Pure Glacial Water
Sourced From The Mountains,
Warmed By The Sun
Ōpuke Thermal Pools & Spa began as a community idea and has evolved over two decades to deliver an exceptional experience, providing space for guests to relax and reconnect at the foothills of the Southern Alps.
Sourced From The Mountains
Warmed By The Sun
Our promise, “sourced from the mountains, warmed by the sun” embodies the most compelling attributes of Canterbury to provide a unique, sustainable and premium experience. When establishing the business, we drew from principles of sustainable operations and the story of Ranginui and Papatūānuku.
Located in Methven, near the base of Huirapa
Located in Methven, near the base of Huirapa (also known as Ōpuke and Mt Hutt), we offer a high-end hot pools experience, an exclusive day spa, an adult-only pool with a swim-up bar, and quality changing and hospitality areas, all while maintaining strong sustainable principles.
Designed by Local Architects
Sheppard & Rout
Designed by local architects Sheppard & Rout, the concept reflects the context of the flat Canterbury Plains at the base of the mountains. Visitors experience a journey that begins in the plains’ car park, passing into the mountains through the building’s entrance, designed to evoke the sensation of entering a gorge like the nearby Rakaia Gorge. The design aims to create a sense of exploration, surprise, and discovery, reminiscent of finding natural hot pools in the mountains.
Raw, natural materials were chosen to provide substance to the building, inspired by the concept of carving through the foothills of the mountains. Gabion walls and acid-etched precast concrete guide visitors through the entry, leading to a dark concrete floor with light aggregates resembling the valley floor. The roof structure is structurally expressive, featuring a large waffle grid of LVL beams braced by concrete walls and supported by slender steel columns. The roof cantilevers beyond full-height glazing, providing solar protection and shelter for the building edges and the adult pool overhang. A dark aluminum rainscreen on the fascia protects the LVL structure and gives a clean finish to the roof edge.
The design not only provides a unique and luxurious experience for visitors but also incorporates sustainable features, contributing positively to the tourism market in Methven and strengthening the region’s employment and infrastructure. The careful integration of natural and man-made elements creates a harmonious and immersive environment that captures the essence of discovering hidden hot pools in the mountains.
With an unwavering focus on sustainability, Ōpuke has been recognised with awards including Qualmark Gold Accreditation. Ōpuke were named finalists for two categories in the 2024 New Zealand Tourism Awards and won five categories at the 2024 ANZ Business of the Year Awards, including Excellence in Tourism and Supreme Winner.
