Welcome to New Zealand's most comprehensive database of freely available camping information. This is the only travel map of its kind in NZ.
Dig your own Natural Hot Pool
Hot Water Beach Thermal Hot Pools are dug from sand - right on the beach. Keep an eye on the tides (thermal area on the beach is only accessed at low tide). Then use your hands or hire spade to create your very own pool.
Hot Water beach is getting popular in peak season so if you prefer a more intimate experience then visit at night under the light of the moon. Enjoy!
WARNING It is not recommended to swim in the sea here due to very strong rips, there have been many drownings right in front of the hot water springs.
Feature | Value | Info |
---|---|---|
Location |
North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Hahei |
|
Categories |
|
|
Directions To Coordinates |
||
Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
---|---|---|
Payment Requirement |
|
Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? ![]() Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Hot water under you!
Great experience.
You do not really get a lot of hot water.
Great location with an amazing adventure.
It was nice to find the hot water on the beach.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
---|---|---|---|
10/10 | 71 |
|
28% |
9/10 | 65 |
|
25% |
8/10 | 53 |
|
21% |
7/10 | 36 |
|
14% |
6/10 | 8 |
|
3% |
5/10 | 10 |
|
4% |
4/10 | 7 |
|
3% |
3/10 | 4 |
|
2% |
2/10 | 1 |
|
0% |
1/10 | 1 |
|
0% |
1.0/5
This afternoon we visited Hot Water Beach where you carry a little spade, walk a km up the beach, dig a hole, wait for the water to fill it up, strip off, jump in and sit down.
If this wasn't enough then the carpark (paid parking too) would leave Bondi Beach on a Sunday for dead. Apparently this is a must do for many tourists? It was ludicrous but entertaining at the same time. Not for these two black ducks though.
Reviewed 5 months ago
4.5/5
So much fun despite the hordes of people!
(I can only imagine how busy it gets in the summer!) our boys loved digging holes. REALLY expensive to hire spades $10 so try and bring some!
Reviewed about 1 year ago
5.0/5
Hot Water Beach is a unique and popular tourist attraction in Rotorua, New Zealand.
It is located on the shores of Lake Tarawera, and is known for its natural hot springs that bubble up through the sand at low tide.
To experience the hot springs, you will need to dig a hole in the sand at low tide. The depth of the hole will depend on how hot you want the water to be. The water can be anywhere from 40 to 60 degrees Celsius (104 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit).
Once you have dug your hole, you can sit back and enjoy the warm water. The hot springs are said to have therapeutic properties, and many people believe that they can help to relieve pain and stiffness.
In addition to the hot springs, Hot Water Beach is also a beautiful spot to relax and enjoy the scenery. The beach is surrounded by native bush, and there are often dolphins and whales swimming in the lake.
Here are some tips for visiting Hot Water Beach:
Visit at low tide. This is when the hot springs are most accessible.
Bring a shovel. You will need this to dig your hole.
Wear old clothes. The sand can be muddy and wet.
Be careful not to get burned. The water can be very hot, especially in the deeper holes.
Be respectful of the environment. Do not litter or damage the sand dunes.
Overall, Hot Water Beach is a fun and unique experience that is worth adding to your New Zealand itinerary. Just be sure to plan your visit carefully and follow the tips above to make the most of it.
Here are some additional things to consider when visiting Hot Water Beach:
The best time to visit is during the summer months (December to February), when the weather is warm and sunny.
The beach is open 24 hours a day, but the best time to go is at low tide, which is usually around 11am to 2pm.
There is a small parking fee at the beach.
There are a few cafes and souvenir shops near the beach.
You can also book a guided tour of Hot Water Beach.
I hope this helps!
Reviewed over 1 year ago and experienced in July 2023
1.5/5
We arrived at the beach at 8 am and it was already way too crowded to dig a hot pool.
Not a very big area at all, and would definitely recommend bringing a shovel.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2019
2.0/5
Not worth the drive up the Coromandel Peninsula just for this, only go if you're also visiting somewhere else on the peninsula.
The area where you can actually dig for hot water is about 10m x 10m, so is immediately full of people.
At least it is also a nice beach so we enjoyed our walk, but will give hot water beach a miss if we visit NZ again.
Go to the first car park down the hill from the road, as it is free and you can walk down the beach to the hot water area.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in October 2018
5.0/5
We saw some videos and pictures of the place, but that was nothing compared to live it by yourself.
We got there and soon tried to dig a hole in the sand to get some warm volcanic heated water, but we found *almost* boiling water just a few centimeters of the beach (where salt water was cold). It is a marvelous spectacle to have a hot bath with thermally heated water at the seashore. Something that you need to experience once in your lifetime.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in July 2018
5.0/5
We went to the beach at around 8:00pm.
In a hot pool we watched the stars. You can cool off in the sea with glowing plankton around you. Very awesome.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in October 2017
5.0/5
It is a really amazing place.
We can not see that anywhere else. When you dig in the sand, boiling water is coming!
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.5/5
Very strange, the water of the sea was cold and on the beach very warm/hot.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.0/5
Not too far from Auckland.
I had this amazing experience. Went to this beach, you can dig a little bath with friends or tourists there and enjoy this hot water beach close to the sea! A moment of magic.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in October 2016
4.0/5
Amazing place to stand in hot water just metres from the beach!
Need to be there at low tide. Lots of people, but we still managed to walk through and stand in hot water. Some parts are scalding, you need to be careful, we had children with us. We didn't take a shovel, but there were many 'vacated' holes and we weren't in swimmers, just standing and walking around checking it all out. Very fascinating!
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in October 2016
3.5/5
Quite fun to dig your own hot water pool.
Nice weather would have made the view from the pool much better.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.0/5
Many people - gets very crowded.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.0/5
Great location with an amazing adventure.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.0/5
When I went there, the weather was not that good and the water level was a little bit too high.
But it was nice to feel the warm water at your feet coming out of the ground.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2016
4.5/5
We were there on a day with lots of rain so we could not see that much.
But it was nice to hold our feet into the warm water.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2016
4.0/5
Hot water from the sand, you can lie down in the hot water pool made from yourself.
During the night it is better as less people.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2016
4.5/5
Absolutely funny and impressive experience building your own pool and having a fight with the rough sea while doing it.
But......a lot of people, it is difficult finding a place.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2016
0.5/5
Beach was Aweaome.
New Zealands facilities there are not. Highest parking rate I have paid in the northern Island (so far). Shovel hire is $10 and you get a kids toy... so enjoy back pain. Pro Tip for $4 more you can buy a full size garden spade from bunnings and save yourself some backpain. As for facilities they started well but failed to finish it properly. The showers are outside with no pressure, so it leaves the sand on you. Inside, the change areas have no extra showers so no chance of washing the sand out of personal areas, which is likely as the whole point of the beach is to dig a hole and lie down in it. Overall the beach was amazing but the local community and government seem to think they can treat tourists like shit.
Reviewed 2 days ago
1.0/5
This afternoon we visited Hot Water Beach where you carry a little spade, walk a km up the beach, dig a hole, wait for the water to fill it up, strip off, jump in and sit down.
If this wasn't enough then the carpark (paid parking too) would leave Bondi Beach on a Sunday for dead. Apparently this is a must do for many tourists? It was ludicrous but entertaining at the same time. Not for these two black ducks though.
Reviewed 5 months ago
4.5/5
So much fun despite the hordes of people!
(I can only imagine how busy it gets in the summer!) our boys loved digging holes. REALLY expensive to hire spades $10 so try and bring some!
Reviewed about 1 year ago
5.0/5
Hot Water Beach is a unique and popular tourist attraction in Rotorua, New Zealand.
It is located on the shores of Lake Tarawera, and is known for its natural hot springs that bubble up through the sand at low tide.
To experience the hot springs, you will need to dig a hole in the sand at low tide. The depth of the hole will depend on how hot you want the water to be. The water can be anywhere from 40 to 60 degrees Celsius (104 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit).
Once you have dug your hole, you can sit back and enjoy the warm water. The hot springs are said to have therapeutic properties, and many people believe that they can help to relieve pain and stiffness.
In addition to the hot springs, Hot Water Beach is also a beautiful spot to relax and enjoy the scenery. The beach is surrounded by native bush, and there are often dolphins and whales swimming in the lake.
Here are some tips for visiting Hot Water Beach:
Visit at low tide. This is when the hot springs are most accessible.
Bring a shovel. You will need this to dig your hole.
Wear old clothes. The sand can be muddy and wet.
Be careful not to get burned. The water can be very hot, especially in the deeper holes.
Be respectful of the environment. Do not litter or damage the sand dunes.
Overall, Hot Water Beach is a fun and unique experience that is worth adding to your New Zealand itinerary. Just be sure to plan your visit carefully and follow the tips above to make the most of it.
Here are some additional things to consider when visiting Hot Water Beach:
The best time to visit is during the summer months (December to February), when the weather is warm and sunny.
The beach is open 24 hours a day, but the best time to go is at low tide, which is usually around 11am to 2pm.
There is a small parking fee at the beach.
There are a few cafes and souvenir shops near the beach.
You can also book a guided tour of Hot Water Beach.
I hope this helps!
Reviewed over 1 year ago and experienced in July 2023
1.5/5
We arrived at the beach at 8 am and it was already way too crowded to dig a hot pool.
Not a very big area at all, and would definitely recommend bringing a shovel.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2019
2.0/5
Not worth the drive up the Coromandel Peninsula just for this, only go if you're also visiting somewhere else on the peninsula.
The area where you can actually dig for hot water is about 10m x 10m, so is immediately full of people.
At least it is also a nice beach so we enjoyed our walk, but will give hot water beach a miss if we visit NZ again.
Go to the first car park down the hill from the road, as it is free and you can walk down the beach to the hot water area.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in October 2018
5.0/5
We saw some videos and pictures of the place, but that was nothing compared to live it by yourself.
We got there and soon tried to dig a hole in the sand to get some warm volcanic heated water, but we found *almost* boiling water just a few centimeters of the beach (where salt water was cold). It is a marvelous spectacle to have a hot bath with thermally heated water at the seashore. Something that you need to experience once in your lifetime.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in July 2018
5.0/5
We went to the beach at around 8:00pm.
In a hot pool we watched the stars. You can cool off in the sea with glowing plankton around you. Very awesome.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in October 2017
2.5/5
Nice spot, too crowded for too small a space.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.5/5
Very strange, the water of the sea was cold and on the beach very warm/hot.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2016
5.0/5
It is a really amazing place.
We can not see that anywhere else. When you dig in the sand, boiling water is coming!
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2016
2.5/5
Nothing special.
The beach is not really beautiful, just some hot water springs!
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.0/5
Not too far from Auckland.
I had this amazing experience. Went to this beach, you can dig a little bath with friends or tourists there and enjoy this hot water beach close to the sea! A moment of magic.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in October 2016
3.0/5
Nice phenomenon, but crowded and strongly overrated.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in November 2016
2.0/5
We got there in the afternoon and waited for the time that the water gets hot.
When the time came, there were a lot of people and it was crowded. The beach was beautiful and fun to sit and relax at but was worth the wait.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in November 2016
3.5/5
Quite fun to dig your own hot water pool.
Nice weather would have made the view from the pool much better.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.0/5
Many people - gets very crowded.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.0/5
Great location with an amazing adventure.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.0/5
When I went there, the weather was not that good and the water level was a little bit too high.
But it was nice to feel the warm water at your feet coming out of the ground.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2016
4.5/5
We were there on a day with lots of rain so we could not see that much.
But it was nice to hold our feet into the warm water.
Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2016