Hot Water Beach - Main Beach Parking

Lots of space in the carpark and toilets too, make sure to get to low tide in the morning when its quieter, its only a 5 minute walk to the beach from the carpark! and you might be lucky to catch a beautiful sunrise over the river on the walk to the beach!

Great place! Go there during low tide to make hot water pool. Don't forget to carry a spade to dig a hole.

Great place to visit, it’s really hot, some of them are really too hot.You can rent a shovel for 10$ and 10$ deposit.Just keep in mind, just start digging when you really feel a warm stream in the sand.If you start digging at its not getting hot after the first centimeters, it never will.I made the same mistake and did it for around 40 minutes, it was a nice pool, but cold;)So walk down the beach, you will feel it when you walk over the sand, the sand is really hot, so that’s the place to start.

This is one of the few times I have come across pay and display car parks at the coast in NZ. We parked on a dirt car park and walked into the village. On the way we hired a spade for $5NZ, with a $20NZ deposit. Further in, they were hiring at the same price but no deposit.The beach is well provided for in terms of showers, loos and life guards. A short walk along the beach you can see people furiously digging their hollows in the sand to a depth where there is water. Some high up the beach, and others low down. We sampled a few abandoned pits to find cool or tepid water in them. We were beginning to think this was a con. So I set about digging my own pool a few meters up from the water line, but inline with some rocks in the sea. I was soon down to the water-level and…..it was hot; so hot I could barely put my foot in for a second. We abandoned this one, and moved forward to the water’s edge. Here I could mix the cold sea water with the water in the sand to get a reasonable temperature.  R was entertained by people asking if they could try our first pool and then shrieking with pain & surprise. It was rather like putting your feet in boiling water and having your ankles drop off. My first pool was judged the hottest on the beach. R thought the whole thing was rather like a male bird building an exquisite nest to attract mates.I also swam on the beach. There was a lovely surf for body surfing on. Very refreshing.

The main car park that services hot water beach. It is reasonably sized but expect it to be often or near full during the peak season. There are the usual toilets and showers here and parking is metered/pay & display 24hrs so don't forget to buy a ticket. There is an eatery/shop here too where you can get your lunch and hire/buy a shovel to go dig a hole on the beach. You could possible get away with parking on the other side of the road which is supposed to be for Artspace customers.

Been there a couple of times and this time was the worst. The low tide time table was not right so none of us got the hot water. And you charge $4/hr fir car park! It is a rip off and I hope it’s a joke. But it is real

Very unique beach to make hot bath for yourself. When I was there in summer season, there were so many people and crowded. For parking, it is quite busy. My kid enjoy making the hot bath.Besides that, it is also quite beautiful and spacious beach. So if you want to just enjoy as normal beach, it can be recommended.

Hot Water Beach must be one if the best white sand beaches in the world. Fantastic surf, great swimming and as the name suggests hot water coming up from the sand. Just remember it's only there on low tide. Plenty to do, great cafes and camp grounds and the legendary Hahei and Cathedral Cove minutes away by car.

Head down in low tide and dig yourself a hot pool. Find the stream location and start you hole just off it but make sure to not burn yourself. You’ll need to bring a shovel and if low tide is around sunset, make sure to bring a small torch.

Went there it was raining and cold. 3 people on the beach, dipped my feet in one of these already dug hole for 5 minutes and then left. It was great. But would definitely not do it during summer time with all the tourist