me under and it was only a miracle that I eventually bobbed to the surface. I was left gasping for 15 minutes and had an asthma attack because of it. And the prices are outragous. Comments by the owner that criticisms are racially motivated are bullshit and are being used as an excuse for poor hygiene. How disgusting to find those 'things' in the rooms! No excuses!

angela - Glen Murray
Rating: 4/10 11th May 2008
Have visited rarely over the last 8 years but on the odd occasion I have it has just got worse and worse to the point the last time I went there I said never again. The previous owners had it lovely the Singhs have destroyed it!

Lea - NZ
Rating: 2/10 11th May 2008
we arrived early evening without a booking but got one of the motel units. on entry the place smelled really bad, the table top was filthy the chairs stained and a hole in the wall was stuffed up with rags. there were cobwebs, dust and general filfth and the sheets on the bed were liberally sprinkled with hairs. we ended up sleeping in our sleeping bags and using clothes as pillows. we commented to the owners about the state of the place but they told us no one else had complained and we were being picky. I noticed that it had a four star rating from the AA so on arrival home complained to them telling them it downgraded their reputation. AA said they would look into it as their (waingaro)grading had been removed and they should not be still advertising on their leaflets etc. As a result of our complaint they told the AA we had stolen their cups and saucers which was untrue as we didnot use them because they looked so dirty. wee went to the local hotel and had a meal and they told us that they had heard of many complaints. We would not ever go back there. jocelyn fisher

jocelyn & evan fisher - n.z.
11th May 2008
We took the kids to Waingaro for a treat in the hoildays, What a waste of money, It cost us $90.40 (we were charged for using eftpos) and we where there for 2.5 hrs...A total waste, It would of been better to go to the movies...The lady in the shop was rude, she really needs to do a customer service course, But I feel at her age it would be a waste, they really should sell to someone that wants to run it. The kids loved the slide, But I had to walk around and ask other parents if they wanted to go and pay so the kids could have a turn, Was told that the bumper boats wouldnt be turned on, I asked why and was told, "I dont want too", I cant be bothered. We didnt take food, we looked on the website and saw the restaurant and thought we would eat there, and it wasnt open and I was told it wouldnt be untill maybe next week. A total waste and disapointment, We will not be going back.

Me him and the Kids - Hamilton
11th May 2008
The worst placed that I have ever been to! Took a guest from Australia and was totally embarassed. Shabby and filthy - looked like a run down council flat. Didn't shower in the three days that we were there because it looked so dirty. I wanted to go home but the boys wanted to take and produce a dvd about our awful experience. We still have it if anyone wants to look.

Jo Clark - Auckland NZ
Rating: 1/10 11th May 2008
a total health hazard...........do not go and save your children!!!!!!!!!the manager has the personality of a pitbull on "P"...........avoid like the plague!!!!!!!Yuk hope i forget sooooon!!!

gary - auckland
11th May 2008
This is the second time we have been down to the springs in school holidays. Once again we have had a great time. The kids loved every minute as did Lisa and I. Great setting and great pub. Management really helpful and pleasent. Any place where the kids are out of your hair for 6 hours at a time has got to be my kind of place. Love the atmosphere going back next year.

Deb & Lisa - New Zealand
Rating: 9/10 8th May 2008
This place is the worst of hotpools in newzealand dirty how no one got sick yet its hard to understand .The flat they rent out accros the road .Pleas health department have look

walker - taupo
2nd May 2008
This is the worst dirty place i stayed in al my live I was there for onenight with my grandchilderen en daugter in law .We stayed acros the pool side in a house The worst dirty grubby place you would not let adog in ther thefurniture were gross it smelled like you would not believe the beds were wet .Oneof the childeren was sick one of the childeren just had hisb arm in plaster i realy want to turn back and they charged me $134 for that grabby old as the hills house .We went to look at the pools when we came back miljoens of ants i had to get rid of the office so rude he was oke to take the money how sad to have this run down. Also on th back newcabins was a pipe where al the rubbish ran out how healthy is that .i was to afraid to go in the pools every were you looked it was yuk honestley health deparment do something before someone gets ill

van lit - Taupo
2nd May 2008
pretty gud, fun and love tha hot pool and hydroslide pretty mean nosy stff though

kayla - nga
Rating: 8/10 30th April 2008
Bad experience from start to finish. Management rude and disorganised. We booked for a week, no record of booking (deposit was cashed though). When booking found unit not cleaned. It was out in a paddock and smelled of damp (spider city inside). We only stayed 2 nights (we had no other choice). Pools were run down and paint peeling, bumper boats rusting and not operating, hydroslides would only be turned on if 6 paying visitors were on site. Overall experince - customer service-crap, accomodation - crap ($170 a night), pools - bad, bumper boats -non existant and sllides - never turned on whilst we used the pool. DON'T GO!!!

Steve & Marilyn - Kapiti
Rating: 1/10 30th April 2008
Can't believe this! Was asked if I had any skin infectious or diseases?! I was so put off by this so I didn't go in...

Jimmy - Wellington
Rating: 1/10 28th April 2008
Not happy at all!! wasted my time and the long drive to get there to find this dirty,unclean place.staff have no customer service skills at all.dont waste your time going there!!

Sandra - Wellington
28th April 2008
Forgot to mention the lady owner of this place is very rude,un-hygenic, some kid "shat" in the kids pool and the lady walked on past and didnt even look once!!

stephen - auckland
Rating: 1/10 28th April 2008
The slides were good and the pools were not too bad, the managemant however are very rude, VERY NOSEY!!, they asked too many questions about my personal life like they were my best friend or family members. The guy at reception was so worried about water on the fllor in his office we stood there for 20mins waiting to pay for the accomodation, The showers are cold"no hot water" and only one of the two showers were working.This is a awesome place to go if you have kids and all they wanna do is use the slides. The other staff however were friendly and helpful.

Stephen - Auckland
Rating: 1/10 28th April 2008
is this the worst facility in nz? I think so. over priced,cold showers,damaged facilities,not worth the effort unfortuantely.only redeeming feature was the pub next door!

richard - australia
25th April 2008
Your price is rising, your establishment is deteriorating, most of your staff is pleasant but the manager of this operation needs some SERIOUS customer services skills. We used to attend these pools on a regular basis, but have found paying for even the wave pools to be a better experience with hygiene of the utmost importance. It is a lengthy drive for such a second or even third rate experience. Shape up guys or do NZ a favour and ship out! You cannot continue to give NZ clean, green image along with our great personality and customer services skills a bad name. Our economy is dropping enough without places like this encouraging visitors not to return!

No longer a fan - Auckland
Rating: 1/10 12th April 2008
unhelpful and grumpy in office, expensive for wot it was bumper boats pool was dirty was saddened as i expected more

Debz
Rating: 4/10 18th March 2008
How sad to see the owners of this dreadfull complex writing there own comments and posting them on here.. as i see it the bad comments outway the good by lots. DO NOT GO!!!!!!

Bruce Wells - Hamiton
1st March 2008
We took a group of 65 to this location for an over night birthday celebration, my 50th Birthday. Some of the comments certainly are not justified. As these pools have been going for years - over these years, they have added, accomodiate, work closely with the hotel/resturant within a two minute walk. If you are wanting, to park the car up, swim, relax, have an a liquid drink - not worry about a DIC, this is the place to go.

Most of the comments on this site, complaint about the 'old' pools, etc, the pools are crystal clear, and you can swim from one end to the other, if you want to pay top dollar, for a little area to sit in, then go to Waiwera, they may be e more modern, but then, look at what you are charged.

Waingaro, could not have been more helpful - before we booked - this event it was a mystery 24 hours for our birthday guests, meeting at the Bombays, a 1/2 trip we were their, we were their as normal paying customers, first, just checking it out - 67 people had an awsome 24 hours, adults doing kids things, the hyrdoslide, bumper boats, some had quite times in their spa pools - everyone, said they had forgotten how, quite the area was, and most had been their as young children, yes it was a bit like stepping into the past, a past that alot had forgotten existed. Green, forest like surrounds, larger park areas set up for barbaques - cabins and Caravan sites all well set out - customers are the ones that don't used the bins, just drop paper, but we watched the morning clean - up, a hive of actively - cleaning toilets, empty bins, new liners - for the enjoyment of the next days visitors.

Check out our cost - booked out all the accomodation average out per head $40.00 includeds over night accomodation - included pool entry - those who didn't find this place an awsome place to go to - for value for money - and service - 10/10 - those who have complained on this site -nothing will please them - get a life.

We trailiered down our Big Barbaque and shade covers - set up across the road at in front of the flats/motels - where else can you stay for this - motel/cabins/flat/ clean - insects come with the bush surrounds can't blame pool owners for these, take insect repellant - no big deal. Think about this place for your kids 21st - 30th/40/50/60th no age barriers. We had guests who were 80 and enjoyed it - own music, a bit of night time dancing out on the front flat lawn - make your own fun - sometimes look outside the square - those coming from south meet us at the Rangariri Pub - not to much of a double back - and if you wanted to swim the next day - you could - so two swimming days - plus a bed for the night - CHECK IT OUT !!!! - oldie but a goodie. Visit : November 07

Susan - NZ
Rating: 10/10 1st March 2008
Awesome location and potential BUT unclean, services are budget but over priced, lifeguards are not certified and management are either over friendly or unfriendly depending on their view of the customers wealth it would appear! Amro seriously needs to attend some customer services workshops and OSH seriously need to visit her!

Frana - Auckland
Rating: 2/10 25th February 2008
My family and I were extremely disapointed! This place looks nothing like the pictures on the internet! In fact it is way over priced for what it is..but due to the long drive you really are left with no choice but to stay anyway! I found the owner, Amro, to be extremely nosy! We were unfortunate enough to be present when she was giving another customer her opinion on the customers teenage children and it was not very professional or plesant! Lovely area and setting but not worth dealing with a Mrs Mangle type owner!!!

Carson Botica - Auckland
Rating: 2/10 25th February 2008
We stayed 3 days 2 nights, 2 adults 3 kids (9,3,1). Not the flashest venue but pools were very clean, lifeguard/s on duty at all times. Baby pool cleaned daily - twice in one day while i was there, someone didn't put a swimming nappy on their kid. Lifeguard cleared pool of bugs/leaves etc several times each day. I was disappointed about the slides cost not being included, $6 is quite high... $4 is more reasonable. Cabin was VERY clean and tidy and a great price. A few more powerpoints in the kitchen area wouldn't go amiss. Amro was very friendly and happy to assist in every way.. she's like an aunty :) My family would definitely consider staying here again and we might try the tent site. BUT because of the price of pool/slides entry we would not go on a day trip here.

MKDCJ - Mangere
Rating: 8/10 12th February 2008
We arrived with 2 tents, 2 lambs, 2 girls all packed up in an old car. Such a nostalgic camp site. Exceptional athmosphare, full of entertainement and music, very clean and warm pools, cool slides, real kiwiana.

Anna Blattler - Te Aroha
Rating: 8/10 11th February 2008
Went there today adult price bit steep especially as you have to pay extra for slide and bumper-boats but the place overall is not to bad. pools kept CLEAN toilets were CLEAN cant comment on other areas as didnt use them. BUT COME ON LOOK AFTER YOUR OWN KIDS, AND BRING YOUR OWN HAIRDRYER Will return!! Does need to be spruced up a bit and the shelter needs to have more airflow as its enclosed in so very stuffy! but wont drag this comment on to much everyone one is each to ther own!

c.j - hamilton
Rating: 7/10 2nd February 2008
These pools are the most 2nd Best pools..! other than wairewa..! The slides are cool as and i just really enjoyed mayself..! Keep it up guys..!

annoymus - Manurewa
Rating: 8/10 26th January 2008
I am so glad I did not read these comments before I went as my family and I had a blast (Dec 2007). We did not stay over and packed our own picnic lunch so can't comment on the food. Did photograph an empty cabin and it looked very clean and tidy to me. Only concern was the life gaurds (are they really trained life guards) they were dressed in jeans!! we all know what happens when jeans get wet. I think the previous comment of friends filling in wearing orange life guard vests may be true. Pools and change rooms were clean and slides were great but stopped at lunch time (probably a good thing as only way I got my girls off to eat some lunch). Bumper boat pools needs a bit of a clean but still had heaps of fun with my husband and girls aged 5, 10 and 16. We will definitely return. Thanks for a great family day.

Wendy - Auckland
Rating: 6/10 6th January 2008
what a dump what more needs to be said would not go back

aaron - auckland
5th January 2008
does not sound good at all ive never been 2 this hot springs b4 but reading the comments id neva eva go. put ur A in2 G i think guys. sounds very very very disgusting

jordan
5th January 2008
This place is disgusting!!! We booked in to the flat for the night of the 28th and 29th of december for a family holiday with our 3 kids one only being a baby. The flat was disgusting it stunk and was very old and run down!!! All the dinnerware was dirty and insects and flys everywhere!!!! I wouldnt have let my dog stay there. Left after one night as we couldnt handle the smell and couldnt put bubs on the ground due to it being dirty. Very dissapointed as it was our bubs first family holiday!!!

Sharleen - New Zealand
Rating: 2/10 3rd January 2008
Would not make the trip from Auckland again and cannot recommend. This complex has the potential to be awesome but has just been left to deteriorate. very shabby and basic. unhelpful staff...a camp store that doesnt sell anything (!!?)..not even an ice block when we visited...no food facilities...dirty main pool...very expensive..web site does not state you pay extra for slides...very unahappy about this. other hot pools are much better value for money....sorry but a big thumbs down from my family

Vicki Chapman - Auckland
Rating: 3/10 3rd January 2008
i very like the building and places ,also i thing it was the fun as place i have never went to!!!!

jessica - New Zealand
Rating: 9/10 21st December 2007
0 out of 10 not willing to pay extra for waterslide, we paid enough with 4 teenagers to get in. Flinstones had better conditions to change - no hot showers or hairdryers for the girls can someone post the date when pools last emptied and cleaned....my guess is over 5 years To far to go to another pool otherwise we would have left..... there seemed to be enough lifeguards in response to previous comments. Did not try food

Alex
28th November 2007
cold showers when you get changed no hair dryer for those who want it pools look as though they were last cleaned many years ago. Only reason we stayed was because we needed a rest after the long drive.

steve jones - auckland
Rating: 1/10 19th November 2007
I have read the feedback from others and you put me off going to Waingaro BUT I had already paid my deposit and had to go. WE HAD THE BEST TIME EVER!!!! The place was clean, the staff very approachable and friendly, Chood a laugh. Plenty of things for the kids to do, the motels were basic but had everything we needed and more. The setting from the motel was just fabulous, looking out at forest and so peaceful. You people saying not enough lifeguards etc, LOOK AFTER YOUR OWN KIDS! There was enough staffing and they were continuously checking pools and getting out any bugs, hair etc that they could see should not be there. Toilets were clean also. Only 1 gripe I had and that was I got charged .20 for eftpos fee, but hey, overall stay very affordable for anyone. We will go back and probably stay longer next time!

A Hunter - Matamata
Rating: 9/10 28th October 2007
This place is disgusting, dirty showers not to mention cold water. You can see dirt floating on top of water, the grounds are dirty and untidy. Totally overpriced this complex. I have advised my family not to visit this place, not even enough lifeguards. Food is expensive. only good thing is its out of town. The whole place needs to be shut down and revamped big time. there seems to be no health and safety concerns as place is so dirty never going back there again.

renee - nz - H Town
Rating: 1/10 10th October 2007
Mixed feelings really. It was not the greatest complex to look at - on arrival i was like oh my gosh -what have we come to, but you know it wasnt that bad in the end. The unit had a broken heater and toaster but it was right next to the toilets so that was a plus. The bumper boats looked dodgy but the kids loved the slide. They pool wasnt quite as hot as it could have been but at night time they did empty the kids pool and it was full next morning so that was real good the lady in the shop a little grumpy but a character so it didnt bother me. For my money i would have liked to have a working heater and toaster, adn have milk and coffee etc in there. The slides should not stop for lunch breaks cos thats not fair. The price included the entry to pools and that in itself was good value. Would i return?? To be honest, probably because my kids 10, 5 and 4 loved it!

Susan - Hokianga
Rating: 6/10 26th September 2007
I visited just recently with my family and the pools and slides were good but the lack of lifeguards was a bit surprising considering the many childern who were there. Make sure you bring enough adults to supervise your kids as i saw one child almost drown as his care givers were tending to another child in the pool and myself and a stranger had to pull the child up....no lifeguard in sight. Quite simply that's unacceptable and so is my 5 year old son being able to use adjacent fencing to stand up and open the pool gates. The slides were a lot of fun and i'm glad they were open for most of the time thanks only to the great number of kids there as i was told that any less than 8 and the slides don't open!! The water for the bumper boats was disgusting and looked as if they hadn't been cleaned in months with algae and leaves and all sorts of stuff in the water. This looks like it may have been a great place back in the 80's but it looks as if time has moved on and forgotten about it.

Peter - Auckland
Rating: 6/10 24th September 2007
Very sad to see a once wonderful facility be left to deteriorate. Our group stayed in the cabins which should be an embarassment to management. Broken hot plate & chairs, dirty matress protectors...Certainly overpriced acommodationl! For the price charged I would expect at least a carton of milk & tea & coffee sachets. Pools were o.k. Kiddies pool was empty. Staff were pleasant but turned the big screen off 2-3minutes before the big game ended causing an outcry from guests. Television in T.V room wasn't working, shower facilities were unclean. Very disappointed and have no plans to go back.

Joanne - New Zealand
Rating: 1/10 3rd September 2007
Are these customer comments for real...coz if so we aint coming to your place...nice photos :):)

wendy - hamilton
21st August 2007
Pools are unkept, spas are discusting, staff are rude and unhelpful, some serious hospitality training needs to be done to ensure happy customers, dont bother visiting these pools! Trust me!

Monique - Hamilton
Rating: 3/10 3rd August 2007
I took kids here a few years ago and swore i would never go back. i agree it has great potential but staff were rude and facilities poor. we booked this place as the slides looked exciting but when we got there they werent working and hadnt been for a while they just forgot to mention it. We needed to cook in the communal kitchen but stove not working . In the evening we were looking forward to a movie but they had the rugby on blaring out really loudly. Its a shame it could be amazing and a place I would definately go to again if improved. Watch this site I guess.

nikki - kumeu
Rating: 2/10 19th July 2007
Umm as any1 wif bad comments of WAINGARO HOT SPRINGS ever wrote their complaints down & hand it in 2 Management. Me, my partner my daughter & her friend stayed at their 1bdrm motel unit to attend Our beloved Maori Queen Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu funeral. We found our unit to be very clean & tidy with everything we requested. The price we paid for our stay included entry into the WAINGARO HOT SPRINGS on the day we arrived & departure day. We found the pools to be very inviting and clean, changing rooms too. Staff & management were cool to us:-) I read other previous guest comments & keep them in mind. but never use them to be judgemental as i will have my own opinion we all see things in a different way:-)

pimprezz - Aotearoa
Rating: 10/10 3rd July 2007
My friend and i thought we would travel to this place after seeing it on TV - it looked really inviting. So we arranged to stay the night in one of their cabins. We ended up leaving half way through the night because the room was freezing and insects were everywhere. Well we were absolutely disguisted, the place was so run down and dirty. The bumper boats were not on and the hydroslide was turned off most of the time. This place has so much potential but i presume it will be shutdown in the near future. Never will i return to this place ever again.

Peter - Auckland
1st July 2007
A bit of a mixed reveiw from me im afraid. We did have a mostly pleasant time yet with a few off-putting things. Staff were very polite and friendly yet we didnt see a single life guard either, not even on a saturday night. It was a long drive for a fairly average experience. Was pretty grossed out by the fact that the female changing rooms smelt heavily of urine and i wondered if i needed to put my shoes back on. Perhaps the changing rooms/toilets need to be in the same place. Obviously a few people had gotten confused.. If i lived in the district i might go again but the fact that we have much better mineral spas locally will stop me. They did have the tv going, although i was disappointed when i offered my son a slide in the shallow kiddie pool only to find that it was emptied. No sign of any bumper boats either. It has so much potential, it was a shame. Seriously needs an upgrade...

Kym - Te Aroha
Rating: 5/10 14th May 2007
Despite what alot of people are writing about these pools I had a fasntastic time. Yes there are only 2 pools and 1 kids pool, yes the kids pool had no water in it but the service was friendly and efficient, the pools and surronding areas were clean, plenty of parking, pub next door, a large screen to watch tv while in the pools, and its out of the way so it makes it just somewhat different. I thought the pricing was cheap compared to other pools around the country. Would I go back, Yes.

YX1010 - Auckland
Rating: 7/10 14th May 2007
Went today price is $9 adult and $5 child (website not updated) lady in shop was pleasent as was Reese on the slide. However all day pass for slide should be (when its going) and bumper boats were not running at all. Had been last year and bumper boats were going but water was gross and boats emitted huge amounts of fumes we took the kids off. Safety gates are able to be opened by young ones simply by standing on adjoining fences and walls. Also, main pools were not lifeguarded but watch intermitently by person in shop looking out window however about and hr or so later there was a guard. All in all okay probably not go back as price does not include slides like some of the other parks with updated facilities.

Max
Rating: 3/10 29th April 2007
I absolutely disagree with SAM!! Waingaro Hot Pools was "THE BEST"... we were there when TV1 was filming for that documentry on Waingaro, we were there for four whole days and had the time ov our lives!!!. The Lifeguards were soooo COOL and down to earth!!! and they were there every single day!, not sure what Sam is talkin about??? he was probably swimming in the lake or something??? but I suggest that people should go there for themselves to check out how LOVELY this place is and the people who work and own this place are FANTASTIC PEOPLE!!!! ONLY THING I HATED THERE WERE THE SANDFLIES!!! LOL!!! <>>

Ina - Auckland, NZ
Rating: 10/10 19th April 2007
we went for easter 07, had doubts about the place after reading comments.We took 5 kids 7 to 12 camped with friends and had the best time. Kids were in the pools or on the slides all day.Fabulous time, people friendly, life grauds were doing there jobs even tell us big kids off . we will definitely be going back .thank you

tania darryn - orewa
Rating: 10/10 13th April 2007
After reading some of the comments on this site we had serious doubts about going camping for Easter. We decided to give it a go and are so pleased we did !! There were 8A & 12K in our group, we all had a ball. The facilties were clean and well maintained (although a little dated) The pools were clean and the staff friendly. The lifeguards were always very aware of what was happening and quick to act. We will def return. It was well worth the 2 & 1/2 hours travel time. Please try it out for yourself before judging from others comments, you won't regret it. PS. We camp at diff places on a regular basis, so are quite fussy!!

Scott Family - Warkworth
Rating: 8/10 13th April 2007
Hi there after reading all the comments im not so keen on visiting i was looking for a holiday spot to take the kids but no i dont think this is the right place, i remember going as a child back than i really enjoyed myself, but i think it'll have to be local and in auckland, this is'nt good for business. Tidy up all shut up shop i say

LORRAINE - Auckland
2nd April 2007
Waingaro needs a huge tidy up, it has been run into the ground .. TV1 or TV2 did a little report on the pools Jan/Feb and it was a total misrepresentation of the place. It is a mess, the owners can be very rude and in the piece on the news they showed they had lots of lifesafing guards in yellow coats. In the half dozen times i have been there i have NEVER NEVER seen any guards on duty at all! It more like they had told the locals to come in for a free day and pretend to be staff members. It is a shame because with a little effort and money it could be made a lot nice

Sam - Hamilton NZ
20th March 2007
We took 6 kids aged 6-11 to Waingaro hot pools just after Xmas 2006. We all had a fabulous time. We could not get the kids out off the pools or off the hydro slides. It was a great days entertainment and the prices were very reasonable. We are definitely going to visit on a more regular basis.

Grant Taylor - Hamilton / New Zealand
Rating: 10/10 9th March 2007
This hot spring is not up to scratch look-wise BUT comparing prices with other hot-pools around the Auckland area, including, Parakai and Waiwera, Waingaro is a great place. We take our Youth and they love it. Although there is a loud speaker relaxing was never a problem for us. The help with the BBQ facilities was appreciated and we've made it an anual event. We're heading there this Saturday.

youth leader - Auckland, New Zealand
8th March 2007
was planning on taking my boyfriend out to the pools tonight (use to go as a kid), but after reading these comments, i don't think i will now or in the future. As this website proves, customer service is a biggie, and if you slip up there, everybody gets to hear about it via the web!!

n/a - nz
3rd March 2007
We went to Waingaro a few years ago and had a great time. I was planning on taking the kids for a weekend in the next couple of weeks but have decided to look elsewhere now after reading the February comments. Such a shame as it had such potential.

Lisa - North Auckland
20th February 2007
Well after visiting Waingaro pools many of times, I'm disgusted in the maintaining of the pools, a kid sh#t in the pool and all the staff done was scoop it out with a bucket, ouu, never again will I visit that filthy place again, not to mention the yelling owner on the mic like all the time, can't relax with that nonsence.

Koolio - Ngaruawahia
15th February 2007
I enjoyed the scenery on the way in, the folks in the pub were great and the accomodation was clean. I have to agree with some other comments though as I didn't like the use of the loud speaker to tell people off either, it just distrubed the peace and quite you went there for in the first place. Would have been nice if their pool side shop had been open so you could sit and have lunch by the pool instead of having to go to the pub. They were late opening the pool and very late opening the water slide ride too. The biggest complaint I have is at the end of the evening when staff were clearing people from the pool, people who were obviously friends of the establishment were yelling at us from the window of a building adjacent to the pool. They were drunk and shouting dirty derogatory comments to us and telling us to hurry up and leave because they wanted to have a swim. I don't know these people and have never spoken to them and I found this behaviour to be very offensive and was disappointed in the staff for allowing it to continue. I also think the place could benefit from new management.

Sue Copland - Auckland, New Zealand
Rating: 3/10 14th February 2007
We first stayed at the MOTEL across the road which was dusty smelly and not very nice, we ended up sleeping in our clothes wrapped up in our own blankets scared of getting bed bug bites.....the staff well where do we begin, firstly store stated that it opened at 9am and the woman cruised down at 9.12am one morning and had the cheeck to ask us "Do you want something?" change of management, leave the rides on all day, clean the bumper boat water, and open the on site shop, we wanted chips one night and were told to go to the pub which was fine when we got there we brought $5 chips for 4 kids and 2 adults it was the same as $1 chips we brought $10 chips and it was S..t..... to say the least...... NEED NEW MANAGEMENT and dont even ask me about the suposide life safers....... what a joke

Angela - Auckland, new zealand
Rating: 4/10 1st February 2007
I grew up going to Waingaro and it USED to be an awesome place to go for an enjoyable time, but these days its an absolute disappointment! The price just seems to keep increasing, while the quality keeps decreasing. Lifegaurds are in trackies and gumboots and you get bellowed at over the loud speaker to "do this", "don't do that" etc. You can't relax out there any more. Much needed changes, including new ownership.You feel harrassed by them. Not our cup of tea any more.

Geraldine - Huntly,NZ
19th January 2007
was thinking of going,but after reading the feedback I think I will pass it by,went there in my teens but it sounds a bit shabolic now.

simon - nz
8th January 2007
We were apprehensive due to previous comments. We stayed for 1 week in the flat. There could have been a bit more communication with emails before we arrived. However with 4 kids ages 14yrs-18mths plus mum and dad, we found the pools and grounds had just enough to keep everyone happy. We would definitely visit again but we would stay on the site, not across the road! Amro was always chirpy! Special Thanks to the staff especially Nina and Nan they were very welcoming and always had a smile!

Apolonia Misitea - Porirua, Wellington
Rating: 8/10 4th January 2007
Was apprehensive after reading the comments on this site.decided to take the family any way and had one of the best family days at a hot pool facility we have ever had.liked being able to park inside the complex,kids and dad had a blast on the slides and the pools were good for a swim.we have been to all the main hot pools within the auckland region, (including miranda)and would put this place as our first choice for our next hotpool outing.

john - maraetai auckland
Rating: 8/10 4th January 2007
Very nice, easy going, good spot, cool slides, no fuz, nice people. Will visit again soon

Alfred Kuiper - Manukau - Auckland
Rating: 9/10 1st January 2007
I love to show my family around your beautiful country but would'nt want to expose them to that kind of management.Really,they should upgrade their people's skill. A happy customer makes your business blossom.

JEROME PRETORIUS - SOUTH AFRICA
Rating: 4/10 17th December 2006
Very disapointed!! Rude staff, messy looking!! Such a shame, it's so close to Hamilton! They would make alot more money if they gave it a decent clean up and opened the rides up all day long!!

Heather - Hamilton
15th December 2006
I live local to the pool and my last two experiences have left me disappointed. The owners were rude and the staff are doing their best with a facility that needs work!! I would rather drive to the hot pools in Te Aroha or Mount Maunganui than drive 10 mins up the road for a swim. Its such as shame with so much potential there.

Renee Hastie - Hamilton
Rating: 3/10 21st October 2006
This place really needs some work. Dont be fooled by the advertising, I don't think ive ever seen the Big Screen going, the bumper boats never go and the hydroslide for maybe half an hour twice a day. New ownership and a makeover would make this a really good pool again. I say bring back the old log and make it safer if OSH disagree!

Jeremy - Hamilton NZ
Rating: 4/10 2nd October 2006
Arrived at Waingaro unsure of what to expect after reading the previous mixed reviews. What a pleasant surprise awaited us, the water was crystal clear, staff friendly, put slides on for us when there was hardly anyone there, opened takeaway just for us. Fantastic. Would definitely go again and stay for a few days. And the cost is hard to beat, $4 for children and only $8 for adults. You can only tell it how it is on the day you go but I would advise people to take the punt. It really is a picturesque spot.

Denise - Auckland
Rating: 7/10 9th July 2006
Along way from Auckland but Waingaro is more welcoming and less crowded than Waiwera - LOVE THE WATER SLIDE !! ;-)

Paul Brown - Auckland NZ
Rating: 7/10 4th June 2006
hey guys, yea waingaro hotsprings is phat azzz!!!!its mean az i never pick anywhere else to go in the holidayZ!!!!!its so cool, so my note to all of you guys is to have fun and stay cool!!:)

viola - hamilton "h*twn"
Rating: 9/10 26th May 2006
Hi all, yeah I understand when I was young that was the place to go even all my friends used to get together and go there family aswell. Owners are now very rude they need to get some customer service skills and learn how to treat people with respect!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jamie - Hamilton
Rating: 3/10 29th March 2006
anonymous
Rating: 9/10 19th February 2006
This is a friendly, folksy place - not trendy or sophisticated. The poolside staff seem to have improved since the recent comments posted. There is an extra charge for the slides and they don't run all the time, but when they do they are great! Overall, we had a good day and can recommend -especially for family groups with kids old enough to enjoy the slides.

Warren - Auckland, N Z
Rating: 7/10 7th January 2006
Haven't been here for years was going to pass through with my 3 year old son however after the bad ratings I just read I don't think I will bother. Looks like you should listen to your customers as all they are doing is complaining. Maybe next time?????

Renae - Taranaki
Rating: 3/10 30th December 2005
Harty harty waingaro you guys ROCKIN

Violet Maniapoto - New Zealand
Rating: 10/10 11th October 2005
Wasn't very impressed, perhaps needs change of management! Lifeguards not very interested in controlling kids habits!

Paul Rowland - Auckland
Rating: 1/10 11th August 2005
Used to love going here, but after the last time will never return again. There was a large 'poo' floating in the pool, all they did was scoop it and that was it. There was also a mother holding her baby in the pool, and every they went behind them was a trail of the nappy disintegrating into the pool. The lifeguards were just sitting around smoking. Workers in shop were'nt very nice, we asked for our money back and left.

MissyGrrL - Hamilton, New Zealand
Rating: 1/10 26th July 2005
I first visited Waingaro Hot Springs 50 odd years ago as a kid with my brother, sister and parents, and have visited it regularly ever since bringing my children there and now just the wife and I on very regular basis often meeting my brother and wife and our children and grandchildren there . It is a lovely place to stay for a few days break. The present owners of 10 to 12 years are fantastic people and always make you very welcome.Since they took over they have greatly improved the appearence of the place. The pools are well looked after and owners/management have a very strick code of conduct both around the pools and within the camp.A very worth while place to visit just to lax out , and only 20minutes off state highway 1.

Willie and Carol OATES - N.Z.
Rating: 10/10 24th July 2005
After a long drive it was a disapointment to find out it is chlorinated which defeats any therapeutic benefits. it should be called a hot pool, not hot springs.

brad - NZ
24th July 2005
Took a group of overseas students and had a difference of opinion as to their "student" status for entry fee. They promised to put the hydro slide on, - but changed their minds when we got there. Also made loud racist comments. Will not return

Al Peters - Hamilton
Rating: 4/10 24th July 2005
Nowhere near as good as it used to be a few years ago dont know why but I was very dissapointed on my last visit maybe its the management does need a revamp.

Trav - Hamilton
Rating: 1/10 23rd July 2005
It is quite a nice place to go now and then, but really needs a magical upgrade to make it worthwhile, not somewhere I go very often even though it is not far away, the best part is the hydroslide which the kids love, bumper boats water is always disgusting looking and not inviting, give it a real make-over and this could be a little treasure

Carole - New Zealand
Rating: 4/10 21st July 2005
Yeah pretty good experience ... great place to take the family ... plenty to do :)

Luke Hogan - Hamilton
Rating: 7/10 27th June 2005

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