Where is Ngawha?

Kia ora
Ngawha is on State Highway 12, about 20 minutes from Kerikeri. It is on the road from the Hokianga to the Bayof Islands, so it is easy to call in en route.

Kia ora kerikiwi -

Thanks for the info! Do you have any other hot springs suggestions for Northland?

Ngawha is the only hot spring up this way. But we do have some glowworm caves at Waiomio. The turnoff is about 5 minutes south of Kawakawa on SH 1. And Kawakawa has the Hundertwasser toilets, where I usually see milling tourists as I drive by.
I have never visited the springs or the caves or the toilets, so can't tell you anything about them.

Apparently there are some hot springs in Helensville, don't know much about them and have never been there myself, but it could be a good first stop after leaving Auckland, then you can take teh Twin coast Discovery route around Northland- as you arrive in nz you will see a stand that stocks free "jason's" maps- grab some, they are very useful, especially the North land map

The srpings at Ngawha are pretty much undeveloped - don't think fancy at all. The bottom is just mud, with a concrete surround. There are some images (among a whole bunch of amazing pictures of Northland here.. And yes, there are also hot pools at Parakai (on the way to Helensville) and at Waiwera (just north of Auckland) - both are quite flash.

I didn't mention Helensville and Waiwera because they don't qualify as Northland. ;-)

Ngawha is a quaint little place, I go there often. I like the hotsprings there, not modern at all, but extremely cheap and homely.
You turn off the main statehighway north just before Kaikohe, there is the Kaikohe golf course on the corner at the turn off. If you want accommodation there try phoning Dave and Hemi at 09 4052155. They have a lovely guesthouse there, cheap and I think its the only accommodation option anyway.

Ngawha is definitely worth a soak, especially when it is cold and raining.
For glow worms, you could try my mum's place - send me a PM if you are serious.
There are soda springs that are potable at Kauri, just north of Whangarei, near Puketona Junction heading for Kerikeri and also north of Mangamuka on SH1 - no hot ones as Kerikiwi asserts.