A $10 million dollar destination spa resort opened recently on the shores of Lake Rotorua.
The Wai Ora Lakeside Spa Resort located on the eastern shores of Lake Rotorua and five minutes drive from Rotorua Airport is said to be the first of its kind in the country, according to a report in the Rotorua Daily Post.
Developer of the project and director of the Wai Ora Group, Bryan Hughes, said the resort focused on indigenous Maori elements and featured modern cultural design. The resort has conference rooms, restaurant and bar along with 20 studios and 10 suites. The spa is the central feature of the resort, and its facilities are available for guests using the accommodation and conference facilities.
The Wai Ora Spa technology and treatments centred around New Zealand’s geothermal, cultural and natural heritage, and were developed by the Wai Ora Group at Rotorua’s Hell’s Gate.
Hughes said the key points to note at the new resort were its on-site spa facilities and the infusion of Maori cultural elements into the guest facilities.
“It is a contemporary spa that complements the natural spa available at Mokoia Island and the historic spa which has existed, in various forms, at Hell’s Gate for centuries,” he said.
The new spa facility offers eight spa treatment rooms along with private and public spa pools and saunas. Wai Ora spa products feature highly, and a range of spa packages are available.
The Manary English Bar and Mokoia Restaurant specialise in gourmet cuisine and indigenous foods. “We can very confidently say that the indigenous styled cuisine we have created at this resort will set it apart from any other fine dining facility in New Zealand,” he said.
“We have taken traditional kai and ingredients and put them into a contemporary themed restaurant setting, as well as offering them to guests as they unwind in the spa and relaxation areas.”
The Wai Ora Group will embark on marketing the new spa to the travel industry in conjunction with its other activities based experiences - tours to Mokoia Island and the Hell’s Gate geothermal valley excursions.
Other wellness activities are also available within the two acres of landscaped, lakefront grounds showcasing the country’s native flora. Other amenities include a conference centre, 24 hour room service, high speed internet and a courtesy shuttle.