Grab your bucket and spade and head to Hot Water Beach at low tide to find two natural warm water springs. Dig a pool and mix the hot water with just the right amount of seawater to create your perfect bath. Enjoy a relaxing stroll along this beautiful stretch of sand and find a quiet place to rest with a good book. Enjoy a meal in the oceanfront café and shop for souvenirs in the shops behind the beach.
Hot Water Beach is one of New Zealand’s best-known beaches. You’ll find the two hot springs, known as Maori and Orua, in the center of the beach. As the tide goes out, join locals and visitors for a leisurely time in the soothing waters. Lie back in your sandy pool and enjoy the unique experience of relaxing in warm water at the beach. Be careful not to sit too close to the source of the springs, as the water can be very hot.
Surfers will enjoy the excellent waves that break year-round at Hot Water Beach. On calmer days, the clear waters are beautiful for swimming and cooling down after your bath although it is important to stay between the flags. Escape the crowds by walking to the northwestern end of the beach, where you will find rare dotterels nesting in the sand dunes.
You can stop for a meal in one of the cafés at the southeastern end of the beach. Spend a while shopping for Hot Water Beach souvenirs and learn about the fascinating geothermal phenomenon at the gift shops.
Hot Water Beach is located on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula and is free to enjoy year-round. The beach is busiest in the vacation period around Christmas and parking may be difficult to find. Arrive early or extend your stay by camping overnight at the campsites behind the beach. Hit the beach during the nighttime low tide to enjoy a private bath beneath the stars.