About this tour
When Em from our team hit up Secret Spot Hot Tubs near Rotorua, we found ourselves soaking in a handcrafted cedar tub tucked into the edge of Whakarewarewa Forest. It's the kind of place mountain bikers and day-trippers duck into after hitting the trails — no fuss, just warm water, native bush, and a proper café-bar setup. The 45-minute soak is the headline act, but the whole setup (12 tubs dotted along the forest edge, overlooking Puarenga Stream) gives the place a relaxed, almost hidden-gem vibe. Best done after you've earned it.
Highlights
- Handcrafted western red cedar tubs overlooking native forest and stream
- Private soak — max 6 people per tub, so no strangers hovering
- Cold plunge available if you fancy the shock to the system
- Café and bar on-site; craft beer, manuka-roasted coffee, proper wine list
- Secure lockers and complementary water — basics sorted
- Dogs welcome, so you can bring your trail buddy along
What to expect
You'll pull into the carpark and immediately feel the forest close in around you. Em checked in smoothly, grabbed a locker for valuables, and headed to the private tub — no queue nonsense. The 45 minutes disappears fast. The water's warm, the native bush is thick around you, and the only sounds are the creek below and the occasional person laughing from another tub. It's deliberate: not a spa resort, but a proper soak spot that respects the bush.
The vibe shifts once you're done. The café and bar are genuinely good — we grabbed a Good George beer and a decent coffee, sat by the outdoor fire pit, and played a few rounds on the lawn. It's designed for groups and families to hang about, not rush off. If you're coming straight from the mountain bike trails or a forest walk, this is exactly where you want to be.
What travellers say
- Private cedar tubs hold groups up to 6, no crowded pool stress
- Genuine café and bar — craft beer, wine, good coffee, lawn games
- Forest setting is beautiful and properly maintained
- Cold plunge available for the brave or overheated
- Dogs welcome, lockers secure, basics like water included
- Kids under 5 not allowed in tubs; younger families limited
- 45 minutes is short if you're hoping for a long soak
- Not suitable for pregnant travellers or those with heart concerns
- Food, drinks, and towel hire all cost extra on top
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This works brilliantly for post-adventure wind-down. Families with older kids, couples, mate groups all fit in here naturally. The private tub setup means no awkward shared-pool small talk. The café and bar are a genuine drawcard — not overpriced tourist traps. Dogs are welcome, which is a real plus if you've brought your mate's pup.
Kids under 5 can't use the tubs (though prams are fine if they want to hang out nearby). If you've got heart issues or are pregnant, hot water's not your friend — worth checking with your GP. You'll need to bring or hire a swimwear and towel (hire's on-site). Food and drinks cost extra, so budget accordingly. The 45 minutes goes quick — it's a soak, not an all-day thing. Summer weekends can get busy with local groups.
Bring your swimmers or hire on arrival. Cold plunge access and water included. Parking's ample. No hotel pickups, so you'll need your own transport or local taxi.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.