Maruia Hot Springs Thermal Resort

This place was such a great find! I was headed to Hanmer when I saw this place and after a long drive from Christchurch and bumper to bumper traffic in the rain, I was ready to get off the road for a respite.

Apparently this place is brand spanking new from renovations as it went into disrepair per the previous owners.
It has 3 thermal pools of varying temps, a cold dip pool, a sauna all located in a fenced area. There are changing rooms, an infrared sauna, and an indoor hightemp thermal pool with pano windows looking out in a bldg down the path from the main visitor center and café.

Each thermal pool is great and has naturally occurring algae, which you can rub on your skin or even eat if you are brave enough. The sauna is fantastic as well and the cold dip pool is invigorating! It is big enough for one person and has a ladder to ease yourself in if you don't want to do a full dunk. I highly recommend starting off in the sauna, doing the cold dunk, and then soaking in each of the thermal pools. It was so relaxing!

I went when it was raining, and though some were put off by this, I loved it! It was extra relaxing because of the rain and the fact the rain caused less people to be in the pools. I had two of the pools all to myself! They do offer lockers, but honestly, my things were fine being hung by the thermal pools. Nobody seemed to mess w/anyone else's things.

They also have a nice café here and I had a delicious steak n ale pie w/a ginger beer at a very reasonable price. You can rent a room here, as well.

The day use price was fairly reasonable for use of the pools, saunas, and changing rooms. The staff were very friendly as well and the young man that checked me in was super helpful in explaining everything and even giving me a bit of history about the place.

All in all a fantastic experience! I spent 4hrs there and left feeling like a rejuvenated human noodle w/a full belly and a contented soul!