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Soak away cares in these spas

ROTORUA'S reputation as a spa destination goes back more than 160 years to when The Pink and White Terraces were considered to be the eighth wonder of the world.

Visitors travelled from the other side of the world to marvel at the beauty of two immense silica formations . . . and bathe in the natural therapeutic waters caught in the basins within them.

Sadly the terraces were destroyed in 1886 during the eruption of Mt Tarawera. Despite this Rotorua's standing as a spa and visitor destination continued to grow, and plans were drawn up for a "great spa of the South Pacific" - the gracious Tudor-style Bath House - which opened in 1908.

People came from all over the world to 'take the waters' at the Bath House. Now home to Rotorua's award-winning museum, the building utilised thermal water and mud for a variety of bathing, mud and massage treatments.

The remnants of those treatments can still be seen today at the Rotorua Museum.

In addition the thermal waters featured at the Blue Baths and Polynesian Spa both also in Government Gardens.

Designed for recreational rather than medicinal bathing, the Art Deco-style Blue Baths opened in 1931 and closed 40 years later. Following restoration, they were re-opened in 1999.

Polynesian Spa is built on the site of the Priest Springs, named for an Irish priest. Tauranga-based Father Mahoney reputedly cured himself of arthritis in 1878 by setting up camp beside a hand dug pool and bathing in it daily for three months.

The Pavilion Baths were built over the Priest Springs in 1882 followed by two more buildings including the Ward Baths.

Countless visitors attest to the benefits of soaking in Rotorua's therapeutic waters and are rejuvenated by the many health and wellness options available at places like Polynesian Spa, QE Health and Hell's Gate Wai-Ora Spa.

Many of the city's accommodation houses offer thermal swimming, spa and plunge pool options.

Three new mineral bathing pools have opened at Rotorua's award-winning visitor attraction, Polynesian Spa. They replace the famous Radium and Priest hot springs and have been built at a higher level to allow for clear views over Lake Rotorua.

Dubbed the Priest Spa, the new pools are shallow, passive bathing pools for adults and will be kept at different controlled temperatures between 39oC and 42oC.

Rated as one of the top 10 medicinal spas in the world by readers of Conde Nast Traveller magazine in May 2004, Polynesian Spa now provides clients with a choice of 28 different bathing pools and spa therapies in the Lake Spa Retreat.

Partially surrounded by a volcanic outcrop and sinter terrace, the second pool is the hottest of the three new pools, while the third pool is located at an even lower level close to Lake Rotorua.

All pools offer first-class views over Sulphur Point in Lake Rotorua. Mood lighting for night time bathers, a new outdoor cold-water shower cubicle and a gazebo relaxation area, complement the new area.

The thermal spring water is pumped from the Radium spring and passed through a hydrogen sulphide scrubbing plant before making its way to the new pools.

The historic flume-ways that discharge the spring water into the Lake have also been retained. Visitors can still view the historic Radium and Priest pools from the new deck that has been built over part of them and there is also an interpretative display panel highlighting their historical significance.

Polynesian Spa has hosted over eight million visitors since it began operation in 1972.