ELLECanada.com’s Larissa Primeau takes a whirlwind tour of the ethereal landscapes in New Zealand and reports on why she never managed to get much farther than the North Island – for very good reason.
2. Where to spa:
Hells Gate Wai Ora Spa
hellsgate.co.nz Phone: 64 7 345 3151
Don’t let the name of this establishment fool you. This is not the place you go to meet with Beelzebub to discuss why you deserve eternal damnation. In fact, it’s the complete opposite: Hell’s Gate is Rotorua’s most active geothermal reserve and a treasure of the local Maori people. An hour-long walk around the grounds provides you with a fascinating history of the local Maori tribes while you witness the harsh landscape and hot bubbling pools that lead to the ominous name (courtesy of George Bernard Shaw). At the end of your walk, unwind by stepping into a private geothermal mud bath. The mud has amazing healing properties and will make your skin feel as though it’s never been through a Canadian winter.
Polynesian Spa
1000 Hinemoa Street, Rotorua polynesianspa.co.nz Phone: 64 7 348 1328
This internationally renowned spa provides everything you could want; from therapeutic manuka honey massages to picturesque hot mineral pools overlooking lake Rotorua. Treat yourself to a Kiwifruit Soufflé wrap or relax in one of the 26 different mineral pools. There are even family pools with waterslides, making this is a great place to bring the kids to burn off some steam while you indulge yourself with a heavenly mud wrap.
The Lost Spring
121A Cook Dr. Whitianga thelostspring.co.nz Phone: 64078660456
You’ll find this stunning oasis in the town of Whitiganga on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. The Lost Spring is a unique luxury spa with the perfect combination of style and character. The aptly named Lost Spring boasts an immense thermal pool fed from a natural spring 600 meters below the earth’s surface. Aside from the hot pools, The Lost Spring is also home to the fantastic 18sixtyfive restaurant and the Pure Indulgence Day Spa. Therapists come poolside to give you a relaxing therapeutic massage while you sip away on a delightful New Zealand Pinot Grigio. This spa is an oasis of beauty and serenity, and is a glorious way to rid yourself of the kinks and aches from traveling.
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