Waitangi Soda Springs Hot Pool Details :: Waitangi River, Lake Rotoma, Rotorua :: nzhotpools.co.nz for the hot pools, hot springs, geothermal pools of NZ

It is all changed. It has been 'upgraded' and is no longer a secluded place. There are changing sheds, and the cost is $8 per adult, as of 31-May-09. Hopefully it won't be advertised and be swamped by tour buses. [Geoff Pooch, Hamilton]

A good sized pool that drains via a concrete race into a lower deeper pool. Hotter at the top end of the pool. Enjoy the hot water bubbling up around you while streams of warm (and sometimes cooler) water pass you by. The water has a very high iron content and will stain togs after multiple visits so don't wear your designer swimwear! [Shelley, Tauranga]

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45 Bather Reviews

The development of this area is outstanding. I loved it before that and I love it now. Thank you for the membership and concession card which makes this opportunity affordable for us to use on a regular basis. I feel so rejuvinated every time after Ive been there. The water contains healing qualities and people have shared with me how it has infact healed their ailments. Some may wish to share this information. I have a friend who when visiting the area always goes to Soda Springs as he suffers from 'patchy' (not flakey)skin. It is cleared up immediately after. The custodians (Chiefy and Jo) couldn't be better suited to running/overseeing the place. They are such generous, passionate and well informed people with so much knowledge about the area. They are fantastic representatives of their iwi. I cannot see how you could have a negative experience at Soda Springs. Thank you for sharing this amazing resource with all - it could have easily been closed off and made inaccessible. All for now. Ka aroha ra, Cindy

Cindy Paraki and whanau - Lake Rotoiti, Hinehopu
Rating: 10/10 27th July 2010
My family & I called in there 1 mth ago to view the bath as Ive recently moved to Rotoma. I personally found the guy (sorry forgot your name) looking after it to be most welcoming & offering a whanau discount. I myself are from Ohinemutu.. Ngati Whakaue & would think most would be happy as to the upgrade. I can see it be a beautiful spot to bathe at night looking up at the heavens. As for the admission I dont see that a problem at all, how are we able too protect & maintain our land if we let all on & in for free. I say well done xx

Mya - NZ
Rating: 10/10 22nd July 2010
Just wonderful. Nice dressing sheds and pleasant people running the place. Reasonable prices too. Well done!

Norma
20th July 2010
Wow what a beautiful place to visit and when you whakapap to hear the internal spirit is really alight when out there at the springs and i think it is lovely with the upgrades, although I had not seen it before hand only in photos, Ka pai to the trust doing the work there well done to yous. it seems they are upholding there kaitiaki of this resource.

Sharlene Coe - Rotorua
Rating: 7/10 17th June 2010
Tena tatou katoa. Like everything there will always be people that are not into change. Sorry but it had to happen. When we were young the bath was that deep the surroundings the same(kanuka, manuka water rats mud-yeah mud and gung). To be part of the committee that made the changes was always going to be hard, but it had to be done. Its there now, PLEASE now help us to make sure that it will always look beautiful like now and hope that others see and envisioned what our tupuna would have loved if they were here today. Kia koutou te Komiti kia kaha kia toa kia manawanui. Used it before, use it now will use again

Kotiro Kameta - Rotoiti
Rating: 10/10 29th May 2010
I have lived up the road from these baths all my life. It is home to me. Nothing like soaking your bones in the bath especially when youve had a long weekend.lol. Anyway what I wanted to say is I can remember the shop being there and runnign thru the gate, sliding down on tubes down the old waterfall. I remember going down for a bath and beinng verbally abused by strangers in our baths drinking, I remember running up the road to get our parents. These are private pools, they are part of who we are as Ngati Te Rangiunuora and Ngati Tamateatutahi. As a whanu for years we have shared this resource with local and non-local with no charge. When the repairs started, many locals complained that for years it has been free, and they should not pay. Well this is not the case. If it were to be free who would benefit? If it were free who would carry the cost of repair. Its not the cost at the end of the day, it is the spritual side of it, you never leave felling bad.

Renee White - NZ
4th May 2010
The owners are doing their best with limited resources too upgrade these facilities. Why shouldn't they charge a fee, you can get a yearly membership and you will pay a lot more at the Poly Pools. The upgrade was needed as silt was making the pool more and more shallow. To those who complain, go elsewhere as these pools are for the locals really and they don't want wine drinking tourists spoiling these facilities. Would you accept strangers into your swimming pool, I don't think so

Ros Black - Kaukapakapa
1st May 2010
Tino Mihinunui e nga Kaitiaki o tenei Toanga. Kia ora mo nga arohanui mahi katoa. Kia Ora mai Tatou katoa." I'm far -far from home looking seaching for pictures to sustain my desire to return home before planned. The spring is one of the many gifts I miss, when so far away. So much history & whakapapa, memories for me and my babies. I remember when the changes were happening there, I was one of the many with whom had concerns, ie,access, admission and the impact on the whenua/land, but I realise now, it was out of my control i was scared of the change and that change comes whether we like it or not. To the Kaitiaki (Caretakers) of this place, thank you for caring, working on the pools and allowing us all to share. The charge has been a long time coming, and the upgrade cash would not have come from thin air and people take advantage as long as they are allowed to. The Native bush will grow back, the dust will settle. Allow the experience to be one of what you remembered, humble yourself, (thats what they have done every time you have visited their land and not asked koha/money of you) Yet Their poeple fought hard for their land, all our Tipuna did. So if its not there for you arohamai (sorry) you may now have to find it elsewhere to create new memories, good luck with that. Honestly. I can't wait to come home and have a soak, sit with my family and enjoy what I can't find anywhere else in the world, until I have to return to OZ earn the money to enable me to live and build on the land I have been gifted though my Tipuna. Untouched, unworked, owing money no doubt, demarding various costs to just live on it. YOU live in a paradise, stop moaning, See everything before you, focuss on the positive things. Feed the healing pool positive thoughts, light energy and unconditional Aroha. Ma te wa. :)

Shannon Taia - Brisbane,QLD, Australia.
Rating: 10/10 6th April 2010
Found the hot springs with the help of nzhotpools.co.nz while on holiday at Ohope. The springs are being done up, the spring has been newly dammed and a lot of work is underway with new changing rooms, benches and walkways. The owner was on site and they said the showers should go in soon. At present there is NO water , Toilet or Shower so be warned. The water was a nice temp however there is no seating in the pool so be prepared to stand. $8 charge is way too high, but once completed will be well worth the price. Pity we never saw the original springs PS bring your insect spray there are 1000’s of sand fly’s

Kevin Swain - Auckland
Rating: 3/10 15th February 2010
Kia ora to the owners, who have made this wonderful place available to us over the years. It has been a real treasure for us. I don't mind paying some money to bathe, but the upgrade hasn't been done with any thought. It has a real 'staunch' feel to it we were made to feel like 'tourists', not travellers. So we won't be returning again, but maybe that was the plan anyway - to keep people away? If so then fair enough!

Simon - NZ
Rating: 3/10 12th February 2010
After a few years of Not going to the springs, we have family from Aussie here and decided to take a trip out last night for a soak, Only to find it all fenced and some guy trying to Charge $8 per head for half an hour! i dont think so, Will not be returning to this spot again

S - Tepuke
19th January 2010
Was a lovely, peaceful and quite spot when we visited 4 years ago. The upgraded facilities look OK, but $8 is far too expensive for what's on offer.

David Cox - Chch
Rating: 1/10 15th January 2010
Alison
Rating: 1/10 1st October 2009
Re-visited recently and couldn't believe what has happened to this 'natural beauty'. I wouldn't mind paying far more if it was kep as a natural beauty spot and totally respect that it is on Maori land but the place looked like a prison camp! What a mess ! The trees and vegetation have been ripped out and the place fenced off with old caravan and freight container moved on. Couldn't read the sign with admission prices and felt too intimidated to drive into the 'compound'. Won't be going back.

A - NZ
29th September 2009
is the pools still open anytime of day or are there set hours on them as i may be heading down to have a look at the new upgrade on the pools????

john - hamillton
25th September 2009
For those of you who don't want to pay for the privilege of using these hot springs (and yes it is a privilege!!!). My grandfather owned large shares in this landblock which by the way is privately owned maori land, and when he passed away my dad and his siblings inherited them, and now my dad has passed away me and my siblings are the benefactors....how dare those of you who still want a free ride when so much work and upgrade has been done around the baths by our trustees including charging new admission prices and insisting that it should still be free! my advice is to those clowns just buggar off somewhere else. [some text removed - admin]

Pukaki - Okere Falls
21st September 2009
Stopped there yesterday (Sat 30/08) after driving down from Auckland to have a soak. Have known about these hotpools since growing up around Rangitaiki plains and my Dad coming here when I was a kid. Great to see the upgrade.. this place is a little treasure *thumbsup* Andy.

Andy - NZ
Rating: 7/10 30th August 2009
My family and I have lived in Rotoma for well over 20 years and our hotbath is very special to us. Our kids have always thought of it as their own and treat it with the utmost respect. Gone are the days our kids had to clean up after filthy bathers to save their nan and koro and bubbahs cutting their feet on broken bits of woody bottles. Nappies were pretty damn rampant too. So yup awesome job and a $30 annual fee per family? Can't complain. It's about time things changed down there! Tumeke!!!

J McKinnon - Rotoma
Rating: 9/10 28th August 2009
I've been going here since i was a kid and still do, its a lot nicer now with the upgrades - i see someone else has moaned about the generator noise - i would recomend either getting rid of it or finding another option - and perhaps chaning the lights to be low wattage red lighting - as not to ruin the view of the stars - i know its impractical - but the stars are so awesome out there it seems a shame to hide them with light. The brazier is a nice touch though. shot.

Richard - New Zealand
14th August 2009
Of course we had a karakia before the upgrade began, do you think that we're insensitive neanderthals or something. Kei te pai tera, because my children and I will be bathing there for many years to come. Maybe when people have feelings of something being wrong, it's probably our tupuna telling them to 'move along'. FYI - the trust meets annually, contact details for the trustees can be obtained from the Maori Land Court in Rotorua, ph 07 921 7402.

Nelson Meha - Rotoiti
12th August 2009
I will be going somewhere else, and it is not about the money. It is about preserving a taonga, and you cannot preserve a natural taonga with diggers and dams. I would not have cared as much if Tresspassing signs has been put up and access closed off at least it would have still been a place of healing. Has the site even been properly blessed since the 'upgrade'? When I was last there it felt like it hadn't. It felt wrong. But then most people only care about what they can see.

Squirrelly - NZ
31st July 2009
The trustees have done a magnificent job over the last few years organising the upgrade of our bath, this isn't about making money, it's about maintaining and preserving this taonga for all. Now imagine what the headlines would have been if there was a sign out the front that said "NO TRESSPASSING - OWNERS ONLY", cmon people, lets stop all the moaning - if you don't want to pay the $8, just go somewhere else.

Nelson Meha - Rotoiti
31st July 2009
This used to be an amazing spot and extremely spiritual. A taonga. Yes, it suffered in recent years from idiots leaving their mess behind, and that is due to their ignorance over how special the place was. More recently, it has suffered at the hands of the trustees who are supposed to be the guardians. They have used bulldozers and diggers to widen and deepen the stream and they have put in a dam to block the natual flow. On top of that, they have put up buildings and are charging an admission, so it is clear that this is not just about making the place tidy. In my opinion, in their rush to cash in on their resources, they have forgotten that this was a taonga. Was. What made this place so spiritual, and an incredible place for healing, is now gone (and I am not the only one who has noticed this). I feel sorry for their mokopuna, who will now never know what this place was.

Squirrelly - NZ
Rating: 1/10 31st July 2009
Kia Ora whanau! I am a journalism student at Waiariki and am currently wanting to write a story on the baths. I have been trying to find out how to get ahold of any of the commitee members for an interview and am unsure how I can do this. If somebody can let me know, I just need to find out a little bit of informationa about the place. That would be much appreciated!

Hinerongonui Kingi - New Zealand
Rating: 7/10 30th July 2009
hi there, the upgrade is great the pool is deeper and the area is cleaner. however the great thing about this place is that it used to be completly natural now with the buildings up and fees it is ruined. NZ wont be NZ for long if stuff like this keeps happening.

isaac holmberg - tauranga
13th July 2009
My advice for anyone who does not like the "admission price" or for that matter the mud,porta loo and noisy generator to go 15min the other way to Kawerau and use the 8x10 spa pool at the Maurie Kjar memorial swimming pool for free!

Alan
12th June 2009
does anyone know the hours when it is open?

rawinia - waihi
7th June 2009
Kia ora tatou, My understanding is that the admission price is there to assist with the upgrade and on-going costs of the bath i.e. maintenance etc. At the end of the day, our bath is on private land (Maori freehold land title, known as Waitangi 3 - go to the Maori Land Court in Rotorua if you require further details). Non-owners need to be thankful that it has stayed 'admission-free' for so long, because the other option was that the bath could have been closed permanently and trespass notices put up. The bath was in a terrible state before the upgrade, rubbish everywhere etc, and it's thanks to the current trustees that it is in such a great state now. Also, the commercial reality is that the trust needs to source it's funds from somewhere to maintain things and unfortunately 'aroha' can only get you so far. So congratulations to the trustees - job well done. And for those who don't like the 'admission price' the Polynesian Pools is only a further 30 minute drive and a $14 - 20 admission fee away. Na tetahi o nga uri o Ngati Tamateatuthi-Kawiti. Haumi e, hui e, taiki e

Nelson Meha - Rotoiti
3rd June 2009
This spring is no longer noncommercial.As of today there is a substantial fee to use this spring and set hours of use. For a family of four to use this spring once a week for a year (which we have for the last 3 years)will now cost over $650.00! This is outrageous and I am sure this "fee" will be unaffordable to many locals.

alan - Rotoma
31st May 2009
Thank you to the local folk for the gift of sharing this wicked spot to all.As we get older things dont work as well,so after a hard days fishing it is a real blessing to soak away and relax.Sitting in the pool at nite is a wonderful exsperience,many thanks GP.

G Pemberton - Tauranga
Rating: 10/10 16th May 2009
The trustees have worked really hard doing the pool up, They actually closed the bath to do the upgrades but we still got idiots pushing the fence down and actually moving the new changing sheds off it's foundations. We get visitors who bathe there and think it's their right to drink and leave their rubbish there. When they have completed the renovations i hope there is going to be a charge to visitors. People need to respect our taonga not abuse it kia ora

Puti Hammond - Rotoiti
Rating: 10/10 14th May 2009
I have been visiting soda springs since I can remember. I have many fond memories of this place. After a tangi me and my family would go down for a nice hot pool. As I got older I would take my friends there and be very proud of the place. For me it is a very sacred place. The fact that there are not many natural hot pools around these days means it is very special for me. Not to long ago I visited the hot pools again and was very impressed by the new changes. I know there has been talk for years to update the place but I was still suprised to see it actually happen. I am currently studying journalism at the moment and am wanting to write a story about the hot pools. To write up a story on a place which has done so much for me will be the least I could do. To everyone who wants to visit the place or visits the place,try not take it for granted. It is a gift.

Hinerongonui kingi - Rotorua
5th May 2009
this place is very spiritual and in all my years of going there i have seen the decline in respect for the springs from young twits going there to drink and leaving their beer bottles everywhere...please help curb this by taking down the license plates of those people and reporting their behavior...Sadly this has resulted in the springs being fenced off and security measures been looked at i personally take away a bag of rubbish every month me and my partner go there people need to wake up and respect that these place are unique to New Zealand and every one visiting needs to do their bit in preserving its natual beauty.

alan and kelly - new zealand
Rating: 10/10 7th April 2009
Currently undergoing major reconstruction which was due to last 2 weeks. 3 weeks later we are unsure as to what will happen with this once lovely "natural" hot spring.

Steve - Rotoma NZ
3rd March 2009
i have been going to soda springs every christmas holidays since i was a kid. it is so relaxing ther and a great place to just get away

crystal cooper - te awamutu
Rating: 10/10 12th January 2009
I've been going to soda springs since I was a kid. Everytime we came home for a tangi (tapuwaeharuru marae) our aunties would take us kids for our evening bath there. Was awesome. A couple of years ago I took my own kids there and was quite disappointed as there was broken glass and rubbish all over the place. I knew about the water rats which actually served as entertainment for my kids. I haven't been back there since.

Tash - Wellington New Zealand
Rating: 8/10 11th May 2008
Advised by one of the locals that the sandflies (biting midges) are only active during the day and best to visit at night. They were very fierce and would not recommend for children, as they can get nasty allergies to the bites.

Leonie Hayes - New Zealand
15th October 2007
I have been visiting this pool for 61 years and had never noticed the large water rats until recent years and figured this was due to some grubby humans leaving their rubbish about. A natural beauty, sadly getting ruined by the human race.

Olive Oyl - Whakatane
Rating: 9/10 24th May 2007
Keep up the great work!

Leigh - Japan
Rating: 7/10 12th April 2007
anonymous
Rating: 9/10 3rd August 2006
didnt realise we needed permission to bath here...sorry! great pools tho, it's a nice to sit in the flowing warm water. a local we spoke to said that they might be building a new bridge across soon. thoroughly recomended!

sam - new zealand
Rating: 8/10 29th April 2006
The stream pool is on the side of Manawahe Road [off of State Highway 30] between Lake Rotoehu and Lake Rotoma and drains into Lake Rotoehu. A boiling hot pool on the property has water running under the entrance driveway to join a cold-water stream at the top pool end. There is a large parking area alongside the stream pool which has natural banks and bottom and has grass on its banks. A beautiful setting!

Colin Schwamm - Dargaville, New Zealand
30th November 2005
Has been recently upgraded, water is hotter than I've ever known it. Wonder why? Respect it as a sacred place and remember that most hot pools in the area you should not submerge your head. This is an exception though. Enjoy.

Annette - Rotorua
Rating: 8/10 12th August 2005
What a special place this used to be. Currently abandoned but used to be a well maintained and cheap hot swim available to all. A small shop, changing sheds, picnic sites, bambi deer were all once here. Romance bloomed in the dark steamy waters and you slept like a top afterwards. The hot waters still bubble up but the energy or funding to renew this natural attraction is missing.

Stuart - Riverhead
Rating: 5/10 11th August 2005
Beautiful hot springs but sick of people using the area as a rubbish tip. Have even found broken beer bottles in the pool. Areas like these are sacred to Maori and should be treated with respect.

G - Rotorua
Rating: 8/10 10th August 2005