Take your aching bones to Ngawha for a holiday treat
M
āori have known about the healing benefits of soaking in the geothermal pools at Ngawha for about 300 years.
But today, everyone’s welcome to come to the newly redeveloped Springs for some traditional healing therapy. Ngawha Operations Manager, Moana Cross says the 16 pools were basically mud holes prior to the 2019 redevelopment. “They’re now fully enclosed with wooden floors and walls but the layout of the pools remains unchanged. We have a new changing area with hot showers, a café and meeting rooms. It’s a real taonga for all of us up in the north.
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Moana grew up in Paihia and says a visit to the Ngawha Springs after church on a Sunday was a regular occurrence in her whānau. “They were totally different to how they look today,” she laughs
Good for your wairua Moana is keen to stress when they talk about healing at Ngawha they’re talking about traditional healing. She says the pools are thought to be beneficial for bone health and skin afflictions. “The Bulldog Pool is good for the bones. It’s the hottest pool and permeates deep into the bones,” she says.
