Tikitere - Hell's Gate

For over 700 years Tikitere, or Hell's Gate, has been a sacred place to the Ngati Rangiteaorere tribe, and today is the only thermal park still owned by Maori. A treasured site of healing and revitalisation, Tikitere is named for a tragic Maori princess who threw herself into the boiling hot pool that bears her name today. Upon finding her daughter, the young wife of an abusive and shameful chief, her mother lamented, 'Aue teri nei tiki' - here lies my precious one Tikitere.

Hell's Gate is Rotorua’s most active geothermal park, set on 50 acres of steaming hot springs, boiling and bubbling mud pools, spurting geysers and the miraculous scorching waterfall, Kakahi, the largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere. Hell's Gate is also home to New Zealand’s largest mud volcano and largest hot whirlpool.

Some of the wonders at Hells Gate include:

The Black Pool - a pond of water with a consistent temperature of about 93 degrees Celsius which cooks vegetables to perfection. Despite the black water and the sulphuric aroma, any food cooked in these velvety waters is untainted and delicious!

Land Coral - the closest thing to sea corals on land these corals live and grow. Actually they are thermophyllic bacteria, bacteria that thrive on heat. These remarkable growths only exist in three areas at Hells Gate, as temperature and nutrient balance need to be just right for them to grow.

The Wai Ora and Hells Gate Spas - the perfect places to unwind and experience the unique and exquisite mud baths, hot pools and therapeutic remedies provided in this Geothermal paradise.

Directions

See a complete list of Tikitere activities.

This week's featured activities in Tikitere are:

Featured Activities

Hells Gate - Wai Ora Spa Mud Bath and Sulphur Spring Spa Health and Beauty - Rotorua The unique geothermal muds and waters of Rotorua are renowned for their curative and invigorating properties, and this is particularly so at "Hells Gate" - Rotorua's most active thermal park. Wai Ora Spa Facility is where visitors can experience the unique geothermal mud and sulphurous waters in privacy as well as in a totally unique environment. More...

Rafting - Kaituna River Rafting - Rotorua - Starting from NZ $85.00 per person Raft the Kaituna River. Pass through steep, bush clad canyons, over 14 awesome drops- including the 7m Tutea Falls. Blended with a touch of culture, this trip offers it all, for both rafting enthusiasts and first timers. More...

Sledging - Kaituna River Adventure Tour - Rotorua - Starting from NZ $99.00 per person Kaitiaki are NZ's pioneers in sledging. Taking sledging to its ultimate extreme... tailoring sledging to allow a safe but enjoyable adventure for people with no prior experience. Kaitiaki Adventures is a Rotorua based whitewater rafting and sledging business based at Hells Gate. More...

Hells Gate Thermal Reserve Attraction - Rotorua Hells Gate Geothermal Park is set in 50 acres with a large variety of thermal features, and is Rotorua's most active Thermal Park. Walk past steaming fumeroles and hot pools of boiling MUD so violent they are unnerving. More...

Hells Gate - Wai Ora Spa Treatments Health and Beauty - Rotorua Welcome to Wai Ora Spa Facility in Rotorua, where visitors can experience the unique geothermal mud therapies and sulphurous waters in privacy as well as in a totally unique environment. The environment and atmosphere here is such that a totally, uniquely New Zealand Spa Experience that is unsurpassed has been created. More...