Hot Water Beach - Lake Tarawera, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Trail Blaisers
S 38° 14.619 E 176° 26.024
60H E 450447 N 5766999
Hot Water Beach is the outlet of a (very) hot natural spring on the south shore of Lake Tarawera. A boat is required to get to the springs although work is being done to complete a tramping track along the lake's south coast.
Waymark Code: WMGJD6
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 03/12/2013
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member lumbricus
Views: 6

Hot Water Beach is the outlet of a (very) hot natural spring on the south shore of Lake Tarawera. A boat is currently required to get to the springs. However, in the future, access will be gained by a 42 km tramping track around Lake Tarawera that will be done to NZ's Great Walk standards.

Upon landing your boat, your first experience is likely to be feeling the heat of the water just below the surface of the sand as you walk along the beach in your bare feet. After that there are several ways to experience the water:
* dig with your hands just an inch into the sand and the water will fill the little hole with very hot water
* you COULD touch the stream of water that flows down the hillside into the lake but that is a sure way of burning yourself ... our guide referred to the joy that nearby campers get in preparing their morning boiled eggs in the stream
* my suggestion is to go out into the lake a few metres where the hot water mixes with the colder water of Lake Tarawera and make your own spa.

There are warning signs advising not to put your head underwater.

Next to the beach is a campsite that is managed by The Whakarewarewa Village Charitable Trust on behalf of the Department of Conservation. Bookings should be made in advance at (visit link)
Temperature (C): 70

Type: Primitive

Cost?: No Cost

Open to the Public?: yes

Clothing Optional?: no

Other Amenities:
campground ($10/person/night), gentle sandy beach for landing boats


Temperature (F): Not listed

Visit Instructions:
1. Include a photo of the hot spring

2. Describe your visit.
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