Summer is getting closer and it’s almost the time of year when you can hit the beach, but the water is still a bit too cold even if the weather is nice. Well, Aotearoa has you covered with a hot water beach, or two! Yes, you read that right there are actually two hot water beaches in New Zealand; they are both located in the Waikato region too. So which one should you visit? Well, grab your shovel and we’ll dig into it together.
Be sure to check out our Instagram for our favourite swimming spots!
Coromandel Hot Water Beach
The famous hot water beach that we all know and love. EVERYONE tells you to go here when you are in Coromandel, and pretty much everyone goes here. This beach can get really busy, especially if you are here in high season. We visited in winter and there were still a decent amount of people here enjoying the warm water at low tide. So if you aren’t a fan of crowds, this one probably isn’t for you. The water here is incredibly warm and at times we had to add a little ocean water to our DIY spa to stop it from getting too hot!
How to get the hot water:
There is only a certain spot here that gets the hot water. To make sure you don’t miss it, walk to the left once you get to the beach. Make your way over to the rocky outcrops and start digging here!
Hot water is best found at low tide, but you can get to it 2hrs either side of low tide.
Kawhia Hot Water Beach
The hidden gem of Kawhia (pronounced car-fi-ar) is this black sand hot water beach. Kawhia is located on the west coast of Waikato so if you time it correctly you can enjoy a sunset soak in your own DIY hot pool on the beach here. Kawhia is a small town and off the beaten track, so of course we had to check it out. The water here isn’t quite as warm as that of the Coromandel hot water beach, so you’ll want to come on a slightly warmer day. The beach is huge though and offers plenty of space to dig a hot pool away from the handful of other people you will see on the beach. We loved how peaceful it was, soaking in our hot pool and watching the sunset here.
How to get the hot water:
Located at the end of Ocean Beach road. Follow the track over the sand dunes and keep walking straight down to the water’s edge from here. Once you get a bit closer to the waves, start digging!
Make sure you are here for low tide. The hot water is accessible 2hrs on either side of low tide, so you have plenty of time for a good soak.
Tips for Digging at Hot Water Beaches
We have read quite a few blog posts from people claiming the water really isn’t that warm at either of these beaches. Those people are not digging in the right spot. We almost burnt our hands at Coromandel and although Kawhia is not that scorching hot, it is still very comfortable to lie in for a few hours. So here are the tips we got from locals to make sure you are digging in the right spot!
Pay attention to where on the beach you are digging. The hot water isn’t everywhere, and it’s only accessible at lower tide times, so make sure you check the tide forecast before heading out. We have outlined roughly how to get to the hot water spots above for each beach. Once you get there at the right time, you don’t have to dig deep to find the water. If you wriggle your hand down into the sand up to your wrist and it’s still cold, keep looking. You’ll feel the warmer sand with your fingers. Don’t bother digging until you get some warm sand. If you get there and other people are already digging, it’s a safe bet to start looking near them.
If you don’t have your own shovel, you can hire them from the cafe at Coromandel or you can get them from the Top 10 Campground if you are staying there. For Kawhia, stay at Kawhia Camping Ground and you’ll be given a free shovel to use for the duration of your stay.
So which beach will you pick? If you’re anything like us, you’ll just end up doing them both! How can you pass up watching a sunset from your own hot pool? Of course, the lure of going to the famous Coromandel hot water beach is pretty hard to resist. Just be sure to go in off season to reduce the impact you have on the area and to avoid the crowds!
