Hot Water Beach

Only a 20 mintue drive from Tairua lies a truly unique Kiwi experience that every New Zealander should experience at least once in their lifetime!


An underground river of hot water flows from the interior of the earth to surface in the Pacific Ocean at Hot Water Beach – a long beautiful white beach located between Tairua and Whitianga. The stunning beach overlooks the Pacific Ocean and offshore Castle Island, with Pohutukawa lined cliffs at either end of the beach.

Two hours either side of low tide visitors flock to the usually deserted Hot Water Beach to find hot water bubbling through the golden sand. Families, kids and couples can be seen digging their own spa pool in the sand to lie back in and relax while the steam from their hot pool envelops them.

With the ebb and flow of the tide each individually created hot pool is washed away clearing the way for the next influx of visitors.

The beach also boasts some great surf, cruisy cafés and galleries and only a 5 minute drive to another Coromandel ‘must do’ – the walk into Cathedral Cove.