Revived Waiwera Thermal Springs in Auckland aims for 2028 opening date
The empty 1.7 hectare site on the Hibiscus Coast was once the country's largest water park.
The Waiwera Thermal Springs, a once-thriving water park on Auckland's Hibiscus Coast, is set to reopen in 2028 after a lengthy restoration project. The developers, Brandon Batagol and Craig Mitchell, announced the successful acquisition of resource consent from Auckland Council, paving the way for the $58 million project. The restored site will span 1.7 hectares and feature 28 geothermal heated pools, saunas, landscaped gardens, pavilions, a café, and visitor parking.
Unlike the old Waiwera Hot Pools, the new attraction will offer adult-only zones and areas for children. It will also incorporate unique rituals such as cold-plunge, mist-walk, and stone-walk experiences, bathing trails through native bush, and spa treatments. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2027 with an anticipated opening in mid-2028.
Batagol and Mitchell are now focusing on securing the remaining private investment and finalizing the detailed design. They emphasized the significance of the project in preserving a place of importance to Aucklanders and their relationship with the local water. Batagol highlighted the commitment of the team to deliver a new landmark attraction that will benefit the region sustainably.
An economic impact assessment by BDO projected that the development could attract over 310,000 visitors annually, contributing up to $300 million to the region's gross product within its first seven years of operation. The restoration is expected to create 87 jobs.
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