Parakai combines hot-spring bathing with skydiving: Kaipātiki Hot Springs is a hot-spring and wellness destination in the town, while West Auckland Airport is also located in Parakai. The pools feature naturally heated water and year-round swimming in all weather; tandem jumps are offered at the airfield. When choosing where to stay, one question comes first: should the focus be the hot springs, the airfield or both?

Hot Springs and Wellness

Kaipātiki Hot Springs offers naturally heated water and swimming year-round, in all weather. The facilities include indoor and outdoor pools, two water slides, private spas and an adults-only pool. There is also a heated outdoor pool with a beach-like area. Some amenities may change; check which facilities are currently available before your visit.

Kaipātiki Ora is open within the wider hot-springs complex. It features cedar thermal pools, steam saunas, ice plunge pools and private dry changing areas. The combination of heat, steam and cold offers a different experience from the swimming pools and slides, complementing the hot-springs facilities with further wellness options.

Kaipātiki on the Kaipara River

Kaipātiki is also known as Parakai Recreation Reserve and is home to Kaipātiki Hot Springs. The area lies right beside the Kaipara River and provides access to the hot springs in the settlement of Parakai.

Skydiving at West Auckland Airport

West Auckland Airport is located in Parakai and is an all-weather airport with a sealed runway. The runway is suitable for many types of aviation activities. Through Skydive Auckland, the airfield offers New Zealand’s highest tandem skydive, from 18,000 feet. Skydiving takes place at a drop zone located at Parakai airfield and officially approved by the Civil Aviation Authority. This means that Parakai offers a choice between hot-spring bathing and wellness on the one hand, and the airfield and a specific tandem-jump option on the other. In clear conditions, tandem jumps from West Auckland Parakai offer views from Whangārei to Mount Ruapehu and Mount Taranaki from 10,000 feet. The distant views from 10,000 feet are at a different altitude from the tandem jump offered at West Auckland Airport, which is listed at 18,000 feet.

Group Visits and Finding Accommodation

Kaipātiki Hot Springs offers rental options for birthday parties, whānau gatherings, school trips, club visits, community events and corporate outings. This means that travel plans may include a group event at the hot springs, rather than just an individual day of swimming. If you are planning a visit like this, confirm the current booking arrangements in advance; they may change.

Discover more destinations: Matakana, Wainui, Big Omaha, Karaka, Muriwai Beach, Newmarket, Mangatangi, Whangaparaoa.

For the broader travel overview: Auckland.