Rest & Relax

New Zealand boasts pampering day spas, pampering beauty clinics and luxury retreats that spell relaxation for body, mind and spirit. For a particularly New Zealand form of relaxation, soak yourself in a geothermal hot spring or mud pool.

New Zealand’s pure, natural environment lends itself to blissful vacations. Getting back to nature is a wonderful way to relax and recharge the batteries. Stroll along golden-sand beaches, experience pristine alpine views and hike through lush rainforests. Listen to the sound of silence in Fiordland National Park with its crystal-clear waterfalls tumbling from rainforest-clad cliffs into deep fiords, or swim with dolphins, a truly magical experience. A specialty in New Zealand is the opportunity to bathe in a thermal hot pool rich with minerals and heated by nature – one of the benefits of geothermal activity that also shows itself in geysers and bubbling mud. So whether your muscles demand a treat after a day spent sightseeing or relaxation is the main purpose of your visit, take time out to indulge in a pampering treatment at a New Zealand spa.

Geothermal hot pools and mud

Since the 19th Century, visitors have travelled to places like Rotorua to ‘take the water’. It was believed that thermal hot pools held curative properties for a wide range of illnesses. For Maori, geothermal features also hold spiritual significance (Maori used thermal pools therapeutically for generations before the arrival of Europeans). Opinions vary on the health benefits of thermal bathing, but there’s no doubt that soaking in a warm thermal pool is wonderfully relaxing! Rotorua is home to several hot pool complexes such as Hells Gate, Wai Ora Spa and Polynesian Spa which offer thermal mud treatments or the unique experience of bathing in soft, fine mud. In the South Island you can enjoy a soak against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains at Hanmer Springs or the Glacier Hot Pools, and if you’re in The Coromandel, you can dig your own hot pool – a geothermal spring filters up through the sand at Hot Water Beach. Hire a spade and get digging (the best times are two hours either side of high tide).

Day spas and beauty clinics

Indulgence doesn’t end at geothermal hot pools. New Zealand day spas and beauty clinics are renowned and you can expect to have essential beauty treatments such as a massage, facial and body wrap expertly performed while being thoroughly pampered by the professionals. For the ultimate escape from everyday stresses, unwind at a New Zealand wellness retreat. There are numerous specialist retreats throughout New Zealand offering all manner of treatments to enhance your wellbeing – from traditional Maori massage, spa therapy and hydro-treatments to yoga and weight-loss programmes.

Destination Spas

For the ultimate indulgence, New Zealand offers a range of appealing destination spas. Soak your body to relaxation and let the professionals take care of you with massage and beauty treatments. Check out our top seven New Zealand spas.