5: Hot Water Beach, The Coromandel

Hot Water Beach is a stretch of beautiful Coromandel coast with one delightful oddity: hot water bubbles out of the sandy beach, allowing you to soak in your own hand-dug oceanside hot pool.

Enjoying the pools is all about timing. The hot water vents, the result of an underground river of hot water that flows to the surface at the Pacific-facing Hot Water Beach, are clustered in one area and are only revealed for two hours either side of low tide. Dig to craft your pool with spades that can be hired from the local cafes. Don’t forget your jandals and togs (Kiwi slang for flip-flops and swimwear).

The beach and roads can get busy in summer afternoons and evenings, so if the tides work out, consider planning a weekday dawn soak, leaving the rest of the day free for you to explore the rest of this beautiful, relaxed region before returning to Auckland.

Total distance: 175-230 km (depending on detour)

Drive time: Hot Water Beach is usually a two to four hou drive depending on traffic and season. However, a cyclone in February 2023 damaged roads, requiring a detour until at least March 2024 that has lengthened the drive to around three to five hours. Be sure to check local road status before you go.

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