A well-known aquatic theme park featuring one of New Zealand’s longest commercial water slides overlooking a range of hot pools with picnicking areas – and adjacent to multiple visitor accommodation amenities – has been placed on the market for sale.

The Waingaro Hot Springs water theme park and accommodation operations – located in peaceful rural rolling hillside surroundings west of Hamilton in the Waikato – has been entertaining families of water-lovers and guests for some 50 years.

Waingaro Hot Springs was at its popularity zenith during the 1980s and ‘90s when crowds would flock to the destination year-round – including large groups from Auckland who would enjoy the spaciousness of the location to set up gazebos and barbecues for all-day fun sessions.

The thermal waterpark venue was also a recreational magnet for locals from the nearby population centres of Hamilton, Ngaruawahia. Huntly, and Raglan. Comprising some 14.558 hectares of land and 1,410-square metres of buildings, the land sustaining the Waingaro Hot Springs business is leased from Waikato District Council on a long-term arrangement.

Waingaro Hot Springs sits beside the Waingaro Hotel, which is sub-leased to a separate stand-alone operator. The licensed hospitality venue aligns itself with the adjoining non-licensed recreational hot pool attractions by providing food and beverage options for water park users.

Overnight guest accommodation premises within the Waingaro Hot Springs theme park consists of three motel units, several cabins, and a three-bedroom flat – most of which are currently let to a mix of long and short-term permanent tenants. Some units are self-contained with their own bathroom and kitchen amenities.

The aquatic theme park and accommodation business activities and buildings encompassing the Waingaro Hot Springs activities at 2263 Waingaro Road are now being marketed for sale by tender through Bayleys Hamilton, with tender offers closing on March 14. Salesperson Josh Smith said the business in its current state reflected decades of underinvestment in upkeep of the property’s assets.

“The business’s leisure and recreational infrastructure is essentially sound – it just needs a complete upgrade overhaul and refurbishment to bring the communal buildings, pools, and shared amenities up to modern standards,” he said.

“Just like the pools infrastructure, the accommodation units would also benefit from modernisation and refurbishing if they were to become appealing to over-night tourist guests. There are very few other entities like this in New Zealand, which is why Waingaro Hot Springs was so popular at its peak… and could well reach those heights again with enthusiastic input and vision from a new owner/operator.

“With three functioning mineral hot pools, as well as private spas, the water temperature within Waingaro Hote Springs mineral-rich naturally-heated thermal pools ranges between 37 – 41 degrees Celsius. The water-based activities within the park have previously included a now dormant bumper boat facility which could also be reinvigorated by new owners.”

Two elongated canopy-covered areas provide bench tables and seating for several hundred guests partaking of lunches or shelter while watching children splash about in the pools. The venue has basic food and beverage service equipment, but no longer operates a café on site.

Multiple powered vehicle camping sites are landscaped among the gently sloping hillside overlooking a portion of the Waingaro Hot Springs pool complex below. The property is zoned for commercial use under the Waikato District Council plan.

Smith said there was a clear opportunity for any new hot springs owner to tap into the affluent self-contained motorhome and caravan owners sector by target marketing the destination to affluent mobile home users, in conjunction with simultaneously improving the pool amenities to once again attract family groups..

The accommodation units within Waingaro Hot Springs and the sub-lease of the Waingaro Hotel generate the majority of the site’s annual income. Smith said only a small portion of revenue was generated by visitors paying to use the pools – which currently charge $16 entrée fee for adults, and $8 for children aged younger than eight-years-old. Private spas can be booked for $45 per half hour.