Dream of Steam in the Stream

New Zealand is a geothermal wonderland tucked away deep in the Southern Hemisphere. Driving through this stunning beacon of natural beauty there is almost always a glimpse of geothermal power escaping from the deepest depths of our complex planet. Streams of steam billow from the earth making money for the nation not just through the creation of power but through tourist attractions as well.


Natural hot springs, geothermal spas, thermal hot pools, whatever you call them, these all-natural hot bodies of water are never all that far away.  A popular tourist destination, you can rest assured that if this is on your New Zealand to do list, there is somewhere you can go and pay approximately $30 a person plus $5 a towel & $8 a robe to visit. However, don't be fooled by the mirage of elaborate marketing. Paying to visit one of these steaming hot pools is not a necessity as there are much more intimate locations you can frequent free of charge.

Hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous mountain that played Mount Doom (Mt. Ngauruhoe) in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, we decided to drive to Wellington via Lake Taupo. Having arrived at Taupo peering through rushing windshield wipers flinging large droplets of rain off into the darkness of the night, we hoped that the night would deal with the storm and lead us into a beautiful morning so we could have a view of the real life fictional mountain.

No such luck. We woke to the sound of rain on our windows and all of our plans to visit the mountain were washed away. Though we were doomed to not visit the mountain we were determined not to let the day be a total wash. A friend (who lives in Auckland) had suggested a natural hot spring in Taupo that is a favorite spot for the locals and better yet, free of charge!

Spa Thermal Park, is a public park with expansive fields, a fabulous playground, and trails that take you down & around the Otumuheke thermal stream. The steamy stream flows into the frigid Waikato river creating a lovely swirl of hot and cold water mixing together enabling you to find the perfect place to relax.

It was an incredibly cold day and with the rain dribbling slowly down from the never ending grey clouds we made sure to wrap up warm and bring towels with us so we could dry off the moment we abandoned the comfort of the warm water. A cold wet day creates the perfect occasion to visit this hidden gem. Not only is the horde of usual rowdy visitors who often plague the river in the hot summer months deep in hibernation, but the wet winter conditions intermingle idyllically with the piping hot stream.

Not wanting any of the chilly Waikato to even have the chance to lick my back we continued over the bridge and up the stream to one of the many "private" entrances along the path. A beautiful little waterfall stood cascading into a shallow pool the size of a hot tub and the fog of mist & steam rising above it willed us to skimp out of our cozy winter warmers and slip gingerly into the inviting water. The pool was so hot that the minute my toes were dipped in I had no qualms sitting on the cold rocks to work my way in to the water slowly.

The rain dancing with the cold air as it sprinkled down on us was fabulously refreshing and helped us not over heat in the water. We spent ages in the water, getting in and out to regulate our temperature, just relaxing and enjoying the magic of the hidden treasure. When the time came to leave, it was a welcome escape from the heat to climb completely out into the cold air and dry off. (In fact, once we were completely dry and had bundled back up we found ourselves overheating as we were walking back to the car because we were still so warm from the water!)

Absolutely no doubt, hands down this was the best free stop on our entire trip, and in my top 5 favorite experiences in all of New Zealand. Whenever you next find yourself in New Zealand, especially in the winter, you simply must stop at one of the many thermal wonders and go for a dip. (Visit NZHotPools.co.nz for a full list of sites!)

Blue Skies appearing over Lake Taupo as we are leaving.