At Hot Water Beach, on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, visitors hire a spade and dig their own hot-water pool straight into the sand. The beach sits about 8.6 km (a 12-minute drive) from Hahei and roughly 12 km southeast of Whitianga. The phenomenon comes from two underground fissures that bring water to the surface at temperatures reaching up to 64 °C (147 °F), emerging in the strip of sand between the high- and low-tide marks, roughly opposite the offshore rocks.
The digging window is short: the springs are only close enough to the surface for about two hours either side of low tide. Outside that window they are either submerged or too deep to reach. It is worth checking the tide tables before setting out — rough seas, storms and shifting sand can also change exactly where and when the hot water appears.
Spades cost around NZD 5 to hire, available from the surf shop near the main car park as well as from Hotties Café, Hot Water Beach Café and the Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park; bringing your own is also an option. Once you have dug your pool, the usual technique is to mix in cold seawater, since the water closest to the rocks can be hot enough to scald. There are three free car parks near the beach — Main Beach, Main Store and Te Waiwai — each a short walk from the sand.
Hot Water Beach has strong rip currents; avoid swimming within 50 metres of the offshore rocks and stick to patrolled areas when lifeguards are on duty, mainly during the peak summer season. There are no changing facilities on site, so bring a towel and swimwear. According to Wikipedia, the beach draws around 700,000 visitors a year, making it one of the most visited geothermal attractions in the Waikato region — weekday mornings outside peak season tend to be far quieter.
Hot Water Beach itself is where the activity happens, and Cathedral Cove is about 10 minutes away, a common pairing for one Coromandel day out. For somewhere to stay nearby, Tatahi Lodge Beach Resort in Hahei sits close to both beaches.
Around NZD 5, available near the main car park and at places like Hotties Café or Hot Water Beach Café. You can also bring your own spade.
About two hours either side of low tide, when the springs are close enough to the surface of the sand.
There are strong rip currents; avoid swimming within 50 metres of the offshore rocks and stick to patrolled areas when lifeguards are on duty, mainly in summer.
