Weighing up Onsen Hot Pools vs Hot Tub on the Hillside? This article compares the two, so you can choose the right soak for your Queenstown trip.
Queenstown asks a lot of your body. Between the ski fields, the trails and the lake, most visitors earn a proper soak by day two.
Two hillside options sit about ten minutes from town, yet they offer quite different experiences.
Onsen Hot Pools & Day Spa is the most luxurious hot pool experience in Queenstown. Its cedar-lined hot pools perch above the Shotover River canyon, with a full day spa attached.
Hot Tub on the Hillside, by contrast, is a small two-tub operation in Frankton. It offers gas-heated Kiwitubs to one group at a time.
Onsen Hot Pools vs Hot Tub on the Hillside: main differences
| Feature | Onsen Hot Pools & Day Spa | Hot Tub on the Hillside |
|---|---|---|
| Views | ✦Breathtaking Shotover River canyon & alpine panorama | Hillside above Frankton, views toward Coronet Peak |
| Setting | ✦Purpose-built retreat tucked into a remote hillside | Two standalone outdoor tubs on rural sites |
| Bathing | ✦Cedar-lined hot pools, exclusive use | Gas-heated Kiwitub (130 cm across), one group per booking |
| Day spa & massage | ✦Yes: full spa menu, packages & treatments | Not available |
| Session length | 60 minutes (soak only) | Up to 3 hours |
| Facilities | ✦Changing rooms, showers, on-site drinks & snacks | Changing shed and toilet about 60 m from the tub |
| Inclusions | ✦Towels and complimentary drinking water | Towels, drinking water, Bluetooth speaker; BYO picnic |
| Transport | ✦Complimentary return shuttle from central Queenstown | Self-drive; exact address supplied after booking |
| Capacity | 1–4 guests per hot pool | 2–4 guests (no solo bookings) |
| Booking | Released about 3–6 months ahead | By appointment only; no same-day bookings |
| Price | From $117 (1 adult) to $260 (4 adults) | $309–$329 per tub |
Onsen Hot Pools: the most luxurious hot pool experience in Queenstown
Only ten minutes from town, and perched above the Shotover River at Arthurs Point, Onsen feels like a world a way. Think quiet hillside, with panoramic views across the canyon and the river below.
Every hot pool is cedar-lined and filled with water drawn from the surrounding alpine environment. During the day, sunlight pours across the cedar while the Shotover unfolds beneath you. After dark, soft lighting and glowing Japanese lanterns bring the hillside to life under star-filled southern skies.
Each 60-minute session is exclusively yours. The Original Onsen hot pools also have a retractable roof. So you can open your hot pool to the sky, or shelter it as you please.
Beyond the soak, Onsen is a full day spa. The Original Onsen + Treatment and Oval Onsen + Treatment experiences pair a 45-minute soak with massage therapy, facials, or full body treatments. Treatments draw on New Zealand ingredients like Manuka honey and Kawakawa balm.
There is also the Tri-Bathe experience.This 60-minute contrast ritual moves from a eucalyptus steam shower to a hot pool, then a bracing cold plunge.
The World Luxury Spa Awards have recognised Onsen as a global leader, and it holds a 2026 Travellers’ Choice Award on Tripadvisor. Consequently, sessions book out well in advance, especially around sunset.
Onsen Hot Pools & Day Spa pricing (NZD, per hot pool, 60 minutes)
- Original Onsen: from $117 (1 adult) to $260 (4 adults)
- Children: $30 each (ages 5–11, daytime sessions only; evenings are for ages 12+)
- Oval Onsen: $127 (1 adult) or $185 (2 adults), ages 16+
- Tri-Bathe: $137 (1 adult) or $195 (2 adults), ages 18+
- Soak & treatment Day spa packages and massage-only experiences are available separately
Onsen also runs a complimentary return shuttle from central Queenstown, so guests can relax from the moment they leave town.
Hot Tub on the Hillside: a long, simple soak near Frankton
Hot Tub on the Hillside operates two outdoor tubs on Hansen Road in Frankton, about fifteen minutes from central Queenstown. The two sites, named the Cliffside Tub and the Hilltop Tub, each host one booking at a time.
Each tub is an LPG gas heated Kiwitub, 130 cm across and 70 cm deep, run at around 40 degrees.
Booking takes two to four people; solo soaking is not an option.
The price includes towels, drinking water, drinkware and a Bluetooth speaker. Changing and toilet facilities sit about 60 metres from the tub, and guests self-drive to an address supplied after booking. In winter, sessions run from midday to 6pm.
There is no spa, massage or food service on site.
Hot Tub on the Hillside pricing (NZD, per tub, up to 3 hours)
- 2 guests: $309
- 3 guests: $319
- 4 guests: $329
- Booking by appointment only; no same-day bookings
Choose Onsen Hot Pools & Day Spa if:
You want the soak itself to be the destination. Onsen suits couples marking an occasion and visitors chasing canyon views they will talk about for years. It also suits anyone keen to pair a hot pool with a massage or facial.
Logistics are easier too, because the complimentary shuttle collects you from central Queenstown. Changing rooms, showers, and drinks are all just steps from your hot pool.
Choose Hot Tub on the Hillside if:
You have your own transport and want a long, unstructured soak. The three-hour session and BYO picnic format suit small groups who value time over amenities. A simple rural setup is part of the deal.
