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Play in the Mud at Hells Gate Thermal Reserve

Hells Gate, Wai Ora Spa in Rotorua, New Zealand has been treasured by the local Maori as a place of healing and revitalizing for over 700 years. Long before the 1840's when Europeans found and described the medicinal properties of Tikitere as having 'quite remarkable curative properties', Maori warriors returning from battle bathed to salve their wounds.

Now you too can experience the unique muds in the new spa and New Zealand's only mud bath complex. You will walk through the most active geothermal field in Rotorua, indulge in an authentic geothermal mud bath, or relax in the sulphurous waters of the spa. The walk passes steaming vents, sulphur fumeroles, erupting waters, a hot waterfall and pools of boiling mud. And yet it is a place of wonderful beauty - native fauna and birds so tame they will sit on your arm to feed.

You will see remarkable formations and colors, and cascading hot water in an unearthly scene. Feel the soft hot water of the Sulphur Lake and the finest geothermal mud packs. The walk will take you through a rugged landscape then beautiful bush opening to wide steaming pools. The 20 acres that make up the Hell's Gate Thermal Reserve give visitors a unique insight into New Zealand's geothermal history.  The Traditional Mud Bath and Spa facility is surrounded by New Zealand native Ti Tree – Manuka. 

The silky smooth geothermal mud in combination with the sulphurous geothermal water opens the skin's pores allowing the active ingredients to gently exfoliate and treat the skin while in the bath leaving it very clean and soft to the touch. The Hells Gate WaiOra treatment of 20 minutes is followed by the relaxing sulphur spa over looking the active geothermal reserve - for as long as you like - providing visitors with a unique total geothermal experience that cannot be found elsewhere in the world.

www.hellsgate.co.nz

Edited by Erika Wright

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