Hot Water Beach
How bizarre, I think, as we approach the beach.
Even from far away, I know this is no ordinary beach. Instead of playing in the surf, or basking in the sun, bikini-clad women and bare-chested men furiously dig in the sand. It looks like a scene from the movie Holes, except the diggers are vacationers, not delinquent teenagers.
The best beaches usually have one of the following:
1) sugar white sand,
2) turquoise blue water, or
3) a stunning backdrop.
A few beaches, like Thailand’s Similan Islands, are lucky enough to boast all three.
However, the draw for this beach is none of those. People visit this beach for what is beneath the sand. And unlike the characters in Holes, these diggers know exactly what they are digging for…
Hot water!
Hot Water Beach is located on the Coromandel Peninsula on New Zealand’s North Island. Although hot springs are common throughout New Zealand, the location of two geothermal fissures just below this beach is unique. During low tide, beach goers can dig holes in the sand allowing the hot water to escape to the surface, creating personal hot tubs. All of the holes wash away with each high tide, creating a blank canvas for the next day’s spa-seekers.
Finding the hot water
Making our way to the hot tub zone, we notice several empty holes. Jackpot! I think. We won’t even have to dig the hole. We’ll just jump in one of the abandoned holes and assume squatters’ rights.
Great idea, right?
Wrong.
The reason the holes are abandoned is because the water is cold. Bummer. Too bad there’s not a map indicating exactly where the hot water is.
Eager for a private spa experience, Riley gets busy digging her hole. Meanwhile, Delaney–who is older, wiser, and lazier–decides to befriend some folks with extra room in their hot tub. It’s a great strategy and it pays off.
A lovely family from Argentina welcomes us into their spa to relax and swap travel stories. Our conversations are occasionally interrupted by 1) a collapsed sand wall which allows our hot water to escape, or 2) the squeals of those scalded by a hot spot. The water is hot indeed, up to 147° F (64° C) in places.
As a Southern girl who can’t stand cold water, Hot Water Beach is the ideal way to experience a beach in New Zealand.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you decide to visit:
- Bring a shovel and a bucket (the bucket is useful for carrying cooler ocean water to add to your hot tub so you don’t get scalded; it also makes a great foot prop.)
- Check the tide tables before your visit. The hot tub zone is only available for 2 hours either side of low tide.
- Don’t forget your sunscreen, swimsuit, towel, water, and camera.
In a country where nearly every adventure has a steep price tag attached, Hot Water Beach offers one additional bonus:
It’s absolutely FREE!
Looking for more Things to Do in New Zealand? Consider these:
Agrodome sheep show: Don’t Miss the Agrodome Sheep Show in Rotorua
Maori “hangi” dinner: Maori People, the Original Kiwis
Bungee jumping: No Regrets! Bungee Jumping in New Zealand
Bike ride in Wanaka: Family Bike Ride in New Zealand has Bloody Ending
Meerkat encounter: Mobbed by Meerkats at the Wellington Zoo
[…] I specifically remember one stressful night in an airport hotel. It was our final night in New Zealand prior to departing for Indonesia. We all congregated in the hotel bar because it was the only area with free WIFI. Dale and I watched the Super Bowl while the girls caught up on school work. They were quite behind because free WIFI is practically non-existent in New Zealand. […]
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[…] To visit geothermal pools that don’t require being naked in public, visit Hot Water Beach in New Zealand. […]
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[…] Hot Water beach: 3 Tips for Visiting New Zealand’s Hottest Beach […]
Really enjoying your stories! New Zealand has some history and hearing about the hot water is hilarious.
I just keep thinking about the experience all of you are having …incredible…priceless…forever etched in your minds…how very fortunate!
Thanks, Aunt Pat. We are so fortunate to squeeze a lifetime of experiences into a short window of time. It has been such a blessing to see the girls’ minds just open up as this journey has progressed. The best education doesn’t come from a textbook but from life!
Awesome! That looks so fun!
WE MISS YOU ALL!
Thanks, Pastor Wade! We miss you too.
Sweet! Sounds like my kind of beach. Are there any critters who also like the hot water?
Not that I know of. New Zealand doesn’t have many creepy critters, which is another reason to go there.
I feel like I have on your journey the entire time you have been gone! I love the posts! Keep “em coming!!
Thanks, Ms. Nancy! Glad you’re following along.
Looks like Dale is in his element. Probably closing a “deal” .. Glad you are haveing a great time..
Yes, Dale loved it. He used the opportunity to practice his Spanish with the Argentinians.
OMG! This I’ve not heard of! It’s so worth tuning in to your posts just to learn something new! Thanks so much for your blog AND visual descriptions. PamD
Thanks! I’m so glad we could share something new.