We stopped there on a cycle ride from Chch to Nelson back in 1978.Then it was just a hotel and a concrete hot pool;the water was piped across the river from the actual spring on the right bank.You carried your jug of DB down to the pool’stuck it into the 6″ of snow around the edge and dipped-for free.They even let us crash for the nite in the changing rooms.
Sounds like times have changed.