Polynesian Spa

General information

Polynesian Spa is New Zealand’s leading international day spa, providing a unique thermal spa experience on the shore of Lake Rotorua.

In a picturesque, tranquil setting overlooking Lake Rotorua, visitors can enjoy a wonderful fusion of relaxing hot spring pool bathing, sumptuous spa and massage therapies and picturesque lake views.

We invite you to experience this World Top Ten Spa (thermal/natural/medical spas), as voted by readers of the prestigious Conde Nast Traveller magazine 2004-2007, 2009 & 2011.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF POLYNESIAN SPA

Polynesian Spa is a mineral spring spa that has been privately owned and operated by the Lobb family for almost fourty years. Prior to that time, the New Zealand Government, through it’s Tourist Department, operated three mineral bathing facilities starting with the Pavillion Bathhouse in the 1880’s with the last being the Ward Baths, opened in 1931 and eventually closed in 1971. Polynesian Spa began a series of re-developments starting in 1972 that is continuing today, and that has transformed the old, government owned bath-houses into a modern commercial spa.

Today, Polynesian Spa is a modern spa complex offering hot mineral bathing in 26 bathing pools including both public and private pools, a family spa, a luxury spa, and spa therapies. The spa has been voted a World Top 10 Spa by the Conde Nast Traveller. The complex retains a significant reminder of it’s past history with several of the pools and buildings being survivors of the 1931 Ward Baths.

Polynesian Spa has the use of two types of hot mineral water, one alkaline and one acidic, that are the unique point of difference of the operation. Many thousands of visitors to the spa have attested to the remedial effect the hot mineral waters have on such ailments as muscular complaints, arthritis and rheumatism. The Priest and Radium springs are most noted in this respect. The Priest spring at the spa is named after a catholic priest, Father Mahoney, who visited the spa in the 1880’s and after bathing regularly over a six month period, was purportedly greatly relieved of his arthritic symptoms. The alkaline waters have a very soothing effect on the skin. The operation has been largely geared to relaxation and enjoyment rather than the traditional spa concept of therapy, however the new day spa developments will certainly enhance the therapeutic focus of the spa. Polynesian Spa hosts clients from all around the world and from New Zealand. We have strong representation from those countries with a spa culture such as Korea, Japan & China, however we also receive a very good cross-section of clients from other countries who wish to experience Rotorua’s famous hot mineral waters.