Hot Water Beach is just 35 minutes away by car – a must-do experience while you are staying on the Coromandel. Here, an underground river of hot water flows from the interior of the earth to surface in the Pacific Ocean – a long beautiful white beach located between Tairua and Whitianga.
The stunning beach overlooks the Pacific Ocean and offshore Castle Rock, with Pohutukawa lined cliffs at either end of the beach.
Time your visit to avoid disappointment
The hot springs are only accessible at low tide (see the tide chart at the main lodge) however, more often than not, two hours each side of low tide will still provide you with an opportunity to dig your own spa.
Need to know
Spades: We have got spades you can borrow – ask Debbie or Aschi at reception.
Parking: Parking is available in three locations: The Main Beach carpark, Te Waiwai carpark and the Main Store carpark. Note: fees may apply at the Main Store carpark.
Ngati Hei
Ngati Hei are the tangata whenua (people of the land) along the Mercury Bay coastline. Hot Water Beach is historically and culturally significant to Ngati Hei. Archaeologists believe the Whitianga locale has been populated by the Ngati Hei iwi (tribe) for a thousand years, thus making it one of New Zealand’s longest inhabited areas. To this day Ngati Hei endeavour to protect this taonga (treasure), that is near an Urupa (burial ground) and Pa site (fortified settlement), and hope that you too will respect this special location.
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