Taranaki Thermal Spa

About Taranaki Thermal Spa

Taranaki Thermal Spa is home to Taranaki's historic Tarawhata Mineral Baths in Moturoa, New Plymouth — a wellness destination quite literally sourced from the earth. Water from Mounga Taranaki slowly makes its way through the aquifer to the spa's artesian well, where it is heated to a temperature of your choice (37.5–39.5°C) and your pool is filled on arrival. The mineral water is full of antioxidants and contains more than 40 minerals and trace elements, and drinking water from the same source can be purchased through Pure One.

The spa's story began with a stroke of luck: a 1909 oil-drilling operation found no oil, but plenty of warm mineral water. A bathhouse followed in 1914, the Tarawhata Mineral Baths were hailed in 1939 as among the most modern in the Southern Hemisphere, and the historic bathhouse was re-established in 1999.

Today the spa offers private and public bathing, an aromatherapy infrared sauna, and a full menu of massage, beauty and body treatments — from relaxation and deep tissue massage, hot stone, Indian head, reflexology, Reiki and lymphatic drainage to facials, mud treatments, body wraps and scrubs, waxing, tinting, eyes, nails and tanning. There are packages for one, for couples and doubles, and even triples and quads, delivered by experienced therapists with several decades of experience between them.

Visits are by appointment, Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 7.30pm and Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 8pm, closed Mondays and public holidays. Afterpay is available in spa, gift vouchers make an easy treat, and towels and/or robes are provided with all packages. Note that a 24-hour cancellation/no-show fee applies to all bookings.

Taranaki Thermal Spa: Soak in New Plymouth's Historic Mineral Baths

The best discoveries are sometimes accidents. In 1909 the Bonithon Freehold Petroleum Company drilled a 3,004-foot (1,000-metre) hole near the Devon Intermediate School grounds in search of oil. They found no oil — but plenty of warm mineral water, which ran to waste until 1914, when New Plymouth's J. Solomon built a 25-metre by 12-metre bathhouse on the Bonithon Avenue site, enclosing a public swimming pool and several private baths under one concrete roof.

The Tarawhata Mineral Baths quickly became a local institution. By 1939 H. Reedman, an Egyptian herbalist, was advertising them as "the most modern in the Southern Hemisphere," likening the waters to the famous Kreuznach Tonic Springs of Prussia. The baths closed to the public in the mid-1960s, though swimmers in training kept using them for several years, and in 1999 the historic bathhouse was re-established. Today it trades as Taranaki Thermal Spa — still on Bonithon Avenue, still drawing from the same remarkable source.

Wellness from earth to you

What makes this place special is the water itself. Water from Mounga Taranaki slowly makes its way through the aquifer to the spa's artesian well, and each pool is heated by the team to a temperature of your choice — anywhere from 37.5°C to 39.5°C — and filled on arrival. The mineral water is full of antioxidants and contains more than 40 minerals and trace elements, from calcium, magnesium and potassium to silica, lithium and zinc. If a soak isn't enough, you can take some home: mineral drinking water is available through Pure One.

Bathing is both private and public, so you can share the historic baths or book a pool of your own. Alongside the pools sits an aromatherapy infrared sauna, and packages such as Just Me and Just Us pair the two. For something more romantic, Celebrate Us adds a candlelit private pool for two, bottled Pure One water and New Zealand handmade chocolates.

Treatments to pair with your soak

The treatment menu is broad. Massage runs from 30 to 90 minutes, with relaxation, deep tissue, pregnancy, hot stone, Indian head, reflexology, Reiki and lymphatic drainage options. Facials range from a half-hour manuka facial to the Ginger & Me signature and mindfulness facials, plus Fire & Ice, gua sha, microdermabrasion, dermaplaning and enzyme treatments.

Body treatments lean into the spa's warm, thermal character: Polish Me Body sugar scrub and body butter rituals, Hydrate Me warm oil wraps, and Detox Me — a private pool followed by a thermal mud wrap, manuka mud facial and full-body moisturising massage. There are spray tans, back facials, and a full beauty menu covering brows, lashes (including lamination, lifts and extensions), waxing and nails.

What ties it together is experience: the therapists have decades between them, and packages are built for one, for couples and doubles, and even triples and quads. Towels and/or robes are provided with every package, so you only need to bring yourself.

Planning your visit

Everything runs by appointment. The spa is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 7.30pm and Saturday and Sunday from midday to 8pm, closing Mondays and public holidays (and from 25 December to 8 January). A 24-hour cancellation/no-show fee applies to all bookings, and packages for one or two should be booked by phone or email. Afterpay is available in spa, and gift vouchers can be arranged online.

Whether you come for the historic waters, a deep-tissue fix or a candlelit soak with someone special, Taranaki Thermal Spa offers something rare: a century-old bathhouse, a mountain-fed mineral well, and proper 'me time' in New Plymouth's own backyard.

Signature items

• Tarawhata Thermal Mineral Pools
• Aromatherapy Infrared Sauna
• Detox Me Package
• Ginger & Me Signature Facial
• Hot Stone Massage
• Celebrate Us

Menu

Eyes

• Brow Shape — Brows shaped and tidied.
• Brow Tint — Colour tint to define your brows.
• Lash Tint — Tint for darker, defined lashes.
• Eye Duo — Brow shape and tint together.
• Eye Trio — Brow shape plus lash and brow tint.
• Brow Lamination, Shape & Tint — Laminated brows finished with shape and tint.
• Lash Lift & Tint — Lifted, tinted natural lashes.
• Eyelash Extensions – Classic — Classic one-to-one lash extensions.
• Eyelash Extensions – Hybrid Light Volume — Softer hybrid lashes with light volume.
• Eyelash Extensions – Volume — Full volume lash extensions.

Nails

• Shape & Paint Manicure or Pedicure — Quick nail shaping and polish.
• Manicure — Full hand and nail treatment.
• Pedicure — Full foot and nail treatment.
• Gel Polish Add-On — Long-wear gel polish added to any mani or pedi.
• Builder Gel Add-On — Strengthening builder gel layer.
• Chrome Gel Polish Add-On — Mirror-finish chrome gel colour.
• Gel Polish Removal — Safe removal of existing gel polish.
• Removal with Repeat Mani or Pedi — Gel removal when rebooking a mani or pedi.

Waxing

• Half Leg Wax — Lower leg waxing.
• Full Leg Wax — Waxing for the entire leg.
• Upper Lip Wax — Quick upper lip waxing.
• Nostril Wax — Tidy-up waxing for the nostrils.
• Chin Wax — Chin area waxing.
• Upper Lip & Chin Wax — Both facial areas in one visit.
• Underarm Wax — Smooth underarms with waxing.
• Bikini Wax — Standard bikini-line waxing.
• Extended Bikini Wax — A broader bikini-line wax.
• Brazilian Wax — Full Brazilian waxing.
• Repeat Brazilian (4–6 weekly) — Maintenance Brazilian within four to six weeks.
• Arm Wax — Full arm waxing.
• Back or Chest Wax — Waxing for back or chest.
• Back and Chest Wax — Both areas waxed in one appointment.

Facials

• Manuka Facial (30 min) — Nourishing half-hour facial featuring manuka.
• Reflexology Facial Massage (40 min) — Facial treatment combined with reflexology techniques.
• Fire & Ice Facial (45 min) — Invigorating hot-and-cold facial for a refreshed glow.
• Ginger & Me Signature Facial (60 min) — The spa's hour-long signature facial.
• Ginger & Me Mindfulness Signature Facial — Extended signature facial with a mindfulness focus.
• Gua Sha Facial (60 min) — Sculpting gua sha massage for the face.
• Microdermabrasion (30 min) — Exfoliating treatment for smoother, brighter skin.
• Ginger & Me Enzyme Treatment (40 min) — Enzyme-based skin renewal from the Ginger & Me range.
• Dermaplaning Facial (60 min) — Gentle exfoliation for fresh, smooth skin.
• Back Facial / Back Pamper (30 min) — A facial for your back: cleanse, steam, mask and moisturise.
• Customised Jelly Mask (facial add-on) — A tailored jelly mask added to any facial.

Body Treatments

• Half Spray Tan — Half-body sunless tan.
• Full Spray Tan — Full-body sunless tan.
• Polish Me Back (30 min) — Reniu sugar scrub back polish with cleansing steam and body butter massage.
• Polish Me Body (45 min) — Full-body tropical Reniu sugar scrub with back steam and moisturising massage.
• Hydrate Me (45 min) — Warm Reniu body oil wrap with facial massage and hair and scalp care.
• Unwind Me (30 min) — Neck, shoulder, facial and scalp massage designed to release tension.
• Back Pamper (30 min) — Back cleanse, steam, exfoliation, mask, moisturise and scalp massage.

Massages For One

• 30 Minute Massage — A half-hour massage tailored to your needs.
• 45 Minute Massage — Mid-length session to melt away knots and tension.
• 60 Minute Massage — A full hour of relaxation or deep tissue work.
• 90 Minute Massage — Extended head-to-toe massage session.
• Pregnancy Massage (60 min) — A gentle hour designed for expectant mothers.
• Reiki — Holistic energy treatment for balance and calm.
• Reflexology (30 min) — Half-hour pressure-point session to restore wellbeing.
• Indian Head Massage — Head and upper-body treatment to release tension.
• Hot Stone Massage (60 min) — Warm stones work into deep-seated muscle tightness.
• Lymphatic Drainage (60 min) — Gentle technique supporting the body's lymphatic system.

Packages For One

• Just Me — Private mineral pool and sauna session.
• Celebrate Me — Private pool with towel hire, Pure One water, NZ handmade chocolates and a gift product.
• Renew Me — Private pool followed by a 30-minute massage and sauna.
• Polish Me — Private pool plus full-body Reniu sugar scrub, steam and moisturising massage.
• Indulge Me — Private pool with a 30-minute manuka facial and 30-minute massage.
• Detox Me — Private pool with thermal mud wrap, manuka mud facial and full body moisturising massage.
• Recharge Me — Private pool followed by a 60-minute signature facial and 60-minute massage.
• Pamper Me — Private pool with full body massage, manuka facial, hair and scalp treatment, hand and foot massage plus a back polish.

Packages For Two

• Just Us — Private mineral pool and sauna for two.
• Celebrate Us — Candlelit private pool with towel hire, Pure One water and NZ handmade chocolates.
• Renew Us — Private pool followed by 30-minute massages and sauna.
• For Us 30 — Private pool followed by 30-minute massages.
• For Us 45 — Private pool followed by 45-minute massages.
• For Us 60 — Private pool followed by 60-minute massages.
• For Us 90 — Private pool followed by 90-minute massages.
• Polish Us — Private pool plus full-body Reniu sugar scrub and moisturising massages.
• Indulge Us — Private pool with 30-minute manuka facials and 30-minute massages.
• Recharge Us — Private pool with 60-minute signature facials and 60-minute massages.

Add On Treatments

• Hair & Scalp Pamper — Relaxing scalp and hair treatment.
• Hand Pamper — Moisturising hand treatment.
• Foot Pamper — Nourishing foot treatment.
• Body Brushing — Exfoliating body brushing add-on.
• Hand or Foot Massage — Soothing hand or foot massage add-on.

Thermal Pools & Sauna

• Private Mineral Pool Bathing — Historic Tarawhata mineral baths, heated to your chosen 37.5–39.5°C and filled on arrival.
• Public Bathing — A communal soak in the historic mineral waters.
• Aromatherapy Infrared Sauna — Infrared sauna session enhanced with aromatherapy.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes — the spa operates by appointment. Treatments can be booked online, while the packages for one and two should be booked by phone or email.

What are the opening hours?

By appointment: Tuesday to Friday 10am–7.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 12pm–8pm. Closed Mondays and public holidays, plus 25 December to 8 January.

How hot are the mineral pools?

Pools are filled on arrival and heated to a temperature of your choice, between 37.5°C and 39.5°C.

What is the cancellation policy?

A 24-hour cancellation/no-show fee applies to all bookings.

Can couples or groups visit together?

Yes. There are packages for two — including the candlelit Celebrate Us pool — plus doubles, triples and quads treatments.

Do I need to bring towels or robes?

No — towels and/or robes are provided with all packages.

Can I pay with Afterpay?

Yes, Afterpay is available in spa, alongside major cards and digital wallets.

Tips

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• {"body":"A 24-hour cancellation/no-show fee applies to all bookings, so confirm your plans before you arrive.","title":"Mind the cancellation window"}
• {"body":"Book any three waxing areas together and save 15% off the total.","title":"Bundle your waxing"}
• {"body":"The spa is closed Mondays and public holidays; weekends run from midday to 8pm.","title":"Skip Mondays"}
• {"body":"Towels and/or robes are provided with all packages, so there's no need to pack your own.","title":"Travel light"}

Good to know

• {"payments":"Afterpay available in spa; major cards and digital wallets accepted"}