Your Guide to Hot Water Beach
New Zealand is full of many natural gems, but one of the most unique is Hot Water Beach! With an underground river of hot water flowing beneath the sand, there is the unique opportunity to dig your own natural spa pool at the doorstep to the Pacific Ocean!
Often regarded as one of the must-do activities in the Coromandel, a visit to Hot Water Beach compliments perfectly with a scenic hike to Cathedral Cove – being only a five minute drive between the two!
To help you plan your visit to one of the most iconic Kiwi beaches, we’ve put together a basic guide to give you all the necessary tips and tricks to ensure your outing here is a success!
Best time to visit Hot Water Beach:
There is never a bad time to go to the beach. Head out at sunrise for some beach yoga, mid-day for a swim or surf session and a scenic picnic at sunset.
But, if you’re wanting to have a go at digging your own natural hot tub in the sand, we recommend you start digging within two hours on either side of low tide.
A pro-trick to finding the right spot to dig is by shuffling your feet through the sand. You will instantly be able to feel the difference from the normally cool sand to the scorching hot sand with hot water bubbling up from beneath.
While digging with your hands could work, it will take a lot of time and effort. Don’t forget to bring your own spade with you. But if you are short of one or travelling with one isn’t practical, the nearby shops and cafes hire them out to enthusiastic beachgoers.
Best Hot Water Beach cafes:
Speaking of cafes – digging in the sand will undoubtedly make you work up an appetite. Depending on what time of the day you visit, there are three beachside eateries.
Hot Waves Café
Hidden just a few metres off the main road from the beach, this cafe is open everyday from 8:30AM-4PM. Providing a caffeine kick to start the day or a sit-down lunch after an hour or two of digging in the sand, Hot Waves Café is a super hipster place that everyone in your group will love!
Our recommended eat: their passionfruit ice block on a hot Kiwi summers day.
Address: 8 Pye Place, Hot Water Beach
Phone: 07 866 3887
Hahei Beach Café
For those looking to beat the low tide in the morning, this is the earliest local café you can grab a coffee from. Open from 7:30AM-4PM, Hahei Beach Cafe is an obvious hotspot for breakfast and for some of the best barista coffee in the Peninsula. They also serve larger meals for those really needing a big feed. But staying true to its local roots, the price to dine here will satisfy even a backpacker’s budget.
Our recommended eat: their homemade date scone with a flat white
Address: 3 Grange Road, Hahei 3591
Phone: 07-866 3016
Hotties Beachfront Eatery
This beachfront eatery gives diners one of the most unforgettable views in the area, as well as snagging the title of the best lunch spot to each at. Hotties serves up lunch from 10AM-4PM and weekend dinners from 6PM-8PM, you’ll be dining in paradise no matter what meal you come here for.
Our recommended eat: their fish tacos with a side of chilli sauce
Address: 29 Pye Place, Hot Water Beach 3591
Phone: 07 866 3006
Are you keen to check out one of New Zealand’s most unique beaches? Check out our Hot Water Beach holiday homes on the Coromandel Peninsula to start planning an epic adventure now!
