Significant natural thermal springs; mud and silica waters found in geothermal areas have been used for hundreds of years by Maori for healing and wellness. Specific sites were often located in beautiful landscapes, at the junction of rivers and streams, on the shores of pristine lakes and below magnificent silica terraces. At Wairakei Terraces, pools of varying temperatures between have been strategically positioned below the silica terraces and waterfall, taking full advantage of the geothermal water flow that is drawn to the earth’s surface from 1.5 kilometres underground.