Vortex^® Nitro™ Ground-Level Spa Installation, Family Backyard in Nelson, NZ

When Matt and Jazz bought their Vortex^® Nitro™ from Spa World, they had a beautifully sunny Nelson backyard, three very splashy kids, and a genuinely tricky decision about where to put it. What they ended up with, after some digging, a lot of concrete, a new fence, and a fully rebuilt deck, is a ground-level spa setup that the whole family uses every single day, and that neither of them would change for a second.

• Ground-level install on a purpose-poured 2.5 x 2.5 m concrete slab
• Heat pump added to slash running costs by up to 75%
• Cover lifter included so getting in is never a production
• Deck fully rebuilt and extended alongside the spa
• Location chosen specifically so three kids can splash to their hearts' content

The best part? They filmed the whole journey, all four episodes, start to finish. Watch along below.

Why Ground Level Beat the Deck (And It Wasn't Even That Close)

Matt and Jazz genuinely liked the idea of the upper deck option. It was sheltered, cosy, and Jazz was already picturing lying back and looking at the stars. But once they started working through the practicalities, needing 500 mm of clearance on each side, extending the decking, losing the space they already used, the deck option started losing its shine pretty quickly.

And then there was the splash factor. Three young kids in a raised spa is a lot of nervous energy for two parents trying to actually relax.

The ground-level location meant the kids could go completely feral in the water without anyone having to worry, and that was ultimately the clincher. As Matt put it: "splash-less worries, and let our kids enjoy their life."

Watch Matt and Jazz walk both options, and use Spa World's Augmented Reality tool to visualise their Vortex^® Nitro™ in each spot in Episode 1.

A Slab That Does the Job Properly

Matt and Jazz didn't cut corners on the base. They formed and poured a dedicated 2.5 x 2.5 m concrete slab, 100 mm of compacted AP40 gravel underneath, 100 mm of concrete on top, by hand, on a hot day, with an emergency gazebo set up just in case. It's the kind of solid, permanent foundation that means their Vortex^® Nitro™ isn't going anywhere, and neither is any of the structure around it.

It's also the kind of prep that makes everything else easier. A level, stable base means the spa sits right, the deck aligns cleanly, and there are no headaches down the track.

Watch Matt and Jazz dig, form, and prep the base in Episode 2.

Concrete Day (And a Very Hot Nelson Summer)

100 mm of concrete, mixed and poured by hand, on a sunny Nelson afternoon. Matt wasn't hiring a truck, and he wasn't hanging around waiting for it to set either. The emergency gazebo made an appearance. The concrete went down. And it set beautifully.

By the end of Episode 3, the slab is done, a brand new fence is up, and the deck rebuild is well underway. The space that was once a patchy, tired backyard was starting to look exactly like what they'd planned.

Watch the pour, the fence, and the deck progress in Episode 3.

Delivery Day — The Moment It All Makes Sense

Months of planning, digging, pouring, and building. And then the call comes: the spa is arriving this afternoon.

Watch Jazz's face light up in Episode 4 as their Vortex^® Nitro™ gets lifted off the truck and lowered into exactly the spot they'd been picturing since day one. The kids are barely containable. Matt, the self-described non-spa person, is suspiciously quiet in the best possible way.

Within days, Jazz is describing it as a free massage every single night. Matt is using it every day. The kids think this is just normal life now, which honestly might be the best outcome of all.

Watch the delivery, the first fill, and the first family soak in Episode 4.

The Bit That Surprised Them Most

Jazz knew she'd love it. She was counting down the days. What she didn't expect was how quickly Matt, self-described non-spa person, would become completely hooked. He uses it every day. Every day.

As Jazz put it: "I didn't know how much, especially you — I didn't know how much you would love it. And I've been really surprised at how often he's been using it."

That's the thing about a well-set-up Vortex^® Nitro™. You think it's going to be a nice thing to have. It turns out it becomes the thing you look forward to every single evening.

Love This Setup? Meet the Vortex^® Nitro™

If Matt and Jazz's build has you mentally measuring up your own backyard, good. A Vortex Nitro is a full-size spa pool built for everyday family use, with everything you need to actually use it daily rather than just occasionally.

• Powerful hydrotherapy jets, the kind that Jazz describes as a free massage every single night
• Cover lifter compatible, on and off in seconds, which is the difference between using it every day and not
• Heat pump compatible, pair it up and cut your running costs by up to 75%
• Plenty of room, for the whole family, including the ones who think splashing is a competitive sport

See It for Yourself

Photos and videos can only tell you so much. There's nothing quite like standing next to a Vortex^® Nitro™, understanding the size of it, getting a feel for the jet layout, seeing the cabinet finish in person, before you commit.

Spa World showrooms across Australia and New Zealand have models on display and a team who genuinely love talking through the options, whether you've got a clear plan or you're still in the "hmm, maybe" phase.

Come in, have a look, ask the questions. The water's warm.