George Bernard Shaw - the man who names Hells Gate, Rotorua

The reason why the thermal park is known widely as Hells Gate is because in the early 1900’s George Bernard Shaw, a famous Irish playwright living in England, visited the area for a week and on looking the thermal park decided that this must be the gateway to Hell, which his theologian colleagues talk about.

He was well known as an Atheist, however after being here a week it is understood that he changed his ways. Our people were so taken by the playwright that from that time on, they allowed the area to be known in English as Hells Gate.

View the many exciting attactions Hells Gate has to offer.