Hot Water Beach

Coromandel Peninsula - New Zealand

This beach has hot springs that bubble up through the sand two hours either side of low tide. If you go at the right time, you will be joining dozens of others who are digging their own holes in the sand to create natural hot pools.

There is usually someone floating around offering to rent their spades to make the digging easier though personally we didn't find it necessary. It doesn't take long to scoop out the sand to reach the hot part and if you are lucky, you may come across an abandoned hot pool that you can jump into.

The source of the hot water is a huge underground reservoir of superheated water thanks to local volcanic activity. The water cools as it reaches the surface though can get as hot as 60ºC (140ºF) at times so be careful.

WARNING: There are dangerous currents just off the beach and there are signs saying that swimming is NOT recommended unless there is a lifeguard patrol on duty... which will often be there to tell you not to swim anyway. The beach is really good for surf casting (fishing) though.

Not far from here is the famous Cathedral Cove (which you may have seen in the Narnia movies).

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