Soaking on a Starry Starry Night

It’d be almost impossible to spend a couple of days in Rotorua and not go to the Polynesian Spa. In the early 1900s, officials in Rotorua aimed to put it on the map internationally by creating the South Seas Spa Retreat (in what is now the Rotorua Museum).

A lack of international tourists, local population and the advent of the First World War meant that the great South Seas Spa Retreat had a challenging start, but the Polynesian Spa is certainly a raging success among locals and tourists. We were lucky enough to visit on a freezing cold starry evening, and it was glorious soaking in the warm water outdoors.

At the Polynesian Spa, they provide a whole range of beauty and relaxation treatments in private rooms if you feel like a bit of pampering. There are private spas for hire for 30 minutes at a time, or you can linger at your leisure in the public spas.

The alkaline water comes from ‘Rachel’s Pool’ in the nearby gardens. Rachel was a famous character in the history of the area – a ‘lady of the night’ who was also something of an entrepreneur (some say con-woman!), who promoted the health qualities of the geothermal water in the area. At Sulphur Point near the Rotorua Events Centre, you will find one of the original bath boxes that Rachel charged her clients to use, over 100 years ago.

The outdoor pools on the Lake Side are surrounded by rocks and native plants and are beautifully lit. It was such a relaxing experience, and there are pools of varying temperatures to soak in, ranging from 36-42 degrees.

Alkaline water is wonderful for your skin – it makes it feel so soft and is lovely for relieving muscle aches.

There is also an acidic pool, sourced from the Priest Spring which is more suitable for relieving joint pain. There really is no wrong choice, when it comes to soaking in beautifully clean naturally heated water on a cold clear night! I also took the opportunity to relax on one of the outdoor heater loungers. At first, having gotten out of the warm water (with an air temperature of about five degrees) I thought I was going to be cold, but the loungers are surprisingly warm and incredibly comfortable.

The pools are drained every night and refilled, so the water is clean and the therapeutic benefits are maximised.

The Polynesian Spa is really well appointed – the showers and communal areas are clean, bright and well equipped. The outdoor pools are for adults only, but there are indoor and covered pools for children to enjoy. For a number of years, Polynesian Spa has been recognised as one of the World Top Ten Spas (natural/ thermal/ medical) by readers of the UK Conde Nast Traveller Magazine.

During these colder months, if you are in the area, don’t miss an opportunity to enjoy a lovely warm soak at the Polynesian Spa – it is good for the body and soul and after a day of activity or travel, and is the perfect antidote to sore muscles!

GrownUps were grateful guests of Polynesian Spa.