Volcano Travel · Tour
Hell's Gate from the Tauranga Cruise Dock: Largest Hot Waterfall South of the Equator
A shore excursion from the Tauranga cruise berth to Hell's Gate, built around the ship's schedule rather than a fixed clock: departure times move to match when the ship docks, and if the ship never makes it into port the fare is refunded in full. Three hours at Hell's Gate. The geothermal walk is self-guided, with a map handed over on arrival, and the reserve holds the largest hot waterfall in the Southern Hemisphere. Then the mud baths and the sulphur spas, water local Māori have used for its healing properties for centuries. The Māori carving, the mud foot pool and the cool plunge pool come with the ticket at no extra cost. Wear swimwear you do not mind losing. Sulphur has a way of staying in fabric. The drive there and back is part of the day. It runs along Mount Maunganui Main Beach, past the 600-year-old pōhutukawa that is the last pre-European tree on the sand bar, and down State Highway 33 past Okere Falls, where the Kaituna River leaves Lake Rotoiti for the Bay of Plenty. The operator holds a Gold Qualmark five-star rating. Six passengers are needed for the trip to run.
What's included
- Entry to Hell’s Gate Geothermal Park with self guided walk
- Round-trip transportation from the Port of Tauranga with knowledge driver/guide
- Mud bath and sulphur spa experience
- Vehicle located directly outside the cruise ship passenger exit
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- Complimentary mud foot pool, cool plunge pool and Māori carving
- Full refund if your ship doesn't make it into port
Itinerary
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6 Salisbury Ave, Mount Maunganui
Come out of the port gates, turn right, and walk about 20 metres. A red flag and the advertising boards mark where the driver and the bus wait. Stay there, because the driver will be watching for you.
Mount Hot Pools
Hot ocean water pools, open to the air, in Mount Maunganui. TripAdvisor Hall of Fame, Gold Qualmark and NZ PoolSafe. Outdoor spas with massage jets, a large relaxation pool at 39 degrees with shoulder spouts, an active pool at 33 for swimming or cooling off, a children's pool with a mini slide and fountains, private indoor pools, and massage therapy on site. The facility is accessible. Warm seawater as treatment is not a recent idea: Hippocrates was writing about it around 500 BC, and salt water bathing was held to ease aching muscles and joints and to restore movement.
Mt Maunganui Main Beach
The drive goes through Mount Maunganui township and along Mount Main Beach, named among the best beaches in the world, past the houses that face it.
Okere Falls
Down State Highway 33 the road passes Okere Falls, a small town between Rotorua and Tauranga. It sits on the Okere Inlet of Lake Rotoiti, where the Kaituna River starts north towards the Bay of Plenty.
Hell's Gate Geothermal Reserve & Mud Spa
Three hours at Hell's Gate, with all three of its main things included. The interactive geothermal walk is self-guided and a map is handed over on arrival. After it, the geothermal mud and the sulphur waters, used by local Māori for their healing properties for centuries. Included at no extra cost: Māori carving, the mud foot pool, and the cool plunge pool. Wear old swimwear, because the sulphur smell tends to stay in it. The Hell's Gate FAQ page is at hellsgate.co.nz/faqs.
Bay Oval Cricket Ground
Bay Oval, the cricket ground at Mount Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty. It opened in 2005 inside Blake Park, has hosted men's and women's limited overs internationals since 2014, and held its first Test match in November 2019. Blake Park also carries rugby, hockey, netball and football.
Zespri International Limited HQ is the world’s largest…
The head office of Zespri International, the largest marketer of kiwifruit in the world, selling into more than 50 countries. Zespri works with around 2,800 growers and post-harvest companies in New Zealand and 1,500 more overseas.
This very large old tree
A pōhutukawa of roughly 600 years, the last pre-European one left on the Mount Maunganui sand bar, and a tree of significance to Ngāi Te Rangi. Several pre-European skeletons were reportedly found at its base, placed kneeling. Kihi Ngatai, a Ngāi Te Rangi leader, told the Bay of Plenty Times that when Cyclone Bola broke branches off it, local Māori refused to let the council cut the tree down: the dead were once hung from those branches until they decomposed, and their bones were buried underneath.
6 Salisbury Ave, Mount Maunganui
Not included
- Driver Gratuities
- Please note lunch is not included in this tour - cafe at venue
- No toilet onboard vehicle
Good to know
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
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- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Total duration includes travel time.
- Times may vary or alter to suit the arrival of the cruise ship
- Gold ***** Qualmark Operator
- Full refund if your cruise ship doesn't make it into port
- Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
- This tour is only offered on cruise ship days, as it’s specifically scheduled to align with cruise arrivals.
- Minimum number 6 passengers to enable the tour to go ahead
- Up to 15 travelers per booking.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Guiding available in: en.
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