Aquavida has been open for one year and is in a beautiful setting in Welcome Bay, Tauranga. It offers a wide range of beauty therapy and treatments for women and men.

The owner, David Stewart, says their aim is to help customers escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, with Aqua Vida serving as a sanctuary for the body and mind, in an ambience of peace and tranquillity. The spa includes natural mineral water pools set in lush surroundings, providing a therapeutic environment in which to relax.

Located in Katikati‘s Fantail Lodge, Dreamers offers an indulgent experience with private, relaxing treatments. The team believes in creating a full experience for clients, starting from the moment they enter the spa to ensure they are relaxed well before the treatment starts so they get their full time and money‘s worth. The spa offers luxuries such as heated robes, individual plates of fruit and a lavender milk foot bath, even before they enjoy their spa treatment.

The coastal Bay of Plenty region boasts numerous hot, thermal pools to help take the chill off the winter months. Several hot pools are set in natural settings to add to the experience. The Fernland Spa, located just a five­minute drive from central Tauranga, is a geothermal pool complex set in a secluded valley with a backdrop of towering native bush and ferns. It features one large main pool plus eight private pools.

The Mount Maunganui Hot Salt Water Pools offer healing salt water heated by the exchange of underground thermal activity. The facilities include a warm lap pool, a larger hot pool with high­pressure showers, two spa pools plus a number of private pools. There‘s also a children‘s pool heated to 35 degrees Celsius. The complex is located between Mount Main Beach and Pilot Bay, just beneath Mt Maunganui.

Oropi Spa Pools are another option for keeping warm while still enjoying the outdoors. Located on Warner Road in Oropi, Tauranga, the pools have a tropical set­up with lots of palm trees and banana palms. The main pool is heated to 37 degrees, while four private pools are 40 degrees. The private setting takes advantage of its beautiful surroundings, which also include a garden stocked with native plants. Sanctuary Point, located along State Highway 29 in Greerton, Tauranga, features a renovated hot mineral spa and pool. With its beautiful location on a picturesque shoreline reserve, Sanctuary Point is popular for relaxation or family outings.

Another option to help keep warm is Sapphire Springs in Katikati. Its warm thermal pools and hot spa pools are available for guests and day visitors. Set in a holiday park, Sapphire Springs is part of a 35 hectare site with lovely bush walks with birds, glow­worms and a tranquil stream. Athenree Hot Springs & Holiday Park is placed at the northern end of Tauranga Harbour, close to Waihi Beach. A winner at the 2005 Tauranga Regional Business Awards, the complex has natural hot mineral pools that feature pure, soft water. There is a constant flow of water in the pools, creating lots of bubbles to help bathers unwind.