New Zealand’s geothermal capital has a major new accolade to its name.
Rotorua’s Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa has propelled itself onto the global stage after snapping up not one but two major titles in the 2026 World Spa Awards: Oceania’s Best Day Spa and New Zealand’s Best Day Spa.
The prestigious annual awards recognise excellence across the international wellness sector, with winners determined by votes from spa industry experts and consumers. This year, Wai Ariki came out on top among some 700 international competitors to claim its two victories in the Oceania category.
Set in the famously sulphurous surrounds of Rotorua on New Zealand’s North Island, the Ngāti Whakaue-owned facility is certainly not your average cucumber-slices-and-candlelight spa. The centre has drawn on the natural ingredients of the region – geothermal heat, mineral-rich waters and mud – and transformed them into a luxury wellness destination grounded in Māori values.
Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa features award-winning architecture with a strong sense of place.
Wai Ariki translates to ‘chiefly waters’, a name that nods to the geothermal waters that have been bubbling up from deep beneath the earth for centuries, as well as the enduring relationship between local Ngāti Whakaue and the land.
Even the architecture speaks to the day spa’s local values. The stunning roof structure represents the brow of the Te Arawa waka (canoe) and traditional Māori meeting house gables, while interiors make use of raw volcanic materials such as basalt and obsidian.
Must-try experiences at Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa
Overlook Lake Rotorua from the thermal pools. (Credit: Jono Parker)
Enjoy a 'fire' experience in the facility's saunas.
Steam is a key component of the Restorative Journey experience.
Rejuvenate in the herbal pool.
Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa brings together warm hospitality, award-winning architecture and centuries-old healing traditions of local iwi, Ngāti Whakaue.
The signature two-hour Restorative Journey captures the core of the business. Drawing on Ngāti Whakaue practices, the seven-step, multi-sensory therapy blends elements of heat, mud, steam and water – with the Te Ngao blessing stone, waterfall showers and Tongariro Fire & Ice Caves all part of the experience.
Another must-try is the luxury thermal pool area overlooking tranquil Lake Rotorua. Dip into five mineral-rich pools – hydrotherapy, cold plunge, herbal pools among them – each set to varying temperatures, with water drawn directly from the earth. It’s included in the Restorative Journey but also available as a standalone experience for guests wishing to book in an hour-long bathing session.
Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa offers treatments designed to recharge and reconnect guests with the locality.
Should you be extending the exhale, there are of course traditional spa treatments too – and they come with thoughtful, place-driven twists. There’s the Wai Ariki Signature Massage that incorporates native leaves as well as rākau (wooden tools) to work deeper into tense areas; the Mānuka Honey Body Treatment, designed to nourish the skin with powerful antioxidants; and the thermal mud purifying facial bound to leave your skin porcelain-smooth.
If you’re planning on travelling to New Zealand’s North Island, make sure to add Wai Ariki Hot Springs to your itinerary.
Want to see more stories from International Traveller in your Google search results?
Tick the box next to "International Traveller". That's it.
Eleanor Edström is International Traveller’s Associate Editor. El began her career writing for national magazines including Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel, and has since developed a soft spot for wild landscapes, thoughtful design and the human stories that bring them to life. She holds an honours degree in English and philosophy from the University of Sydney, and has lived abroad in both Switzerland and France – ostensibly to sharpen her French, though the pastries made a strong supporting case. One day, she hopes to swim with humpback whales off the coast of Mo'orea.
Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.
The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.
1. Easy access to good food
Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.
One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.
In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.
In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.
Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.
At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.
While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.
It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.
2. Better sleep options
Sleep deeply with Novotel.
There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.
For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.
The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.
3. More ways to move
Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)
Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.
At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.
Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.
4. Better connections
Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.
One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.
Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.
A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.
Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.
All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.
