🇳🇿 North Island’s Hidden Gem: Wairakei Terraces Hot Springs

♨️ After soaking in Rotorua’s famous (but crowded) Polynesian Spa, I’ve crowned Wairakei my new favorite thermal retreat! ✨ Why It Stands Out 🏆 "Mini Pamukkale" vibes: Terraced silica pools with steam rising from geothermal vents – like Turkey’s cotton castles in NZ! 💙 Sulfur-free azure waters: *No stink, just 40+ healing minerals* (hello, muscle relief!). 🚶 Added bonus: Walkways along steaming springs + 10 mins to Lake Taupo sunsets. vs. Polynesian Spa ✅ Fewer crowds ✅ Unique terraced landscape ✅ Therapeuticwater (no skin irritation!) History: Built in 1943, this *Douglas DC-3* flew Pacific missions before becoming a burger flagship. Cockpit intact: Peek through glass at original controls (no touching, but epic photos! 📸). Stairway boarding: All the drama of a flight… minus the turbulence. 🌡️ Pro Tips 🔥 No AC – eat indoors first, then snap quick plane pics! 📍 48 Roberts St, Taupō – unmissable on any NZ road trip. #NZHotSprings #TaupoWellness #GeothermalMagic