Rotorua: Forest Hot Tub Soak & Craft Bar by Puarenga Stream

Summary

Soak in cedar tubs by the forest stream then linger for coffee or craft beer

You’ll slip into your own private hot tub beside Rotorua’s forest stream, with drinks delivered right to you and time to unwind after adventure or travel. Enjoy a fresh-water soak with friends or family, then linger over coffee or craft beer at the forest café before heading back—just simple comfort surrounded by trees.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t realize how much I needed to just sit still until we got to Secret Spot in Rotorua. After a muddy morning biking through Whakarewarewa Forest (my socks are probably still stained), the idea of sinking into a steaming cedar hot tub felt almost too good to be true. The place is tucked right along the Puarenga Stream—close enough that you can hear water trickling over rocks if you stop talking for a second. Our local host, Jess, handed us towels and grinned when she saw our faces after that first step into the water. “Best part of my job,” she said, “watching people melt.” She wasn’t wrong.

The air smelled like wet earth and manuka wood smoke from the campfires out back. I kept reaching for my drink (they bring it right to your tub—dangerous) and letting my fingers trail through the hot water, which comes from some aquifer under the valley instead of the usual geothermal stuff around Rotorua. It’s fresh and clean, not that sulfur smell you sometimes get here. There was this moment where someone started laughing about how we’d all forgotten our swimwear but ended up renting these slightly-too-big shorts—nobody cared though; everyone looked equally ridiculous and relaxed.

We only had 45 minutes in the hot tub (goes faster than you think), but afterwards we wandered over to the café for manuka-roasted coffee and something sweet. There were families playing lawn games on one side, a couple quietly sharing cider near a fire pit on the other. I tried their Shinny Dip foot soak—free if you buy a drink—and honestly, I’d come back just for that after a long walk. It’s not fancy or fussy; it just feels easy, like someone built it for people who actually live here as much as visitors passing through. I still think about that warm cedar smell mixed with cold air on my face.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Relaxing soak and forest café visit

• Check in 15 minutes early
• Soak in cedar hot tub
• Enjoy tub-side bar service
• Use complimentary cold plunge tubs
• Visit café and bar
• Have a bite to eat
• Play lawn games
• Relax by outdoor campfires
• Unwind with Shinny Dip foot hot tub

Top questions

How long is the Rotorua forest hot tub soak?

The private cedar hot tub session lasts 45 minutes.

Is pickup included for Secret Spot Hot Tubs?

No, pickup is not included but parking is available onsite.

Can children use the hot tubs at Secret Spot Rotorua?

Children under 5 are not allowed in the hot tubs.

Are towels and swimwear provided?

You can bring your own swimwear and towel or hire them onsite.

Is there food or drink available at Secret Spot?

Yes, there’s a café and bar serving coffee, craft beer, cider, and wine.

Is there secure storage for belongings?

Yes, complimentary lockers are provided during your visit.

Are dogs allowed at Secret Spot Hot Tubs?

Yes, dogs are allowed on site.

What kind of water is used in the hot tubs?

The tubs use fresh spring water from an aquifer (not geothermal).

What’s included

Your experience includes access to your own private cedar hot tub for a 45-minute soak with fresh spring water heated just right, plus complimentary drinking water and secure lockers for your stuff. You’ll also have access to cold plunge tubs and free Shinny Dip foot soaks with any drinks purchase at the café-bar area nearby—parking is available too.