Aquaman star Jason Momoa has lived up to his name by enjoying a restorative soak at Rotorua’s Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa.
The multi-award-winning venue is built on the legacy of Māori culture and Ngāti Whakaue healing practices, providing Momoa with an authentic experience while seeking tranquility and rejuvenation.
Welcomed warmly by the team at Wai Ariki, including General Manager Debbie Guptill-Robertson who said despite his celebrity status, Momoa’s presence didn’t faze the team who saw him as a humble individual seeking relaxation.
“For us, he was just a humble man who was staying with whanau in Rotorua and we were able to extend our manaaki to Jason and his rōpū.”
Guptill-Robertson emphasised the team’s commitment to providing exceptional hospitality to all guests (regardless of fame), ensuring Momoa and his group experienced the utmost manaaki (hospitality) during their visit.
Momoa is said to be a big fan of Aotearoa and is back in the country with friend and fellow actor Rotorua-born Cliff Curtis.
Momoa and a group of about 14 people enjoyed a pre-arranged two-hour Wai Whakaora experience at the new geothermal spa complex on Rotorua’s lakefront on Saturday, March 2nd.
Guptill-Robertson said it was a last-minute visit arranged by Curtis, who she described as a “good friend” of the spa.
“Curtis was their kaitiaki (host),” Guptill-Robertson said. “For us, he’s whānau and it was great to be able to extend our manaaki to Jason and his rōpū (group).”
Guptill-Robertson described the Wai Whakaora experience as unique, as it affects all five senses in a journey through waterfalls, a sauna, plunge pools, a mud experience, a steam room and a geothermal pool, all “infused with the Ngāti Whakaue story, our legends and our history”.
Guptill-Robertson told the Rotorua Daily Post that Momoa and his friends left feeling rejuvenated from the spa experience, which they shared was “like nothing they’d experienced before” and that it was a “spiritual and magical” time for them.
Momoa’s visit to Rotorua’s Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa showcased the genuine hospitality and cultural richness of Wai Ariki and New Zealand.
Aquaman’s hidden oasis has indeed been discovered, with Guptill-Robertson emphasising Wai Ariki’s ethos of treating every guest with respect and care, regardless of fame. As Momoa departed feeling rejuvenated, it was evident that Wai Ariki’s commitment to excellence extends to all, even superheroes!
