Whenever locals feel like we need to properly switch off, we head to Athenree Hot Springs & Holiday Park for a soak in their mineral hot pools. What starts as a quick visit tends to turn into an hour or two without much effort.

Set right on the edge of the Tauranga Harbour, the whole place has a calm, unhurried feel to it. Surrounded by established trees, ferns and artwork, there’s a kind of softness you won’t always find in places like this. There are two pools, and between them they cover just about everything.

The larger pool sits at around 33–35°C, with plenty of space to move, float or settle in with friends and family while the kids play. It’s easy, social, and a good option if you’re visiting with a mix of ages.

But it’s the smaller pool that locals always end up in. Adults-only, sitting warmer at around 38.5–40°C, it has a completely different feel. It’s the kind of place where you lose track of time without really noticing — you tell yourself you’ll just stay a few minutes longer, and then suddenly you’ve been there far longer than planned.

Being able to move between the two is part of what makes it so special. The water is drawn from a natural aquifer deep underground and is constantly refreshed, so it’s always clean and consistent. Both pools are emptied and cleaned daily, and there’s a real sense the place is genuinely well looked after — including real efforts to reduce its environmental impact.

Athenree Hot Springs works whatever the weather is doing. Cold, grey, or a bit windy? If anything, that makes it better. It’s just as suited to a quiet solo reset as it is to catching up with friends or bringing the whole family along.

If you’ve got the time, it’s well worth staying. The holiday park sits right alongside the pools, with accommodation ranging from cabins, chalets and motel units through to powered and unpowered sites, including pet-friendly options. Facilities are well maintained throughout: a covered outdoor dining and BBQ area with a pizza oven, communal kitchen, games room, TV lounge and playground.

What really adds to it all is the people. It’s a family-run business, and you can feel that in the way the place is looked after — the staff are warm and knowledgeable, and the owners are active in the wider community.

Admission: Adults $12 | Seniors $10 | Children (1–12 yrs) $8 | Family pass (2 adults + 2 children) $35. Adult 10-swim concession card: $100 | Under 3s: complimentary swim nappy provided. Children under 12 months are not permitted, and last public admission is 7pm. Aqua Aerobics runs in the large pool every Wednesday at 9.15am during school term.

Book accommodation at athenreehotsprings.co.nz/accommodation. Come for a dip, or stay for a while, at Athenree Hot Springs & Holiday Park.