Tokaanu Thermal Pools — Local services in North Island

The worst hot pools in New Zealand 💩

We bought 4 tickets to the private pool and paid 56$ for a room with a small pool and no shower. The place clearly needs a cleanup - there were hair and dirt in the water, and overall the place didn’t look clean.

The staff didn’t tell us how much time we have, and there were no signs (including in the private pool room) how much time you can spend in the private pool. No clocks either - you MUST feel the time I guess. The announcement about the timing was absolutely unclear - we couldn’t understand a word. And when we are about to leave, a very rude lady knocked at the door and yelled at us that we are 20 mins over our time, and that people are waiting (why she didn’t come early or when our time was up??? - I have no idea). She was SO UNPROFESSIONAL! She requested me to leave the room now (I was almost naked and covered only with a towel) and change in my clothes in the toilet. I was almost kicked out of the room. That was the most terrible service I have ever had in New Zealand. I don’t recommend this place and never want to...

Had an unfortunate experience was looking forward to trying out the local hot pool after a long day hiking, but the front desk staff seemed rather unwilling to do more than the bare minimum, they didn't give any directions as to where to go after purchasing our pool tickets, we went to the public pool first accidentally so turned around and went to the private pools, and the front desk person seemed frustrated that we didn't know where to go... used the private hot pool which was nice enough, but the interaction with the staff made us feel like we were a burden to be there.

Would love to see this place thrive and be wanting to come back. Needs a spruce up for sure. It's worth traveling the extra distance for the hot pools around taupo instead. The person we dealt with was very unwelcoming hopefully they just had a bad day or something as we really didn't enjoy our time and it's going to be a "remember that weird time at the hot pool"...

Tokaanu is a small village situated in a very pleasant quiet spot with a stream running through it. Boasting a Thermal bathing area a taonga of the Ngati Kurauia people a hapu of Ngati Tuwharetoa, which for generations has been recognised as having the ‘wai ora (healing waters)’.

The thermal waters and steam in generations past was used for puia (cooking with the steam) and boiling harakeke (flax) for raranga (weaving). This still happens today.

Come and share our taonga and we will ensure that you enjoy every moment of it.

Our complex is in need of a little TLC but that just adds to the flavour.

Adults and children alike can enjoy the public pool to their hearts content all day if they wish, and the private pools at night with the stars shinning bright and the occasional snow flutter, brings out the romantic...