Kawhia Hot Springs (Te Puia), New Zealand

What it is

Kawhia Hot Springs (often referred to as Te Puia) is a natural hot-sand beach experience on Kawhia Ocean Beach. You don’t soak in a built pool. You dig a shallow “bath” in the black sand near the active area and let geothermal water seep in, then cool it with seawater until it’s comfortable. Rankers describes it plainly: around two hours either side of low tide, geothermally heated water bubbles up through the sand and you can dig your own bath, after walking over the sand dunes from the end of Te Puia Road.

What makes it distinct

It’s usually quieter than the better-known Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel, and the west-coast setting feels wilder. The trade-off is that you’re on an exposed surf beach. Conditions change fast, and the “bath” zone can be small, so you may be sharing space if you arrive at peak low-tide windows.

What to expect

No facilities at the hot zone, no lifeguards as a given, and no guaranteed “perfect temperature”. The fun is in the tide-timed ritual of digging and adjusting until the water feels right.

Access is via Te Puia Road at Kawhia Ocean Beach. Rankers notes you can drive to the end of Te Puia Road and walk over the dunes, or walk around the beach from the boat ramp. Either way, the approach is short, but you are walking on soft sand and climbing a dune, so pack light and wear footwear you can manage in sand.

Tide timing is the whole deal. Rankers states the springs are usable around two hours either side of low tide. Check a tide table for Kawhia before you leave your accommodation, then aim to arrive early in the window so you’re not digging in a rush as the tide returns. If you arrive late, you can lose your pool quickly as the ocean pushes in.

Bring a small shovel (or something similar), swimwear, a towel, and a warm layer for wind. West coast evenings can feel cold even after a sunny day. Add drinking water, sun protection in summer, and a dry bag for your phone and keys. If it has rained hard, be cautious about runoff and water quality near stream mouths, and keep your soak area close to the main active zone rather than digging random holes across the beach.

Plan to fill your hole back in when you leave. It’s a simple step that makes the beach safer for the next group and for anyone walking at dusk. Treat this as a shared public place, because it is.

This is best for travellers who like low-tide adventures and don’t mind getting sandy. It’s a fun stop for road trippers and a surprisingly good “reset” after a day of driving, as long as you time it correctly. It can work for families, but it requires active supervision because both the hot water and the surf can hurt you quickly if you get casual.

Families: kids love digging, but adults need to control the digging depth and the temperature checks. Make shallow test holes first, then expand carefully. Keep children away from the waterline when waves are up, and don’t treat the hot pool as a play pool. Hot spots can scald. Cool the water by letting seawater mix in and keep the pool shallow so temperature evens out more quickly.

Mobility: this is not wheelchair accessible. Sand, a dune crossing, and shifting tide lines make it unreliable and physically demanding. If someone needs step-free access or stable pool entry, choose a managed hot pools venue instead.

Expectations vs reality: sometimes you hit perfect warmth fast. Other times you dig a few holes before you find the best seep. Crowds can form because the hot zone is limited. The best mindset is cooperative, share space, keep your pool modest, and rotate if others are waiting.

If you want a quiet soak with facilities and controlled water temperature, this isn’t it. If you want a very New Zealand “dig your own bath” moment, it’s exactly that.

The two hazards to treat seriously are scalding heat and ocean conditions. Geothermal seep water can be much hotter than it looks, so test with a hand before you sit down fully and never let children sit in a hole until an adult has cooled it with seawater. Keep pools shallow. Deeper holes heat unevenly and can trap very hot water at the bottom.

Ocean safety matters because this is an exposed surf beach. Waves and rips can form, and the shorebreak can knock you over. If you cool off in the sea, stay close to shore and only in calm conditions. If the sea looks rough, skip swimming and keep the experience to the sand pool. Don’t turn your back on waves while you’re digging near the waterline, and don’t set bags where the tide can take them.

Slip and trip hazards are easy to create here. Open holes are dangerous for other beach users, especially as light fades. Fill your pool back in before you leave, and keep tools and bags out of walking lines. Keep the area tidy so people aren’t stepping around scattered gear on a narrow strip of beach.

Etiquette is basic but important. Keep music off, don’t fly drones, and avoid taking photos that include other people in swimwear. Give others space. Don’t dig right up against someone else’s pool edge. If it’s busy, share the thermal zone rather than claiming a large footprint. And don’t “improve” the springs by digging trenches or moving large rocks, it damages the beach and makes the site messier over time.

Finally, pack out everything you bring in. Food scraps and bottles attract pests and spoil the feel of an otherwise wild coastline. The best visits are the ones that leave the beach looking untouched.

Is there an entry fee?

No. Kawhia Hot Springs (Te Puia) is a natural beach site with no ticketing. You may still pay for parking depending on where you leave your car, and you’ll need your own shovel.

When can I dig a pool?

Rankers advises visiting around two hours either side of low tide. Outside that window, the active hot zone is covered by the sea and digging is usually pointless.

How do I find the hot spot?

Walk over the dunes from the end of Te Puia Road and head toward the waterline. Feel for warmer sand with your feet and dig shallow test holes first, then expand once you find a steady warm seep.

Is it safe for kids?

It can be, with close supervision. Control digging depth, test temperature carefully, cool with seawater, and keep kids away from the surf edge when conditions are rough.

What should I bring?

A shovel, swimsuit, towel, drinking water, sun protection, and a warm layer for wind. Wear footwear you can walk in over dunes, and use a dry bag for valuables near the tide line.