From Northland to Queenstown, we’ve uncovered the top spa treatments outside of Auckland worth trying this year.

I’m only three days into the working year and I’m already plotting my next escape.

The stark contrast of beach to boardroom has felt more like a thud back to reality than a seamless transition (the hours spent trawling through my inflated inbox has not helped, either).

If you’re also suffering from a case of the post-holiday comedowns, consider one of these soothing spa treatments to foster that holiday feeling once more.

From a healing dip in a geothermal spring in Northland to a luxurious wellness retreat in Queenstown, these are the best spots to indulge in a little self-care in 2025.

Northland

Ngawha Springs

Soak away stresses at Ngawha Springs, in Northland’s Te Tai Tokerau, and allow the mineral-rich, thermal hot springs to soothe you.

The complex comprises 16 public geothermal pools and eight private geothermal pools at varying temperatures said to heal certain ailments.

Bulldog, Ngawha’s most popular and hottest spring, was named after the growling sound it once made as the water burst forth through the rocks. Solomon spring is a go-to for skin issues, Tanemahuta helps to soothe burns, while Favourite is preferred to ease chest congestion.

Discounted entry fees are available for Northland or local residents, and it’s recommended guests wear old swimming togs where possible, as the smell can linger on swimwear for a few washes.

303 Ngawha Springs Rd, Ngawha. Ngawha.nz

Te Arai Wellness Collective

Luxury 36-hole golf course and accommodation Te Arai Links has partnered with Te Arai Wellness Collective to offer a range of in-room treatments to relax body and mind.

Singles and couples treatments can be enjoyed in one of the suites, cottages or villas dotted around the sprawling coastal property, with bookings available as add-ons with your reservation.

Facial therapies can be tailored to suit individual needs and preference, as can restorative relaxation or deep tissue massages, customised with cupping, hot stone therapy or gua sha.

Te Arai Links, 11 Te Ara Whenua, Miharo Kotiti, Tomarata. Tearai.com

Coromandel

The Lost Spring, Whitianga

As one of the Coromandel’s most iconic attractions, The Lost Spring’s geothermal pools are filled with 16,000-year-old mineral water that bubbles up from more than 600 metres below ground.

Brimming with more than 400 minerals, the geothermal water is touted to leave skin soft and nourished, while imparting its many therapeutic qualities like soothing aches and pains.

The Lost Spring was the brainchild of Alan Hopping, who rediscovered the ancient water source and crafted it into an unique attraction for all to enjoy – including a swim-in crystal cave surrounded with lush New Zealand native bush.

Beyond the pools themselves, The Lost Spring boasts a private day spa set in the treetops – a series of private massage bures in which to indulge in Pure Fiji massage and body treatments, Osmosis facials, alongside grooming services like lash and brow treatments.

Nail services are available in a new pamper room that has recently opened alongside the spa lounge, complete with six foot treatment stations and two manicure stations.

To restore radiance to skin after weeks of sun and salt, try the 60-minute Sugar Glow Body Treatment, $185, in which pure sugar cane crystals are smoothed over the body to buff away dead skin cells and unclog pores. Your therapist will repeat this step over each region, before gently removing the sugar cane crystals using hot towels.

The next step is a generous dose of Pure Fiji Body Oil, smoothed over limbs to restore hydration to skin, leaving it soft and supple once more. The challenge lies in not falling into a deep sleep throughout.

121A Cook Drive, Whitianga. Thelostspring.co.nz

Rotorua

Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa

Rotorua is home to the country’s most otherworldly geothermal springs, and as such it would be remiss of us to not include at least one of them on this list.

Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa infuses its cultural connections throughout every elevated wellbeing experience, taking great care to honour the centuries-old practices of Ngāti Whakaue (the iwi of Rotorua and its surrounding areas).

Ngāti Whakaue elders would seek out the healing properties of the waiariki (hot springs) and by contrast the waipuna (cold springs) for their therapeutic treatments. Wai Ariki extends this same manaakitanga to guests, by sharing its healing waters and ancient therapeutic techniques revered in te Ao Maori for centuries.

Treatments span mineral bathing experiences in group or private settings, alongside spa services including facials, body treatments and massages that harness the restorative powers of natural active ingredients, essential oils, botanical extracts, and herbal preparations founded on te ao Māori.

Viva loves the Restorative Journey (Wai Whakaora), a two-hour cultural wellness experience priced at $175, which moves through five distinct areas heralded by the Ngāti Whakaue – Te Hihiri (Blessing Stone); Wairere (Waterfall Showers); Te Tukinga (Tongariro Fire & Ice Caves); Te Taiwhanga Matua (Lake View Pools) Te Pae Paru (Geothermal Mud Lounge); and Kohu Wai Ariki (Steam Room).

1047 Whakaue Street, Rotorua. Wai-ariki.co.nz

Treetops Forest Spa

If your idea of floating away on cloud nine is getting as close to the sky as possible, then Rotorua’s Treetops Forest Spa is the closest you’ll get to heaven. Set among 2500 acres of 800-year-old forest, the lodge and estate boasts lakes, waterfalls and hiking trails, along with a wellness spa.

The bucolic outpost promises the full sensory experience, promising a rich connection with nature while expert therapists pamper guests. Doors flung wide open invite the outdoors in, as you listen to the gentle rustle of foliage or the melodic birdsong, while the gentle breeze lulls you into an even deeper state of relaxation.

The spa includes two treatment rooms, forest canopy hot tubs and a sauna, with spa offerings including relaxation facials, holistic hot stone massages and more.

Treetops Lodge & Estate, 351 Kearoa Rd, Rotorua. Treetops.co.nz

Tasman

Maruia River Retreat

Forest bathing was one of the wellness trends we predicted would be massive in 2024, and the movement prevails into the new year with holistic retreats like Maruia River Retreat offering patrons the chance to indulge in a restorative soak in an outdoor hot tub.

Relaxation doesn’t stop at soaking, either, with an outdoor infrared chroma-therapy sauna, dry Finnish sauna and cold shower facilitating contrast therapy high above the rest of the world, in a completely private setting in the treetops.

Beyond this, guests at Maruia River Retreat have access to a variety of treatments at the wellness spa, including hot stone massages, myofascial release, renewing body scrub treatments and aromatherapy sessions.

Should you wish to get bendy, hosts Lasse and Cristina Holopainen are experienced yoga teachers, who specialise in Hatha Yoga and continue to share their practice through their work with The School Of Yoga. The recently renovated yoga chalet celebrates the retreat’s treetop setting with abundant natural light and generously sized windows to enjoy the view of the forest canopy. Yoga classes are complimentary for all guests at the retreat, while private classes are available to book with resident yoga teacher, Jacqueline Inventor.

Maruia River Retreat, 2314 Shenadoah Highway, State Highway 65, Tasman. Maruia.co.nz

Canterbury

Ōpuke Thermal Pools & Spa

Offering panoramic views of the Southern Alps, take a dip in one of Ōpuke’s many solar-powered pools as you soak up the sights.

Situated an hour outside of Christchurch, Ōpuke Thermal Pools & Spa offer a variety of two-hour experiences depending on whether you’re after a little rest and relaxation or to entertain the young ones.

In the adults-only Tranquility Pool, unwind with a drink from the swim-up bar, while the Discovery Pool is sure to delight all ages with a crazy river, “leap of faith” plunge pool and starlit cave. For something a little cosier consider the Solar Tubs, which are heated to 41°C and provide uninterrupted views of the sprawling mountain range that lies ahead.

Elevate your experience with one of Ōpuke’s bespoke spa treatments, which span hydrating, restorative and wellness-inspired facials, or take your pick from one of the many body rituals.

An unmissable treatment is the Rasul Steam Room, an Ōpuke signature 45-minute experience priced at $69 for two to four people. The ancient Arabic bathing and cleansing ritual calls for the self-application of NZ Glacial Clay as a facial and body mask to cleanse, exfoliate, absorb toxins and boost circulation. Steam is dispersed throughout the Rasul as the mud settles into skin, before a tropical shower helps to wash away the clay at the end of the treatment.

35 Mount Hutt Station Rd, Methven. Opuke.nz

Moss Spa, Christchurch

While many other day spas on this list are set against a backdrop of lush foliage or rocky outcrops, there’s something to be said for an inner-city haven that offers a dose of escapism.

Moss Spa, in Christchurch’s CBD, does exactly that – with shades of blush pink, curved walls and blonde wood transforming an industrial space into a welcoming sanctuary in which to be pampered.

The treatment menu spans medi-facials to address concerns like ageing, fine lines and wrinkles, dehydration and dullness, a variety of deep tissue or relaxation massages to soothe tired muscles and body rituals to exfoliate and detoxify, not to mention a suite of grooming treatments including manicures, pedicures and waxing.

Consider the Anti-Ageing Collagen and Gold Facial, a 90-minute treatment priced at $210, that harnesses TheraVine’s antioxidant technology to support the skin’s DNA repair system using a blend of creams, serums and balms to nourish and restore. The gold standard facial includes an application of a collagen film mask laced with pure 24K gold and diamond dust, which helps to infuse actives into the skin, leaving it more appearing clear and radiant.

The day spa offers a second location in Queenstown’s premiere shopping district, but adopts a personality of its own with snuggly textures and wooden accents akin to a cosy log cabin.

Ground Floor/49 Salisbury St, Christchurch. Mossspa.co.nz

West Coast

Waiho Hot Tubs

For a one-of-a-kind spa experience, look no further than Waiho Hot Tubs. A stone’s throw away from one New Zealand’s most impressive natural wonders, Franz Josef Glacier, the wood-fired hot tub comfortably fits four people as you soak in the sights and sounds of the surrounding forest.

The hot tub is filled with fresh mountain stream water, with the temperature able to be adjusted to suit every preference.

Every 60-minute soak is priced at $95 for one adult, with add-ons available including a kilo of Epsom Salts, 300ml of hydrosol (a water-based solution crafted using distilled flowers, leaves and fruits), or hot tub bombs, which start from $10. Patrons are also welcome to bring their own nibbles and drinks (provided no glassware is used).

Opposite Dept. of Conservation, 64B Cron St, Franz Josef Glacier. Waihohottubs.co.nz

Queenstown

Aro-Ha Retreat

Founded on the principles of community, resiliency and sustainability, Aro-Ha has been providing guests with its signature wellness retreats for a little over a decade, welcoming thousands to its purpose-built setting nestled in the Southern Alps.

Unlike other day spas mentioned on this list, Aro-Ha offers a fully immersive six-day programme during which guests can experience physical activities including yoga, hiking and Pilates, adaptive wellness treatments including contrast hydrotherapy, massage, meditation and sleep hygiene, while noshing on a gluten-free, plant-based menu to nourish, detoxify and energise.

Aro-Ha’s first Revive & Thrive six-day wellness intensive of the year commences this Monday, and is touted to boost the immune system and calm the nervous system through daily rituals that combine nature and nutrition, movement and mindfulness for a truly transformative experience. Revive & Thrive is priced at $6950 for a six-day, five-night stay. For future retreat dates or to be added to the waitlist, click here.

33 Station Valley Rd, Wyuna Rise, Glenorchy. Aro-ha.com

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