Parakai is an historic township noted for its natural thermal springs, located just five minutes from its larger cousin of Helensville, New Zealand - and just 40 minutes' drive from Auckland City.

A small farming community for the past few decades, Parakai is set to explode with a range of developments aimed at turning the town into a 21st century spa.

Amenities in the Parakai area today include two public hot water pool complexes, a supermarket, primary school and kindergarten. With one large subdivision just completed and others on the drawing board, the population of around 800 is set grow rapidly.

[More on Parakai history]