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The Best Hot Pools In And Around Queenstown For Some Serious R&R

24th Nov 2025
Written by:
Eloise Luke
Contributor | Urban List
  • The best hot pools in and around Queenstown

Whether you're a local in desperate need of a spa weekend or a tourist hoping to experience all the perks that NZ has to offer, Queenstown's best hot pools are sure to deliver on every front.

Ideal for soaking away the aches and pains of a day on the trails, sink into private mountain views, mud therapies, and mineral-packed tubs—perhaps with a glass of bubbly in hand. 

These are Urban List's top picks for the best hot pools in Queenstown for some serious rest and relaxation. 

The Best Queenstown Hot Pools At A Glance

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The Best Hot Pools In Queenstown

Onsen Hot Pools

160 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point, Queenstown

Two people look over the scenery at Onsen Hot Pools in Queenstown.Image credit: Onsen Hot Pools  | Queenstown NZ

Allow us to introduce you to one of the most Instagram-worthy hot pools NZ has to offer. Overlooking the Shotover River alongside spectacular alpine views, Onsen Hot Pools is the perfect break from the action-packed thriller that is Queenstown.

Incredibly beautiful, luxurious and romantic—enjoy a private cedar-lined hot pool, featuring retracting picture windows designed to transcend your setting from indoors to outdoors, at the touch of a single button.

Insider intel
  • Most popular during the day and at sunset, Onsen Hot Pools also offer packages from the likes of aromatherapy burners to complimentary glasses of bubbly—adding a lil’ extra to an already promising experience.

Book online

Bathe By Allume

34 Brecon Street, Queenstown

A couple soaks in a tub at Bathe By Allume, one of the best hot pools in Queenstown.
Image credit: Bathe By Allume | Instagram

Designed as an escape from the city, Bathe by Allume is located on Brecon Street. It blends luxurious design with pure relaxation, boasting six modern pools (three of which have stunning mountain views), two garden pools and one communal option. Each pool is crafted with earthy materials, smooth finishes, and serene tones, designed to relax the mind just as much as the body.

The communal hot pool fits 1-8 people, a warm spot for quiet conversation or comfortable silence, your pick. If you need more space for yourself, the private hot pools are designed for 1-4 people, for sixty minutes of uninterrupted calm.

Insider intel
  • Remember to bring along your water bottle and stay hydrated with refilling stations available, or browse their thoughtful selection of refreshments while you relax.

Book Online

Hot Tub On The Hillside

Hansen Road, Frankton, Queenstown

A hot tub perched on a hillside in Queenstown
Image credit: Hot Tub On The Hillside | Instagram

Tucked away above Queenstown, Hot Tub on the Hillside is a true one-of-one experience—a single private hot tub overlooking sweeping alpine scenery. It’s quiet, peaceful, and designed for people who want the view without the crowds. The tub fits 2–4 people, and you can book up to three hours, giving you plenty of time to settle in and switch off.

Because it’s the only tub on site, the water is refreshed between bookings, and you can adjust the temperature to your liking (it usually sits around a perfectly toasty 40°C). There’s a short walk from the car park to the tub, but the bonus is extra vantage points across the landscape on your way down.

Insider intel
  • Visit before 3pm in winter for maximum daylight, or aim for an evening soak in summer when the heat eases off. 

book online

Kamana Soak  

Kamana Lakehouse, 139 Fernhill Road, Fernhill, Queenstown

A woman soaks in a hot tub in front of a Queenstown alpine view at Kamana Soak
Image credit: Kamana QT | Instagram

Just six minutes from central Queenstown, Kamana Lake House pairs boutique accommodation with one of the region’s most tranquil private soaking experiences. Kamana Soak is exclusive to hotel guests, with three cedar-lined outdoor tubs overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains—an incredible backdrop whether you’re starting your morning slowly or winding down after a day of exploring.

Each tub fits up to three adults and is booked for 60-minute sessions, priced at $119 NZD. The tubs sit on a sheltered balcony-style deck with wood-panelled walls and an open front, giving you that cosy “mountain cabin” feeling while still being just steps away from your room and the hotel’s amenities.

Insider intel
  • Because spots are limited, reserve your soak as soon as you’ve secured your room—Kamana Lake House offers 24-hour assistance for bookings.

Book Online

Driftaway Holiday Park

1 Lake Avenue, Frankton, Queenstown

A woman reads at sunset while soaking in a hot pool at Driftaway holiday park
Image credit: Driftaway Queenstown | Instagram

Driftaway has refreshed the classic Queenstown spa experience with a set of private hot tubs overlooking the lake and surrounding mountains. Each tub fits up to four people and is designed purely for soaking (not jet-powered like a jacuzzi), giving you a quieter, more restorative session. The views are the real highlight here, with each tub positioned to make the most of the sparkling lake and alpine backdrop.

Sessions run for 60 minutes, including changing time, and come with towels and drinking water. The tubs sit at a consistent 38°C, and while the temperature can’t be adjusted, it’s calibrated to stay comfortable across the seasons. A couple of flights of stairs lead to the tubs, so keep that in mind when planning your visit.

Insider intel
  • Bookings fill quickly in winter—reserve ahead to avoid missing out. The tubs are open to both Driftaway guests and the public, but only in-house guests can access the wider holiday park facilities. 

Book Online

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The Best Hot Pools Near Queenstown

Kinloch Wilderness Retreat

862 Kinloch Road, Glenorchy

A couple watch the view while relaxing in a hot pool at Kinloch Wilderness Retreat
Image credit: Kinloch Wilderness Retreat | Instagram

This one is a little further out—about an hour's drive from Queenstown, but what feels like a world away. Kinloch Wilderness Retreat sits at the very edge of Lake Whakatipu, surrounded by beech forest, mountains and the quiet rhythm of the Dart River. The drive alone is worth the journey, following one of New Zealand’s most spectacular lakefront roads before opening into Kinloch, the country’s smallest township and a peaceful hamlet at the gateway to the Routeburn.

Their Wai Wellness area is a peaceful on-site spa designed for tired legs and post-adventure recovery. After a day on the trails, you can slip into the steaming outdoor hot pool and take in panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and native bush—quiet, restorative, and completely immersed in nature. For an even bigger reset, finish with the ice shower for a hit of contrast therapy.

Insider intel
  • If you’re hiking the Routeburn or exploring Glenorchy’s trails, make Kinloch your base—it’s perfectly placed for early starts, late finishes and quiet evenings under the mountains.

Book online

Hot Tubs Omarama

29 Omarama Avenue Main, Twizel Highway, Omarama

A hot tub with a view in Omarama
Image credit: Hot Tubs Omarama | Instagram

Set in the wide-open landscape of the South Island, Hot Tubs Omarama is all about natural, sustainable relaxation—about a two-hour drive from Queenstown central. Each private tub is crafted from Canadian Western Red Cedar and filled with pure mountain water—no chemicals, no crowds, just fresh, clear warmth and some of the most peaceful views in the region. Tubs fit anywhere from couples to groups of up to eight, and you control the temperature so it’s always just right.

Before your soak, you can warm up in the onsite sauna, then settle into your outdoor wellness pod to take in Omarama’s sweeping valleys and big skies. It’s the perfect way to unwind after skiing, biking, fishing, or simply exploring the high-country surrounds.

Insider intel
  • Book your session around sunset if you can—the light across the Omarama ranges is stunning, and the tubs feel even more tranquil as the day winds down.

Book online

Main image credit: Hot Tub On The Hillside | Instagram

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