Explore Hot Water Beach

Hot Water Beach is literally the hot spot on the Coromandel Peninsula and is a popular meeting place for people from all over the globe.

Hot Water Beach is a world famous New Zealand beach near Whitianga where unique meets a whole lot of fun! Join the throngs of visitors who are tempted to dig in the sand to release the naturally heated mineral water into personally sculpted sand spa pools.

All About Hot Water Beach

Hot Water Beach Mercury Bay

How to get there

By car

You can get to Hot Water Beach by car following SH25, near Whenuakite there is a major intersection, which is well sign posted, turn onto Hot Water Beach Road and this will take you directly to the main parking areas and facilities.

By Passenger Ferry from Whitianga

Catch the Ferry from Whitianga Wharf to Ferry Landing. Cathedral Cove Shuttles run services from Ferry Landing that will take you to Hot Water Beach.

Other transport

See the Getting Around Guide for a range of options.

View Guide

Parking Areas

Free car parking area at the main surf car beach park and along the berms next to the pay and display areas.
Free disability car park and free 20 minute short term parking next to the Hot Water Beach shop car park.
Pay and display parking at the Hot Water Beach shop car park is $4 per hour or $25 per day. The Taiwawe (Bull Paddock) car park is $2 per hour or $15 per day. Payments can be made by cash or credit cards.

Things to do for the kids

Digging a thermal pool, boogie board at the beach or a paddle in the inlet fills up a day of activity quickly. Always swim between the flags and only when the Hot Water Beach Lifeguard Services are present.

Where to grab a bite

Hotwaves Café and gallery is licensed and only a minutes walk from Hotwater Beach.

Places to stay

Check out a range of accommodation options at Hotwater Beach below.

Shopping

Please see below or visit our Local Guide for options nearby.

Must Do's

If you are not familiar with what all of the fuss is about then you should seriously grab a spade (or hire one from one of the local shops), check out the Hot Water Beach low tides - aim for two hours either side of low tide and get on digging by the rocks not far from the southern end of Hot Water Beach shop car park.

Local Tips

It does save a bit of time if you have a spade – bring your own or rent one at the local shops.
Hot Water Beach is a great place to meet people from all around the world and to swap travel stories and local tips about the Whitianga area.

Public Toilets

Surf Beach, Hot Water Beach Rd.
Te Waiwawe (Bull Paddock) car park – toilets located on track from car park down to beach.
Main Beach toilets and change room, Pye Place.

Campervan waste dumping locations

Hahei Holiday Resort.
Hot Water Beach Holiday Park.

More About Hot Water Beach

Some visitors to the beach undertake their pool digging with a sense of order and structure, while others just get into it with unbridled gusto. If you're lucky and have an ideal sense of timing you may happen across an empty pool or more likely a friendly group willing to share their thermal pool.

It's a pretty sublime experience to sit in one of these pools and to gaze out to the Pacific Ocean which is seriously only a hop skip and jump away if you need to cool off. Hot Water Beach is a great place to swim, boogie board or surf. If you decide to take a dip in the water there can be very strong undertows at this beach so caution should be taken and swim between the flags under the watchful eye of the local surf life saving club.

It's estimated that over 700,000 people visit this unique thermal beach spot each year. You could say Hot Water Beach is the United Nations beach hub in the Southern Hemisphere!