Palm Springs Geothermal Pools

Which Palm Springs is this?

The name causes confusion, so first the identification. This listing covers Palm Springs Geothermal Pools at 155 Parkhurst Road, Parakai, in the Kaipara area north-west of Auckland. The operator’s website, phone number (09 420 8321) and OpenStreetMap all place it there. It is not Palm Springs in California, not a Rotorua site, and not the Papamoa housing development of the same name.

It is also not Parakai Springs, the larger aquatic park on the same road. The two are neighbours that draw on the same geothermal area but are separate businesses with their own prices and hours. In October 2026 the old Parakai Springs web address redirected to a site under the name Kaipātiki Hot Springs, so check that business’s current name if it is the one you want.

What to expect

Palm Springs is a small, low-key pool complex aimed at families and day-trippers from Auckland. There are three pools, filled with geothermal water drawn from deep underground and treated with chlorine as part of the filtration. A 2018 sale listing described the site as two large outdoor pools and a rock pool on about 4,000 m² of land. The pools had stopped operating at that point and the property sold in February 2018; it has since reopened and been refurbished, and in October 2026 the operator’s site was listing current prices and hours.

Facilities are basic but complete: changing rooms with curtained cubicles, showers (10-minute limit), toilets, a car park, $1 lockers and lifeguards on duty. There is an eating area where you may bring your own food, a gas barbecue for hire, and a café serving Korean dishes and takeaways. Umbrellas and sunshades around the pools are put up by staff.

The pools

• Lower pool: 93-97°F34-36°C. The cooler, family pool, good for longer soaks with children.
• Upper pool: 100-104°F38-40°C. The standard hot pool temperature.
• Rock Pool (spa): 104-108°F40-42°C. Adults (16+) only. Anyone who has been told to check with a doctor before using hot pools should keep to 15 minutes at a time here.

The deepest water is 1.7 m (5.6 ft). The operator notes that temperatures can vary with the season. There are no private pools.

Getting there

Parakai is a small village next to Helensville, about 45 minutes to an hour’s drive north-west of central Auckland. Take State Highway 16 north-west toward Helensville, then continue into Parakai and on to Parkhurst Road. Palm Springs is at number 155, with parking on site, so the pools are a few steps from the car.

There is no direct public transport to the door from central Auckland, so most people drive.

When to go

The complex is open all year. Hours are 10am to 9pm on Mondays and Wednesday to Saturday, 3pm to 9pm on Sundays and 10am to 9pm on public holidays. It is closed every Tuesday. The operator announces other closures two weeks in advance on its website.

Weekends and Auckland school holidays are busiest. A weekday afternoon is the quietest time. Winter evenings, when the air is cold and the pools steam, are the most pleasant time for a long soak in the Upper pool.

Prices and booking

Prices on the operator’s website in October 2026 (no year given on the page):

• Adults (16+): NZ$26
• Children (4-15): NZ$15
• Seniors (65+): NZ$18
• Family (2 adults, 2 children): NZ$75
• Spectators (not swimming): NZ$6
• Under 4: free
• Swim nappies: NZ$3 (required for children who are not toilet trained)

A 10-entry concession card costs NZ$195 for adults, NZ$112.50 for children, NZ$135 for seniors and NZ$562.50 for families, can be used any day and expires six months after purchase. Disabled visitors pay the senior rate, and so does one carer who needs to supervise them. Towels can be bought on site, but swimsuits are not sold or hired.

You do not need to book for a normal visit. Group bookings go through [email protected] or 09 420 8321. A gas barbecue can be hired for NZ$40 for 2 hours; book it ahead. The whole complex cannot be hired for private events.

Rules and etiquette

• Swimwear: togs, or clean T-shirts and shorts. The operator is not responsible for damage to clothing.
• No alcohol, for safety reasons.
• Food only in the eating area. No cooking (apart from the hired barbecue), and no food in or around the pools.
• No smoking or vaping inside; there are outdoor smoking areas.
• Children: under-10s must be supervised by an adult over 16, and under-5s must stay within arm’s reach of one.
• Jewellery: take it off. The water tarnishes silver and some gold.

Where to stay nearby

There is no accommodation at Palm Springs. Parakai and Helensville are the closest places to look for motels and holiday accommodation. Most visitors do this as a day trip from Auckland, or combine it with a night on the west coast or the Kaipara Harbour. Muriwai Beach on the west coast is a popular pairing with a Parakai soak on day tours from Auckland.

Safety notes

• Head under water: the water is chlorinated, but the operator still advises keeping your head above water in pools hotter than 100°F38°C. Health New Zealand’s general advice for geothermal pools is to keep your head above water to avoid amoebic meningitis.
• Heat: the Rock Pool reaches 108°F42°C. Keep soaks short, drink water and get out if you feel dizzy. Pregnant visitors should check with their doctor first, stay hydrated and avoid overheating.
• Children and depth: the deepest pool is 1.7 m (5.6 ft). Lifeguards are on duty, but parents are responsible for supervision.