Okoroire is a small settlement just a few minutes drive from Putaruru and is home to some of the prettiest hot springs in the region. The pools are private and can be hired from the Okoroire Hotel for a modest fee.

Situated amid ferns and glow worms on the banks of Waihou River, the pools are just three or four minutes from the hotel. Pool four is called the ‘Fairy Pool’ because at night its banks are dotted with glow worms. The pools are said to cure all types of aches and pains and have long been used for their health benefits.

Okoroire is home to a host of activities for the whole family. White-water rafting is just a short drive from the hotel on the road to Tauranga. Here, at McClaren Falls lake, you will find the base for ‘Water Rats’ and their Waihou River white water rafting – a thrilling Grade 5 experience.

For the more sedate, visitors can enjoy the riverside beauty with a fishing rod and reel, the sounds of the river and the sound of bird calls. Okoroire has a rich fishing history. It was here that rainbow trout were first released into the Waihou River around 1889.

There are a number of beautiful walking tracks in and around Okoroire. The Three Kauri Tree walk is only a five minute drive from the hotel. Another must for avid nature lovers is the Wairere Falls walk. These walks journey through New Zealand’s southern-most Kauri forests and are rich in native plants and flowers.