Where to soak in the 11 best natural hot pools in the North Island of New Zealand!
Last updated on July 8th, 2026 at 01:06 am
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The best natural hot water swimming spots in the North Island?
There’s nothing like being in a hot bath that nature puts on for you in the great outdoors! I’m an absolute sucker for it – especially when there has been some hiking involved! So, of course, I’ve made sure I’ve got to soak in these 11 best natural hot water swimming spots in New Zealand’s North Island. How could I not?
There is plenty of geothermal activity in New Zealand, especially around the Rotorua area, and that means natural hot water. A lot of it is fed into commercial pools, which are great in their own way – consistent temperature, easy access and all those good things . But if you want to experience it in a more natural setting, and for free, these are places to put on your North Island bucket list.
Safety first!
And please be safe….
Keep your head out of the water. Amoeba live in hot pools, and can cause you to get Amoebic Meningitis, which can result in death if it gets to your brain via nose, mouth, ears. It sounds dramatic, and otherwise it is safe to soak in the hot water. Just don’t put your head under.
Wear crocs or something on your feet – you can burn your feet if you step on a vent!
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Tours and Activities – book with Viator, GetYourGuide, or Eatwith. Hot pool options are:
- 1. Cathedral Cove & Hot Water Beach Private Tour From Auckland
- 2. Katoa Jet Boat & Lake Rotoiti Hot Pools trip – the pools are only accessible by boat
- 3. Kayak to the Rotoiti hot pools and learn about local life and history, or, take a Hot Pools Kayak & Evening Barbecue trip to these pools – only accessible by boat.
- 4. Do it in style – take a float plane into the hot pools on Rotoiti!!
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the 11 best natural hot pools in the North Island
The 11 best natural hot pools in the North Island
Okay lets go chill in some fabulous natural hot pools!
1. Kaitoke Hot Springs
Kaitoke hot springs are one of my favourite natural hot water swimming spots for sure! It bubbles away on Great Barrier Island – very conveniently near the end of the Aotea Track hike. You can’t do better than that after a long walk! Great Barrier Island is offshore from Auckland so its not somewhere you just drive to but its such a great little island that it is worth visiting for sure!
Directions: Fly to Great Barrier Island from Auckland. The pools are signposted from Whangaparapara Road and a flat and easy 45 min walk each way.
Tip: Take crocs or jandals / flip flops / thongs as the hot water vents move around and can burn your feet if you step on one. It hasn’t happened to me, but it did to someone else while I was there.
Before or after your soak, stay on Great Barrier Island at..
Higher end – The Beach House
Mid Range – Coromandel Seaview Motel
Budget – Anglers Lodge Coromandel, or, Whitestar Station Farm Holiday Park
2. Hot’n Cold River (The Bridge)
Both names work – Hot’nCold is at a bridge where hot water meets the cold water of the river. I really like this spot and it seems to be warmer than Kerosene Creek (another warm river spot nearby). You wont be alone, but there’s plenty of room. You can drive right up to it. Easy!
A note on Kerosene Creek – I do not really recommend it because of theft from cars there. At Hot’nCold you park your car pretty much in sight and there isn’t the same issue.
Directions: About 40km south of Rotorua is a signpost marked ‘Waiotapu Thermal Park.’ This is the first entrance, there is another about 500 meters further down the road towards Taupo. Take the second entrance. About 500 metres down the road is a small bridge. That’s it!
Before or after your soak, stay in Rotorua at..
High End luxury – Treetops Lodge and Estate or Solitaire Lodge
Mid Range – Black Swan Lakeside Boutique Hotel, Quest Rotorua Central
Budget – Lake Ōkāreka Retreat
Backpackers – Rock Solid Backpackers Rotorua, or, Crashpalace Backpacker Rotorua
3. Wairua Stream Pool on Lake Tarawera
This is my absolute favorite in the North Island! The water is crystal clear and a perfect bath-like consistent temperature. The frogs in the nearby lake croak, dragonflies buzz, and cicadas sing. When you get too hot you just walk the 1min track to the lake and dive in. What more could anyone want?
Directions: Either walk about 2.5 hours in on the Tarawera trail and at the Wairua Amenity area look for a path toward the lake. Alternatively take the water taxi to Hot Water Beach and ask them to drop you here instead. It wont be a problem.
Tip: You can either spend the day, morning, or afternoon here, or, make a day of it and after a long soak, walk 1.25 hours to hot Water Beach for pick up – or camp the night there in the DoC campground.
Before or after your soak, stay in Rotorua at..
.. any of the places listed in pool 2 above.
4. Hot Water Beach on Lake Tarawera
Spend the day at a lakeside beach bathing in hot and cold water. The hot water spreads out quite a distance and is warm on the top and cool underneath when you get further away from the source. So stay near the source if you want to keep warm.
You can also camp here – but you must book ahead!
Directions: As for the Wairua Stream Pool, or just get a water taxi direct to this beach. If you are camping its a nice walk to the Wairua pool (above) and back too.
Tip: Wear crocs or something on your feet in case you step on a vent. There is an area by the maininlet which looks like a pool – it is not! Don’t step in that area as it is too hot. See the rocks by the edge of the beach in the pic below.
An alternative to this, in the same area is on Lake Rotoiti – the pools aren’t so natural but are fairly basic – and only accessible by boat.
- You can take a great jet boat ride to get to them on the Katoa Jet Boat & Lake Rotoiti Hot Pools trip.
- Or you can kayak to the Rotoiti and learn about local life and history and pop into see some glow-worms!
- There is also a Hot Pools Kayak & Evening Barbecue trip to the pools on Rotoiti.
- Finally, try doing it in style – take a float plane into these hot pools on Rotoiti!!
Either way it can be a great alternative!
Before or after your soak, stay in Rotorua at..
.. any of the places listed in pool 2 above.
5. Taupo Hot Water Beach
Definitely no secret as this is very popular summer holiday destination in New Zealand. But it is a pleasantly warm swimming spot in Lake Taupo – which is great for swimming along the shoreline – along with the ducks and black swans.
Directions: Take an unmarked side road on the lake side of the road off Lake Terrace along Taupo’s waterfront. Its marked on googlemaps as Hot Water Beach.
Tip: Walk along the lake front to the east and find an outlet at a little stream. It is usually quite peaceful there. Its just past Lowell Place, off Lake Terrace. Avoid the Christmas / New Year period – wait until late Jan to visit. It’s just too crowded!
Before or after your soak, stay in Taupo at..
High End – Lake Taupo Lodge, or, The Flying Trout Boutique Lodge
Mid Range – Acacia Lake View Motel or Hilton Lake Taupo
Budget – The Belfry
Backpackers – Finlay Jacks Backpackers, or, Adventure Taupo Hostel
6. Otumuheke Stream in Spa Park, Taupo
The little Otumuheke Stream empties via a small waterfall into the mighty Waikato River on the edge of Spa Park. It is popular so comes with changing rooms, a cafe and a deck all there for your use. The further you get from the stream the cooler the water as it mixes with the cold Waikato.
Directions: Drive up Spa Road and take Country road into Spa Park. Park in the car park at the end of the road and walk 10 minutes down the hill – about 500m.
Tips:
- You can also walk to the Huka Falls (approx1.5 hours one way) from here. The AllTrails map is here!
- Take good care of where the warm stream meets the river current. It can drop off sharply into deep, fast-moving cold water – i.e. dangerous waters, and can catch you off guard.
- Because it is free, easy to get to, and close to town, it can get unpleasantly busy on weekends. The best time to go is Tuesday or Wednesday just after sunrise! You get the bonus of seeing the steam rising off the water mixing with the morning light – nice for photography!
Before or after your soak, stay in Taupo at..
…any of the places listed in pool 5 above.
7. Butchers Pool
Natural green hot water piped into a pool. A great spot for a picnic and just to relax. It is free – it was gifted to the people by the Butcher family who farmed here in the early settler days. I haven’t been for years and don’t have a photo. Note to self – must go back!
Directions: At the end of Butchers Pool Road, off Broadlands Road 1.8km south of Reporoa Village between Rotorua and Taupo. About a 1min walk to the pool!
Before or after your soak, stay in Taupo at..
…any of the places listed in pool 5 above.
8. Hot Water Beach Coromandel Peninsula
These are the two ocean beaches with hot water. Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula is very well-known and can be crowded, Basically, dig a hole in the sand and make your own pool.
It’s not really that great for ‘soaking’ – it’s hard to dig a hole that gets more than a shallow pool. But at the beaches its really more about the fun of it, than the soaking in hot water. Bring a spade or hire one at the beach to aid the digging process!
Directions: Signposted from SH 25, about 20 mins north of Tairua. You will need to pay to park. You will find the trail to the hot water area on AllTrails here!
If you are in Auckland and short on time or transport, you can take this tour which gives the bonus of seeing more of the peninsula and a visit to Cathedral Cove – Cathedral Cove & Hot Water Beach Private Tour From Auckland
Tips:
- You can only dig for the hot water at low tide – its covered by the ocean at high tide so check the tide times before you go. You want to be there a couple of hours before low tide until about an hour afterward.
- Bring your own spade or shovel – especially if you are going in the evening. You can hire one in one of the beach shops but they will close before evening.
- When low tide falls right at dusk or early nightfall during the winter months, its the best time to go. There are none of the, sometimes huge, midday crowds. And imagine soaking in a steaming sand-pool under the stars!! (Bring a headtorch to find your way back.)
- The water can be burning hot (up to 64°C / 147°F) straight out of the sand. Dig your pool close enough to the surf line so that you get the odd wave come into your pool and cool it down. Take care – it is a natural phenomenon and the water can vary in temperature quite a lot.
Before or after your soak, stay in Hahei at..
Mid range – Tatahi Lodge Beach Resort, or, The Church Accommodation
Budget or backpacker – nice private rooms and dorms at the Tatahi Cove Back Packer
9. Kawhia Hot Water Beach (Te Puia Springs)
Kawhia is unlikely to be crowded. In my mind a better bet for a peaceful dig in the sand and soak in some warm water. Again, dig a hole in the sand and make your own pool about 2 hours before low tide until about an hour after.
Directions: Take SH 31 to Kawhia. In town, turn on Tainui Street and follow the signs to the carpark. Walk over the dunes and look for other people in the hot water, look for some steam, walk down at the beach until it feels warm!
Tips: Bring a spade, unless you are staying at the camping ground where you can hire one. Again, you can really only dig your pool a couple of hours before low tide until about an hour afterward – the rest of the time the sea covers the hot water area.
Before or after your soak, stay in Waitomo (see the glow-worms) at..
Waitomo Caves Guest Lodge, or, The Waitomo Village Chalets
Backpackers – YHA Waitomo Juno Hall Backpackers
Note: Read this post for more info on seeing the glow worms!
10. Mangatutu Hot Springs
Mangatutu hot springs are au-naturel hot water but DoC (Dept of Conservation) have kindly piped it into two big pools perched on a hill overlooking bush and a river well below. there is a campsite above the pools and you can drive there.
Directions: From Napier follow Puketitiri Road for 40 km before turning right into Pakaututu Road. Makahu Road is 9 km on the left. Follow this to the carpark. From Napier it is 75km.
Tip: Its a bit of a rough road to say the least and a 4wd would be best, but its do-able. There is a river ford so check the weather before you go.
Before or after your soak, stay in Napier at..
High End – 415 Marine Parade, or, The County Hotel, or, Cobden Garden Bed And Breakfast
Mid Range – Motel de la Mer, or, Art Deco Masonic Hotel, or, MnM’s BnB
Budget – Bestern on Mohaka, or, The Nautilus
Backpackers – Crash palace Napier
11. Mangatainoka Hot Springs
Even better, and I think in my top two favorites is the Mangatainoka Hot springs. But you have to walk there. Its approximately four hours walk from the carpark and it is my idea of bliss. The walk is a beautiful one and you can find it on AllTrails here.
The river runs past with a fantastic beach and swimming hole. DoC have kindly piped the hot water into three large tubs on a deck above the river. Run between the two – hot, cold, hot, cold. Brilliant!
You can stay at the hut about 45 mins before the pools or camp at the pools. Its a great place to take a book or two and whatever goodies you can carry and chill out for a couple of nights!
Directions: From Napier follow Puketitiri Road for 40 km before turning right into Pakaututu Road. Makahu Road is 9 km on the left. Follow this to the carpark. From Napier it is 75km. The walk from here is approx 4 hours.
Tip: the same as 10. above.
Before or after your hike and soak, stay in Napier at..
…any of the places listed in pool 10 above.
Frequently Asked Questions about the natural thermal pools in New Zealand
Q: Can I safely put my head underwater?
A: No! Keep your head above water. The water can contain an amoeba that causes meningitis – an infection that is usually fatal. So the general rule across New Zealand is never dive, splash or put your head under in thermal pool areas.
Q: Will the water ruin my swimwear or jewellery?
A: Yes to jewellery – take it off before you get in. The high sulfur and mineral content will particularly tarnish silver.
And for swimwear, the answer is possibly. The water can affect your clothing – especially if it is cheap or light-colored swimwear. Wear old or dark swimsuits!
Q: Do I need to book in advance, and are they free??
A: These natural pools all come free and are unbookable, but if they are in parks managed by DoC (1,3,4,10,11 above) and you want to stay in a nearby hut or campsite you have to book that ahead.
Q: Why does the water smell, and what are those floating bits?
A: Its natural volcanic chemistry! If there is a sulphur smell (rotten egg smell) then that is hydrogen sulfide gas, which is a natural product of volcanic activity.
The “floating bits” are usually white or grey and they do not mean the pool is dirty! These are just flakes of silica or other minerals. They make the water feel silky on your skin!
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