Product Overview

Nestled on the shores of Lake Rotorua our luxury Māori cultural wellness retreat awaits to embrace you with magic.

Owned by Ngāti Whakaue, Wai Ariki Spa is one of the few globally significant spas led by an indigenous community where everything has been built and designed with meaning and purpose.

Wai Ariki means 'chiefly waters' and whether you choose a traditional Māori massage, facial or body treatment, a private thermal pool or secluded thermal bathing, we will take you on an immersive journey of discovery, connection and renewal. 

The Restorative Journey - Wai Whakaora is our signature wellness experience. It is unique in the world and becoming highly recommended as a must-do. This has been purposefully curated to relax and rejuvenate the mind, body and soul. The Journey gives you two-hours of goodness - a 7-step multisensory process where you'll encounter Ngāti Whakaue culture, sacred healing practices and the therapeutic powers of geothermal heat, water, mud and steam.

Te Aronui - Our quality range of Māori and NZ made products including Wai Ariki's exclusive herbal tea, mud masks, scrubs and personal care selection make for meaningful gifts and souvenirs of your time with us.        

   

Product Description

This immersive journey of discovery, connection and renewal includes the following 7-steps: 

1. Blessing Stone: Your journey begins at the mauri (life essence) rock with a Māori blessing that prepares the mind and body for relaxation and restoration.
2. Waterfall Showers: Four sequential soft streams of water to cleanse, energise and open awareness.
3. Fire & Ice Cave: Three saunas (Bio, Himalayan Salt, and Hay), wading pool and frigidarium. Moving between extreme temperatures of hot and cold, wet, and dry experiences invigorates the body and soul - improving respiratory, blood circulation, vigour and stamina.
4. Lake View Bathing Concourse: The healing properties of 5 pools of mineral alkaline, herbal, cold plunge, and hydrotherapy (12°C to 41°C) provides mental and physical goodness. 
5. Geothermal Mud Lounge: Self-apply naturally occurring mud mixed with indigenous plant and oil extracts to nourish the skin. Relax on reclined heated rock beds as the mud sets and works its magic.
6. Steam Room: Feel the transformative effects of the steam (up to 100% humidity) as you reflect on heated stone in a dark peaceful space.
7. Blessing Stone: Your journey ends with a Māori blessing before final shower and change. The closing completes your overall wellness and inner peace.

Wai Whakaora has been purposefully designed and curated to relax and rejuvenate the mind, body and soul and is becoming highly recommended as a must-do wellness experience. We invite you to experience the magic and goodness of Wai Whakaora.

Departure Times

Wai Ariki Spa is an all-weather destination for adults open daily from 9am till late.

The Restorative Journey is restricted in numbers and available every 30 minutes:

• 9am - first session
• 8.30pm - last session in summer (Oct - Mar) is 8pm - last session in winter (Apr - Sep).

We highly recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment. Arrival time is 15 minutes before your confirmed booking time.  

Duration

The Restorative Journey - Wai Whakaora is two hours of bliss. You will leave feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.  

What To Bring

Please bring your swimwear and if you are travelling with flip-flops, thongs, sandals, croc's, we recommend bringing those too. Your Restorative Journey purchase comes with a locker, robe and towel.

   

Company Info

Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa is owned by our local tribe of Ngāti Whakaue and opened June 2023. It was a huge undertaking and one of the largest developments in Rotorua in 20 years. Wai Ariki Spa was purposefully built, designed and curated to be a world-class destination for holistic health and wellbeing. 

Wai Ariki shares our tribe's rich living legacy of culture, traditional healing practices and manaakitanga (warm hospitality). We are more than a spa offering relaxation and luxury. We are a living expression where wellness is inseparable from culture, community, and connection to the whenua (land).

We have a diverse team with many of Ngāti Whakaue descent. You will be warmly welcomed and looked after during your time with us.  

We invite you to experience wellness as a living story of culture, land and spirit within modern luxury.