A weekend getaway to Miranda is one of my favourite things to do, particularly if you can convince…read morethe grandparents to come along too! We've stayed in the motel apartments here which are new and fairly luxe with spa baths, and the whole place is designed for de-stressing - even when you have little ones in tow. There's plenty for the kids to do with a trampoline, playground, tennis courts, bikes for hire and more; plus of course the mineral hot pool which (blessedly) has a shade cloth over it so you don't expire. Like all hot spring towns, Miranda is better in cooler weather and I like that you can just stay here, walk next door to the main hot spring public pool, BBQ your dinner and not really do much else - just chillax and rejuvenate. The pricing here at the Holiday Park is really reasonable and I love that they cater to larger families as well with the chalets sleeping up to seven people.

A complex of various thermally heated pools, both private and public. The kids enjoyed the speed…read moreslide while the adults relaxed in the adult spa! The water quality was great and we enjoyed trying out the various temperatures and types of pools. Nice country location with spacious picnic areas. The grounds were a little rustic but overall well kept and the price competitive. .

Beautiful relaxing spa, we had one of the private hot spring pools and it did not disappoint. The…read moreviews were spectacular and you have your own shower and it's also very private. We indulged in some massages and they were also amazing. Our visit included a fresh squeezed juice of your choice and that was delicious and refreshing. Overall a great experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed the lakefront pools. Each one was a different temperature and composition. I…read moresoaked in all of them. I had a wonderful 45 minute massage that was so relaxing. I highly recommend this spa when in Rotorua.

Thanks to our New Zealand friends (Geoffrey and Margaret), whom we met the year before during our…read morecruise through Southeast Asia, for planning a day of fun, exercise, and good eats in Auckland. We started with a hike up Mount Eden (Maungawhau), a dormant volcano and the highest natural point in Auckland, offering panoramic views of the city from its summit. As we hiked uphill along pathways and boardwalks to the summit, our friends explained that Mount Eden is a culturally significant Māori site, pointing out its historical Māori pā (fortified village) terraces and its sacred 160-ft-deep crater. It took us about 18 minutes to hike up from the parking lot to the summit while following the pathway to the boardwalks. The uphill hike was relatively easy with an elevation gain of nearly 240 feet, and I was sure glad that my osteoarthritic knee wasn't "acting up." We prepared for this hike by taking physically challenging shore excursions and actively exercising pre- and during our cruise. After all, we didn't want to reach the summit wheezing and out of breath, because we truly wanted to enjoy the panoramic views and take in the cultural and historical background from our younger friends. It was very windy atop and along the summit boardwalks, and I had to either hold on or lean into the handrails, otherwise be blown about like tumbleweed. At the summit, we were treated to a 360° panoramic view of Auckland city, its nearby neighborhoods, the iconic Sky Tower, Auckland Harbor Bridge, Rangitoto Island, and a glimpse of the South towards the Auckland Airport. Instead of returning to our vehicle the same way we had climbed up, our friends guided us downhill on a less steep, paved private roadway. Our round-trip hike took about an hour, and it was a beautiful day to spend with friends, enjoying iconic sights and learning about Māori history and culture.

At 196 meters high, Mount Eden, a dormant volcano, is the highest natural point in Auckland. It…read morewas named in honour of George Eden, the 1st Earl of Auckland (a white guy), by Governor William Hobson (another white guy). In the Māori language, Mount Eden is called Maungawhau, which means "mountain of the whau tree". At the top of Mount Eden/Maungawhau is a large, grassy crater 50 meters deep which is sacred to the Māori and must not be entered. Mount Eden/Maungawhau is a popular for hiking, and while it is not a long or difficult hike, there are steep sections. Around the crater are boardwalks that were installed in 2020 for people to take a stroll. Fortunately when we went hiking on Mount Eden/Maungawhau, the weather was nice, although it was quite windy at the top. I took a lot of photos to try and capture the beauty of the area, but it's something you just have to experience in person. If you like hiking and nature, don't miss Mount Eden/Maungawhau. [Yelp collections: NZ/Fiji 2023; New Zealand 2023; Hiking]

I've never really been to any hot springs in the Auckland region and didn't really know what to…read moreexpect. We went for a relaxed afternoon to celebrate a friend's birthday. The facility itself is a bit rundown and could really benefit from a good scrub down and a fresh lick of paint. The bathroom/changing facilities are old, dirty, and nothing flash. They have two pools for kids, a hotter spring fed pool, and more private pool with a small waterfall seemingly more for adults. The pool had grimey ring around the edge, but the water seemed relatively clean, and was a nice temperature. There was a kids birthday party and they were loud running around everywhere and eating/drinking in the pools (ew!). There were also at least 2 couples who spent their entire time in the pools making out (I'm talking for at least an hour). You were also allowed glass near the pools (but maybe this is just a no-no in the States???). The music was only faint, the counter barely attended, and there were no water taps to refill my bottle. With that being said, I did feel quite relaxed afterward and it was cheap as for $14 per adult.

Magical city! Rotorua is located alongside a volcano crater lake, and a bunch of geothermally…read moreactive hot springs and geysers. This place is unlike any other town I've ever been to! How many other cities have steaming pools along the main road? The whole town smells of sulfur, mildly like rotten eggs. It's that volcanic activity! There's even a Best Western hotel along the main strip that has a fence that unexpectedly sprays hot steam out of it. The geothermal activity is everywhere here! Rotorua knows how to capitalize on it too- there's ample parks, Maori villages, Zorbing, a cable car, bungee jumping, and museums! This little town is quite the tourists' paradise. There things to keep everyone entertained on their trip to NZ. Rotorua is in the middle of Maori country, where there are lots of villages set up to receive tourists, feed them, and put on a bit of a show! There's plenty of spas, and places to relax in the hot springs, or go swimming in the lake. At the center of town, under the big clock tower is the tourism bureau where you can get info on what there is to see and do around town. They'll even book your tour for you. The city is clean, and felt safe.

Lovely little town in the middle of nowhere! They have sort of turned it into a tourist…read moretrap/destination of sorts with all kind of roadside attractions. It does have a relaxed feel to it, but we found the food to be quite uninspired with menus comprised of much fish and chips (and other fried foods). The best thing I ate here was a veggie burger. For such an agricultural area I was surprised salads and healthful eating have not really reached this busy little place. I didn't feel bad supporting the local Maori people by coming out to visit their land, but I thought the "adventure" parks all lined up along the main highway were a bit contrived.

I agree with other reviews that its a little shabby and could do with a lick of paint. I think a…read morebetter shop and perhaps an upgrade on the changing rooms. Maybe its not popular to bring thru the money needed for the upgrade. The price is good and relevant for what it is. I wouldn't be happy paying more though. The pools could have done with one being a little hotter, there seemed to be very little difference between the two hotter ones so I just stayed in the hottest one the whole time. The main pool will be popular in Summer for the campground. I don't think I would go back when I think other hot pools in the North island are much better.

Beautifully kept little campsite and holiday park. The real treat is the private hot springs-…read morenestling down at the bottom of the park, a bamboo surrounded pool is available at next to nothing with hot hot lovely bubbling spring water. Also a pool available. its a perfect stopover on way down from Auckland to Rotorua, after visiting Matamata for the Hobbiton set. Highly recommended

I can't believe how fun it is to be campervan traveling in new Zealand, and top 10 holiday park…read morecampsites are great for first timer / beginner for campervan experience. This is my second time doing campervan traveling in new Zealand, but first time at the hot water beach top 10. Like all the other Top 10 Holiday park. They offered full kitchen, full hot showers, and also powered parking for campervan . If you are just driving a car and wanted to use their facilities, they also have cabins for rental. They all look pretty cute from outside. I've always told my friends, I am really doing "glamping" than camping. We never have through it out in the wild , but fully equipped kitchen and bathrooms with good hot water pressured shower. The staffs are also very friendly in terms of helping you to book activities around and for recommendations. The unique name of hot water beach comes from the beach has lava rocks underneath that heat up the sand . At low tides, you can dig your own spa spots to lay around for hot water sipping through the hot sand by the beach. Ita quite an interesting experience. It is about 10 to 15 minutes walk from this camp ground and the holiday park do provide shovel for rental. It did took us about 30 to 45 min to finally got a spot that gives really good very warm water , so you definetly want the shovel. This park is also very close to the Hahei and catherdral cove and other small towns with lots of good restaurants, gardens and wineries. We can easily find things to do around regardless of the weather. Since we arrived with a rainy day, we end up walking around the nearby town and spent the next day by the beach. Another great thing at the top 10 park is that, they have a fun jumping pillows that we have not seen in the states. Not only.kids enjoys bouncing around, so do all the adults. It was such a fun easy, non attraction activities. Great for all ages. We even star.gazed at night in the magical new Zealand campgrounds. I am already missing the great time in new Zealand. Tips: reception closed at 8. So make sure to arrived before then, or you might not find your parking spot at the campground and your complimentary limited WiFi. We got 2- 250MB WiFi for free for 2 night stays. And check out time is at 10 am.

OK OK OK you have to do this!!!…read more Think about it, where else can you make a hot spring sand tub on the beach, watch a beautiful sunrise, and be surrounded by some of the most breath taking scenery... Nowhere! (if there is another place like this don't ruin it for me, I like to think it's one of a kind). I traveled all around New Zealand and did a lot of fun things, but this was and experience that I'll never forget. Of all the things we did in the North and South island this was my favorite. You need to time your visit with the low tide, I would suggest the morning time (check with the Holiday Park staff, they will let you know when the low tide is). Also, you can pay them $5 to rent a shovel if you don't have one. I'm sure the afternoon is fun as well, but I heard there are just more people and it gets crowded fast. Morning time you get your sunrise, and it's just an amazing way to start your day. This is a must, but I'd say it's only for the adventurer type.