Unfortunately my favourite spot is no more. Looks like geothermal activity has blown the waterfall and pool apart, the whole lanscape has changed, ground drops away and very soft, dangerous.
Rating: 10/10
Kat - Wellington
25th August 2021

My wife and I finally visited this hidden gem on 17 Feb. Thanks to PJWoods for the directions. We parked near the hole in the bushes and tramped to the falls along a slightly muddy track. No sign of litter or any other people. The water was very hot but bearable, but the muddy sand on the bottom was much too hot. Even though I was wearing jandals the mud would squidged over and burned my feet. Thus I stayed close to the edge as things got hotter as I tried to get to the fall. Great fun and lovely to have the place to ourselves. So peaceful. Long may it remain "secret".
Rating: 7/10
Bernard - Bournemouth UK
05th March 2018

Exactly where you think it is. Turn off on Waiotapu loop, and park at the creek bridge. Either side of the bridge is hotter or cooler, literally walk the stairs down right into the welcoming water. We came in August and tremendously enjoyed the hot stream, the cool moonlit night, and the amazing local hospitality! Shout out to the snowboarders Josh and Caleb from Whangarei! :D P.S. Only a 9/10 because of that damn feral cat!
Rating: 9/10
Jason - Duluth, MN USA
13th August 2016

To get to the waterfall you drive to the barrier arm at the beginning of the road that leads you down to the Lady Knox Geyser at Wai-O-Tapu (Note, the barrier arm is closed after the geyser has finished in the morning approx 11am, so you cannot drive your car down). Park somewhere near the barrier arm (but not in front of it!) and walk for 5 minutes down the road until you are almost at the entrance gate to the geyser. You will see a track just after you pass the stream that goes underneath the road. The waterfall is just 1 minute walk from the road. If there are no cars when you parked up at the barrier arm will mean you will be the only one there so swimsuits are optional. My advice is take a pair of Crocs or flip-flops because the mud/sand on the bottom can be very hot in places - almost too hot to stand, particularly directly under the waterfall (so I found out!). The water is only a few feet deep and has a grey thermal mud bottom, so if you are expecting crystal clear water to bathe forget it here - it's rustic and natural as it gets. Also note the Lady Knox geyser is under camera surveillance, so don't even think about trying to get a free look at that after your swim or security will be after you like a shot.
Rating: 7/10
P.J. Woods - Rotorua
29th September 2013

called in this morning, still a magic place. Sun rays through the trees made a great picture
Rating: 9/10
Grant -
03th November 2011

You're probably better off driving up to the Lady Knox Geyser parking area, and turning round there, it's only 200-300 metres back from the car park. Still the best spot in the area.
Rating: 10/10
David Cox - Chch
07th October 2010

This is a lovely pool, the waterfall gives you a vigorous massage, the water stings your eyes though, can be VERY hot underfoot (or bottom!), there are lots of leaves etc in the pool too, but that's what you get in a pool surrounded by bush, it is great!
Rating: 8/10
Robyn Beers-Bekedam - New Zealand
21th July 2010

bit hot in summer nice in winter
Rating: -/10
peter - reporoa
13th May 2010

A bit of a scramble but private and quite nice if the pool at the bridge is full.
Rating: 7/10
kiwi - ohakune
18th February 2007

Make your way under the log & down the ferny track. A waterfall (2-3 metres) gently spills into a lovely warm private bush clad basin. [Karen Anderson, New Zealand]
Rating: -/10
Karen Anderson - New Zealand
23th May 2006

Very hard to find, but well worth it for the hot waterfall. The water is only thigh deep and pretty murky but to stand under a hot waterfall and have the place all to yourself is amazing
Rating: 9/10
Gillian - Sydney, Australia
25th October 2005