Thanks to its beauty and healing properties Tikitere has been a destination for spa and nature seekers since 1871. In 1934 noted Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw, visited and cited it as inspiration to change his once atheist beliefs. In awe of the boiling mud and steam billowing into the sky, Shaw is said to have exclaimed “this could be the very gates of hell.” Upon hearing this, local Māori decided the English name for the area would become Hell’s Gate.

Hell’s Gate mud spa is a historic New Zealand experience. The healing properties of the geothermal mud and sulphur mineral water have been used by local Māori for over 800 years. Open and clean your skin by lathering it in our unique mud, before exfoliating and cleansing with a soak in the sulphur spa. Your body and soul will feel revitalised after this soothing experience.

This experience includes bathing in the world-famous mud baths, then soaking in the sulphur spas and cool plunge pool.

Why is this Chuffed Worthy?

Some of the Chuffed team took a visit to Hells Gate to walk through the Geothermal Reserve before trying out the Mud Bath & Sulphur Spa. We found it to be an incredibly unique & relaxing experience and were blown away by the Kaitiakitanga & Manaakitanga of the Hells Gate team.  This site is extremely significant to Maori Culture, which makes us all the more lucky to be able to experience it! Pro tip – take old swimwear or rent some on site, as the Sulpher can be tricky to get out of clothing!