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ULTIMATE GUIDE TO HELLS GATE MUD BATHS ROTORUA

INSIDE: Everything you need to know about Hells Gate Mud Baths Rotorua

Hells Gate Mud Spa in Rotorua is the BEST mud spa in town to soothe all your muscles and iron out the kinks.

But expect new laughter lines around the eyes and fresh wrinkle-crinkles across the forehead!

It’s not possible to keep a poker straight face when friends and family are covered in thick black mud.

We think it’s a fair trade.

A body-shaking belly laugh will release every ounce of leftover tension.

That’s why this Hells Gate Rotorua Mud Bath & Spa Retreat is better than the rest!

Hells Gate Mud Bath and Spa in Rotorua is THE place for laughter & mud hijinks!

Find all the details of how to get there, and more, below. 

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, we may receive a small commission at NO extra cost to you.

Photo- laughing at the mud baths rotorua

Guide to Mud Baths Rotorua 

Book a visit to the Hells Gate Mud Spa in Rotorua quick smart.

You’ll spend 40 minutes in the mud bath hot tub with your family and friends. (They do their best to not have you share this mud bath experience with strangers!)


RELATED: Big Guide to the Best Things to do in Rotorua for families & kids

types of contests to win stuff - mud spa rotorua 800

Hells Gate Geothermal Park and Mud Bath Spa

Beware. 

The Hells Gate mud pools are HOT.

Very hot.

We honestly assumed the British visitors before us had caught a little too much sun on their travels in NZ, but we soon looked like red lobsters too!  

40 minutes in the water is plenty.

Photo- sulphur spa at hells gate

Shower off 

After your mud spa soak, it’s time to take a quick turn under the warm shower to wash off the mud remnants, then it’s time to immerse yourselves in the therapeutic sulphur spa waters.

Stay as long as you like.

Photo- posing at hells gate mud spa rotorua

The Best Rotorua Mud Bath and Spa Retreat

Why do people get mud baths, and what are some of the benefits of mud therapy? 

The combo of mud and sulphur is said to give you silky smooth skin and wash away all your worries.

The effects don’t stop when you get out either.

Expect to have smooth-as-a-baby’s-bottom skin for weeks afterwards!

This is why we vote Hells Gate the best mud pools in Rotorua.

(You’ll smell like rotten eggs for weeks after too!)

Hells Gate Rotorua sulphur lake 800

Where does the Hells Gate mud bath mud come from? 

The fine grey mud used in the spa comes from the Hells Gate Sulphur Lake.

You can see this lake on a tour of the thermal park. 

(Details below)

Photo- mud bath products for sale

Rotorua Mud Spa Shop

Buy Mud Masks & Mud Beauty Products for Home

Don’t leave Hells Gate Thermal Park without a stop in the onsite gift shop.

Buy their Alite brand of mud masks and mud beauty products to take home.

It’s the ONLY place in Rotorua where you can buy authentic Rotorua mud masks with mud from Rotorua thermal pools.

Prices start from $4.50 NZ for a 10ml mud mask sachet.

You can also buy Mud Beauty products including:

  • Facial mud packs
  • Mud body masks
  • Body scrub and polish
  • Mud, milk and honey soap
  • Rotorua mud soap
  • Body massage oil
  • Body lotion
  • Mud face scrub and polish
  • Mud face mask
  • Mud masks for men
  • Mud mask for dry skin

Ask the staff about Rotorua mud mask benefits for your health – they know ALL the properties! 

Photo- hells gate mud baths rotorua entrance

Guided Tour of the Best Thermal Park in Rotorua

If you have time, we highly recommend booking the Hells Gate Special Combo package, and starting with a guided tour of the geothermal park first.

This is one place you need the full experience.

Learning all about the history and culture of the thermal pools and geysers (guy-sers, not geezers)  in Rotorua adds to the Mud Spa experience.

Read about our guided tour of the best geothermal park in Rotorua.

Photo- boys doing maori carving at hells gate thermal park

Maori Wood Carving Experience

As part of the guided tour, you can also try your hand at traditional Maori carving with a local Maori man.

This was an excellent insight into Maori culture. 

The boys LOVED that.

Photo- mud bath pool with roam the gnome

THE INSIDE SCOOP: Mud Bath Rotorua

Correct at time of publication on Roam the Gnome. Please check with venue for updates. We apologise in advance if there have been any changes we are unaware of. All prices in US dollars (or NZ dollars as stated)

Address: Hells Gate Rotorua Geothermal Park is located at State Highway 30, Tikitere, Rotorua on the North Island.  It’s Rotorua’s most active geothermal field and the best mud bath Rotorua has in town.
Telephone: 07 345 3151
Website: Click here

Hells Gate Opening Hours

The Hells Gate Geothermal Park and Mud Spa opens 7 days a week, from: 

  • 8.30am – 10.00pm (Summer 1 Oct – 2 Apr)
  • 8.30am – 8.30pm (Winter 3 Apr – 30 Sep)
  • Open daily except Christmas Day.
  • Bookings are essential after 6:00pm

Photo - roam the gnome at sulphur spa

New Zealand mud baths entry fees

Hells Gate Sulphur spa entry 

  • $20 NZ adult
  • $10 NZ child
  • $50 NZ family of four (2A, 2C 5-15 years)

Hells Gate Mud bath and Sulphur spa entry 

Singular entry to the geothermal mud spa with sulphur pool only. 

  • $75 NZ adult
  • $35 NZ child
  • $185 NZ family of four (2A, 2C 5-15 years)

You can also book a private mud bath and sulphur mineral pools spa if you choose.

Book your Hells Gate Mud Spa Retreat package with Klook here

Entry to Geothermal park extra. 

Hells Gate Rotorua Deals

Hells Gate Mud Spa & Geothermal Park tickets

The Hells Gate Special Combo value package we bought includes:

  • entry to the park
  • a Geothermal Walk guided tour, and
  • a visit to the Mud bath plunge pool and Sulphur spa

Cost is:

  • $90 NZ per adult
  • $45 NZ per child, or
  • $215 NZ for family of four (2A, 2C 5-15 years)

Click here for packages to include mud bath, spa and entry to park

Entry to Twilight Spa extra. 

Mud body scrub, Mud facials, Miri Miri Massage, and other therapies also available for additional fee.

Photo- mud on face

Hells Gate Geothermal Reserve Entry (without mud spa access)

  • Adults $35 NZ
  • Child $17.50 NZ
  • Family $85 NZ (2  adults, 2 kids aged 5-15 years)
  • Kids 4 and under FREE

Check latest prices with Klook here

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How to get to Hells Gate Thermal Park

By Car: Travel east from Rotorua on SH 30. Approximately 5 minutes past airport turn right toward Whakatane and proceed 3kms to Hells Gate.

Parking

Free parking out the front.

Map of Hells Gate Mud Spa Rotorua

Facilities at Hells Gate Spa

Nearest takeaway coffee and/or food options: Cafe on site
Toilets: Yes, including baby change table.
Disability access: Yes
Closest ATM: Hells Gate has credit card and EFTPOS facilities.
Shade: Yes

Photo- Ned at the mud bath rotorua

Toadstool Rating – Rotorua Mud Baths

A solid 5 toadstools for these Rotorua mud pools. 

The mud spa, along with the guided tour, tops the list of experiences we’ve enjoyed on family holidays in New Zealand to date.

mud baths rotorua review

Looking for more fun Rotorua attractions

Click the links in blue for more Rotorua activities below.


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