Maruia Hot Springs

I so wanted to love Maruia Springs but overall our recent stay was a mixed bag. The accomodation was excellent, the pools are lovely but the food was really disappointing.We stayed in the glamping pod and it was lovely. Great value, cosy and warm. Everything you need, and easy to get to the pools. Highly recommend!We had breakfast in the restaurant and it wasn’t good. Some of our food was cold, poached eggs were hard boiled, portions were very small and the porridge (pictured) was inedible. Some items were substituted, which is understandable in an isolated location, but this wasn’t communicated and the substitutions were an odd choice. Other items just weren’t included at all. The experience left us all feeling we had paid a decent price ($25 each plus drinks) for an unsatisfying meal.We spoke to the manager at reception who was really reasonable. From what other guests were saying, it seemed that a lot of people had issues with their meals.We felt the staff were a bit weighed down. It must be a full on job, and doubly hard when a lot of people are complaining or sending food back. Every we spoke to was polite and helpful, despite this.I really hope the food improves. We’d love to go back but I wouldn’t eat there again.

Popped in for a spa on our way back to Christchurch just in time to participate in the Wellness fusion in the outdoor spa. What an incredible experience! The young woman who takes the session is so knowledgeable, calming ,encouraging and supportive. I had a great time, thank you!

Love love loved this place!Incredibly relaxing sauna and cold plunge experience with guides. Slept like a baby afterwards.Free yoga with Tim, whose classes were fab.Lovely organic homemade creams and lotions that smelt divine. Meals and drinks were delicious.Can't wait to return.

Visited at the perfect time of the year (10th June) is was frosty and beautiful! The water was lovely and the landscape was breathtaking. I spent the weekend just in awe of the location and the small details made to create an environment that immersed in the landscape. As someone who lives in New Zealand I always forget how beautiful the country really is. The view from the room was one of my only small pitfalls of the experience. Half of the view from the mountain suite was car park and the back of other rooms but the rest was beautiful and having everything in such close proximity to the pools and main hub was great. The insides of the rooms were very cozy and warm which was a relief. Super tidy and modern. It was an interesting experience having dinner there as I booked for a romantic getaway but it also pulls people who are travelling through the island or tramping(which I didn’t even consider)so although we were dressed up almost everyone else was in very casual yoga tramping clothes. As for the food I’m a little critical because I’m a big foodie. I understand that this is probably best suited for people headed on a health kick and it’s quite a drive to the nearest supermarket so sourcing ingredients is probably a challenge but the food was kind of… bland? Everything was just lacking a little flavour. The dishes sounded beautiful and definitely made me feel as though I was looking after my body but some dried herbs and spices go a long way. The staff were lovely, very kind and down to earth. They had an issue with a hot water cylinder that was in the roof above our room and the guy who came in to fix it offered to move bookings we had to an earlier time so that we had something to do while he was doing the repair. The pools were lovely and the private bath was beautiful and such a luxurious experience. Overall a place I would definitely recommend people go for a romantic weekend away or a stay over for a night after a long hike if you have the money.

An absolutely stunning location and an ideal weekend getaway. The room was excellent and the Pools were glorious to sit and relax in. The overall standard of the complex is everything you could ask for and comparable to any international offering that I've stayed at in my years wandering the planet. Don't leave home till you've seen the country" used to be our mantra and it applies to Maruia and to the whole of the West Coast (my home & piece of paradise)"

I went there on June 16th, 2023. It was amazing—literally amazing. The room was so clean and comfortable, and there was even a coffee machine we could use in the room. They provided four towels for the two of us, even though we were staying only one night. They knew that we would be enjoying the hot spring, so one towel probably would not be enough. The hot pool was super close to the room, around a 40-second walk, and there were three of them. The mineral hot spring at this place was super clear when I was there. The pool is open 24 hours, which is super convenient; you can go there anytime you want. Moreover, there weren't many people there on Friday night when we visited. The view was also stunning. While soaking at night, we could see the Milky Way just above our heads. In the morning, we could see the white frost covering the riverbank—stunning! By the way, they have two sauna rooms; one of them is inside the building and open 24 hours. We visited the sauna three times during our stay. It was super lovely. I highly recommend it, and we will definitely go back again.

tldr; Pools and comfort is excellent but food is a big let down.Bathing areas were very nicely done, very similar to a lot of Japanese onsen (especially the private bathing rooms) and great value to be able to stay all day upon checkout. Share bath area probably get uncomfortably crowded during peak times.Hotel rooms were very comfortable but ideally would have provided outdoor slippers for moving to bath areas. There are two free 10A EV charge points which was super useful, but staff seemed to have turned off our charger overnight without notice which was annoying. One day internet plans are a rip-off but get better value if you are staying longer.By far the biggest detractor of the stay was the food - the price you pay for dinner as part of a package isn't super transparent but it appears to be in the $60-70 range. Dinner options were heavily focussed on 'wellness' foods (read: everything was 50% lentils) which could be fine but everything was done in a flavourless subpar manner - the 'venison' was a dollop of dry and overly salty meat on a massive mound of un-seasoned lentils. The $5 extra side of bread was two tiny slices of super stale bread. The overall experience would be massively boosted by improving the food: Not everything needs to be wellness meals - some other options of simple meals with a nicely done proteins with local *cooked* produce would be more than enough to make most people happy if there were done well.

The Sauna infusion and cold plunge combination is truly a lovely way to let your body take a well deserved break. The kombucha and skin masks served during the infusion are just yummmm! So good for your skin, your body and most importantly, your soul.I personally also love the yoga classes, which are part of the package for all overnight guests. There’s no need to feel intimidated if you’re new because the yoga instructors are simply fabulous. I love how they always say it’s your yoga class, do whatever feels right to you, for you.In the evening, I love sitting by the fireplace in the lounge, sipping a cup of tea, overlooking the mountains out the window. You have to see it to believe it, for real. This is really a pinnacle experience of a relaxed weekend, there’s really no place like this anywhere in New Zealand.You will also get plenty of accommodation options, from the most affordable, camping to simple pods and full service rooms. Whatever budget you have, they have everything you need.

I have been twice now since the renewal of the owners. Last winter in a pod and this winter in a room. Both are great for the price - facilities and classes all inclusive and even when you check out you can still use facilities for that day until 9pm. I wasn't aware that facilities close at 11am on Tuesdays though so missed out this time as we checked in on a Monday. Location is in the middle of nowhere and super cold with snow on the mountains overhead, so it's perfect if that's what you're looking for. I love the ethos, the environmentalism, and well being aspects. Though the kombucha is a little over brewed :PThis round we had dinner and breakfast included and our meals were not exact to the menu but lovely and adequately-portioned for well-being none the less. Don't expect some massive steak-house type deal.2 days after my infusion sauna I heard and saw a friend whispering about how much I was glowing and how clear my skin looked!I'm already looking forward to returning with more friends that I'd love to offer the experience to. Will be visiting every winter and more if I get the chance.