Mount Maunganui Hot Pools: Closure Status & Best Alternatives (2026)

When a beloved local spot shuts down without a reopening date, it’s natural to wonder what happened — and where to go next. Mount Hot Pools, the only hot ocean water pools in the world, have been closed since a severe weather event on 21 January 2026, leaving visitors and locals searching for alternatives.

Status: Temporarily closed since January 2026 due to storm damage ·
Location: Base of Mauao, Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty ·
Unique feature: Only hot ocean water pools in the world ·
Alternative nearby: Baywave Tauranga (same operators, massage available)

Five key details define the current situation at Mount Hot Pools.

Will the Mount Maunganui Hot Pools reopen?

What caused the closure?

• A severe weather event on 21 January 2026 triggered multiple landslides across Mauao, causing extensive damage to the base area where the pools are located (Tauranga City Council local government).
• The Mount Hot Pools site at 9 Adams Avenue was directly affected, leading to an immediate indefinite closure (Mount Hot Pools official website).
• Permanent fencing and a 30-metre exclusion zone have been installed around the affected area for public and maritime safety (Tauranga City Council local government).

The catch: while Mauao itself remains closed to the public, the surrounding streets — the Mall, Maunganui Road, Marine Parade and Adams Avenue — are open to vehicles and pedestrians (Tauranga City Council local government). So the town itself is accessible, just not the pools or the maunga.

When might the hot pools reopen?

• No reopening date has been announced. The official website states “Currently Closed” (Mount Hot Pools official website).
• Geotechnical engineers continue to assess risks to structures at the base of Mauao (Tauranga City Council local government).
• Previous planned maintenance closures lasted about two months (October to December 2025), but the current storm damage is far more complex (Bay Venues operator).

The implication: any reopening likely depends on slope stability and structural safety clearance — a process that could take months, not weeks.

Where can I find updates about the reopening?

• Check the official Mount Hot Pools website for status changes.
• Follow Tauranga City Council’s Mauao landslide page for broader safety updates.
• Bay Venues’ blog also posts closure notices and alternative facility information (Bay Venues operator).

Are the hot pools at Mount Maunganui thermal?

What is the source of the hot water?

• The water is pumped directly from the ocean and then heated using conventional heating systems (Mount Hot Pools official website).
• It is not naturally hot groundwater — the facility is located on the coastline, not over a geothermal field.

Are these pools naturally geothermal?

• No. Unlike Rotorua’s geothermal springs, the Mount Maunganui pools use heat exchangers and boilers to warm the salt water.
• This makes them a heated saltwater facility, not a natural hot spring.

How are the pools heated?

• Standard commercial pool heating equipment maintains temperatures of 26–28°C for lap pools and 38–40°C for spa pools.
• The system is energy-intensive, which is one reason the facility’s operational costs are higher than a typical freshwater pool.

The distinction matters: visitors expecting a geothermal soak will be disappointed. These are heated ocean pools — warm, yes, but not bubbling up from the earth.

The pattern: this thermal distinction is often overlooked but critical for setting visitor expectations.

Are there different pools at Mount Hot Pools?

What types of pools are available?

• Lap pools: 25-metre length, temperature 26–28°C, ideal for swimming and aquafit classes.
• Spa pools: 38–40°C with hydrotherapy jets, designed for relaxation and muscle recovery.
• Kids’ pool: Shallow, warmer water for young children (no exact temperature published).

Are there spa and lap pools?

• Yes, both are available simultaneously. Timetables for lane availability and “golden hour” sessions were published pre-closure.

Is there a kids’ pool?

• Yes, a dedicated children’s area existed, though specific dimensions are not listed on the official site.

The trade-off: the variety meant the facility could serve swimmers, relaxers, and families all at once. During the closure, no single alternative in Tauranga replicates that full mix.

What are the best hot pools in Tauranga?

Are there public hot pools in Mount Maunganui?

• Baywave Tauranga — the closest public aquatic centre, with lap pools, spa pools, and a leisure pool. Massage therapy from the Mount Hot Pools team continues here (Bay Venues operator).
• Greerton Aquatic & Leisure Centre — another Bay Venues facility with indoor and outdoor pools (Bay Venues operator).
• Otūmoetai Pool — a smaller community pool option (Bay Venues operator).
• Memorial Pool — opens for the summer season on 6 November (Bay Venues operator).

What private hot pools are available?

• Private spa pool rentals are scarce in Mount Maunganui itself. Options include holiday parks with spa suites or boutique accommodation with private hot tubs — but these are not public pool facilities.

Are there indoor hot pools in the area?

• Baywave has an indoor leisure pool with warm water, though not as hot as Mount Hot Pools’ spa pools.
• For a true indoor geothermal experience, Rotorua’s Polynesian Spa (about an hour’s drive) offers indoor thermal pools.

What this means: the Bay Venues network provides decent substitutes for lap swimming and casual soaking, but nothing matches the unique combination of hot ocean water and mountain backdrop that Mount Hot Pools offered.

Where are the hot pools in New Zealand?

Which New Zealand city is famed for its hot mud pools?

• Rotorua is internationally known for its bubbling hot mud pools and geothermal springs (Wikipedia Rotorua).

What are the best geothermal pools in New Zealand?

• Polynesian Spa (Rotorua) — mineral hot springs with lake views (Polynesian Spa official site).
• Hanmer Springs (Canterbury) — alpine thermal pools and spa (Hanmer Springs official site).
• Taupō DeBretts Hot Springs — family-friendly geothermal pools (Taupō DeBretts official site).
• Kaikōura Hot Pools — ocean-view pools with geothermal heating (Kaikōura tourism site).

Where can I find hot ocean water pools?

• Mount Maunganui’s Hot Pools were the only hot ocean water pools in the world. No equivalent facility exists elsewhere in New Zealand or globally.

The pattern: New Zealand is rich in geothermal pools, but none duplicate the saltwater-and-surf experience of Mount Hot Pools.

For visitors who planned a trip around the unique experience of soaking in heated ocean water at the foot of Mauao, the closure forces a hard pivot. The only hot ocean water pools on the planet are off the table indefinitely. But the Bay of Plenty still offers plenty of warm-water options — you just need to adjust expectations. Sky Tower Auckland and What to Do in Wanaka offer other travel inspiration, but for hot pool seekers, the focus should be on Baywave or a day trip to Rotorua. For the Tauranga visitor, the choice is clear: book a massage at Baywave and enjoy a regular heated pool, or drive an hour to Rotorua for genuine geothermal springs.