ROTORUA’s MOST ACTIVE THERMAL PARK
New Zealand, as a country is located on the “Ring of Fire” where the earth is always in a state of upheaval. This is no more evident than in Rotorua on New Zealand's volcanic plateau where geothermal activity is pronounced including erupting geysers, steaming fumaroles, mud pools and hot geothermal springs . THE BEAST
Hells Gate Geothermal Park is set in 50 acres with a large variety of thermal features. Walk past steaming fumeroles and hot pools of boiling MUD so violent they are unnerving. Follow the footsteps of ancient Maori Warriors through the swirling clouds of steam, past the hot pool where the Maori Princess “Hurutini” lost her life, see the violent geothermal activity of the Inferno and the Kakahi Falls , the largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere. Here, warriors would bathe in the sulphurous waters to heal their wounds after battle and remove the “tapu” (sacredness) of war. FEEL THE EARTH’S RAW POWER
Hells Gate Tikitere is a unique place of extreme contrasts. You will see remarkable formations and colours, cascading hot water and unearthly vistas, even examples of “land coral”.
No need to heed the warning signs, you will want to hug the path!! The unique geothermal muds and waters of Rotorua are renown for their curative and invigorating properties—and this is particularly so at “Hells Gate” - Rotorua’s most active thermal park. For more than 700 years “Hells Gate” or Tikitere as it is known to the Maori (New Zealand’s indigenous people) has been a special place of wellness from the medicinal sulphur lake to the curative waters and muds of “Hurutini” (name of a geothermal pool). With the arrival of the Europeans to New Zealand (Aotearoa) some 150 years ago, the special qualities of the muds and waters of Hells Gate Tikitere, have been sought after with many documented and medically certified cures being effected. The special muds and sulphurous waters have been guarded for centuries by the Kaitiaki - ’Wai Ora’ (guardian warrior) after whom the spa is named.
Additional properties of “Hells Gate” muds include: Very strong affinity to moisture in the skin making it an excellent product for promoting regenerating skin cells Detoxifying and purifying action of the mud on the skin when drying Highly active clay surfaces of the mud that easily absorbs excess oils and fatty secretions from within the skin’s pores Bacteriacidal properties of the mud through it’s sulphur content which kill bacteria and assists in the prevention and elimination of acne There are special qualities retained in “Hells Gate” mud which is a very fine suspension in the mineral enriched geothermal waters of the “Hurutini” pool. This mineral enriched geothermal mud provides an excellent source of minerals including silica, alumina, magnesium, calcium, iron, titanium, sulphur, phosphorous, sodium and potassium as well as trace elements such as copper, zinc, selenium, cobalt, manganese and molylodeman.

Basically the coolest thing you will ever see! and open hot spring, smells like raw eggs, and really is the closest you will get to hell! some of the pits are so hot they could boil you alive!

This place was really cool. Lots of steam, boiling mud and hot water - really spectacular!! Beware the smell though, in some places it's really bad (sulphur). But well worth the walk through.

It is quite nice, except the smell, I grew up a 4 hour drive from Yellowstone, and enjoy the kind of environment. The size is nothing to compare to Yellowstone.

Bit smelly but quite cool to walk around and check out the mud pools :)