Waiwera Thermal Resort on the Hibiscus Coast is a nice treat. It’s close enough to Auckland by vehicle and the natural thermal pools make you feel refreshed, especially recommended after a hard year or frantic Christmas. The pools are sheltered by the native bush and hills of the Waiwera valley.
What to expect: Lots of pools and waterslides. In all there are 22 pools, two covered and hydro slides. Spa facilities have recently been added. Movies are often screened in the big undercover pool.
How to get there: Take the Northern motorway to Orewa. Turn left at Orewa BEACH. It is five minutes north on the main highway. Watch for the right-hand turn at the foot of the Waiwera hill. You can catch the 895 bus which goes from the CBD to Orewa and Waiwera via Takapuna, Albany and Silverdale. Timetables
Tips: Children 14 years and under need supervision. There is a licensed cafe on the premises. Three-burner portable BBQs are available for hire. It’s open every day.
Background: Waiwerawera, as it was known, means very hot water. The hot springs were known to Maori long before a Scottish entrepreneur Robert Graham developed it in 1844. He later added bathhouses and a large hotel further up the shore accommodated visitors from Auckland who travelled by steamer. The springs stopped when artesan bores were sunk in the 1870s. Today the hot water is tapped by bores which feed the pools.
More online Waiwera site
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Get out of your comfort zone- explore an unfamiliar part of Auckland
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Night trip to see Waitakere ranges bats
Tamaki Drive & Kelly Tarlton's
Waiheke Island - beaches, wine trails, biking, food