People like to come at night and sit under the stars

High in the Southern Alps, at the top of the Barrier Range, the Huxley glacier begins its journey east, creeping towards the sun and the valleys until its ice and snow finally melt. For the last two years, that "super pure" glacial water has been working wonders and warming anyone who’s stopped to relax in the Omarama Hot Tubs. No-one minds being in hot water here. How could you? With 10 outdoor spas sitting at the edge of landscaped lakes, it’s guaranteed to soothe the body and stir the soul.   

"It’s great on a nice clear night," says Lance Thomas, who runs Omarama Hot Tubs with his wife Jan. "People like to come at night and sit under the stars. You can bathe with your family or your partner. Some people enjoy nude bathing.

There’s total privacy. Quite a few people like that these days."

They also like the Wellness Pods, both of which feature a hot tub and a sauna. Every site has its own changing room. "We clean the whole tub and changing room between each person or group," says Jan, who also works at the centre as a therapeutic masseur.

So do what the trampers do, and the skiers, the cyclists, lovers, friends and families as well. Next time you’re in Omarama, bliss out in a star spa - because everybody’s body deserves a little tlc.

OMARAMA HOT TUBS: Twizel-Omarama State Highway 8 
PHONE: 0064 3 438 9703
WEBSITE: www.hottubsomarama.co.nz
More info from the Oamaru i-SITE, Cnr Thames Highway and Itchen Street, or the Omarama i-SITE - in the Hot Tubs complex