Hot Water beach
Hot Water Beach is a geothermal attraction in Mercury Bay on the east side of the Coromandel Peninsula. When the beach opens at low tide, you can get to the sandy surface of the underground sources. Thanks to this sightseeing, the beach is visited at any time of the year, the number of visitors for the annual period is close to a million.
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Beach description
To get to the hot springs, breaking through the golden sand you need to guess a couple of suitable hours at a time when the ocean recedes. Each beach cafe, shop are ready to offer tourists any amount of equipment for self-digging. Even those who arrive here in the most unsuitable for swimming cool winter months, succumb to the general agiotage and make a personal spa bath on the beach.
Water flowing from the ground has a temperature of more than 60°C, so it is desirable to place the pool closer to the surf, so that hot water mixes with the cold a little. Those who "dug in" not in the first ranks, carry a cold additive from the ocean with a bucket. Light steam rises above the relaxed pink bodies.
Here you will find young and old and families with children of different ages. Season is quite crowded. Hydrothermal and hydro-massage natural reservoirs the coming surf and after a while the beach is again filled with many tourists with shovels.
In recent years, Hot Water Beach has undergone many useful improvements, but it still remains public. Beach is equipped:
- Three parking lots (two of them are free), where all arriving buses, personal and rented cars will find a place.
- Upgraded public conveniences.
- There are shower cabins.
- Excellent conditions for surfing, but only for experienced athletes.
- From December to February, the beach is patrolled by volunteer beach inspectors.
- Safest places to swim are limited to warning flags.
- There is a cafe where just watch the process and relax in a different way for those who do not want to take a bath.
In addition to the security measures taken, each of the campers should not lose sight of the friends who came with him, children, sea currents near the beach line are quite treacherous. There are strong water riots, sometimes the bottom deepens in places. A gawking threatens to carry into the ocean rapidly approaching tidal wave. There were precedents. In water is recommended to go only those who confidently floats only in the presence of lifeguards.
There are special rules:
- use the toilets furthest from the beach, directly on the water they are not;
- forbidden to eat or drink while in the pool;
- recommended to remove any debris near the thermal beach.
When is the best time to go?
The best time to travel to New Zealand is December-January, the local summer. Despite the warming, the temperature rarely exceeds 30 degrees, so relaxing on the beach here is very comfortable.
Video: Beach Hot Water
Infrastructure
There are several hotels, terraces which offer views of the ocean, where you can stay with all the amenities, listen to the silence or the sound of the sea lapping against the rocks. One such hotel - Pacific Beachfront - Hot Water Beach Holiday House. Guests at the hotel can also free parking lot, comfortable spacious rooms with views of the beach, opportunity to arrange a barbecue in fresh air. Guests at the hotel can also enjoy a tasty breakfast. Friendly and attentive hosts provide a homely atmosphere, ready to accept at any time, give good advice on shopping, dining or walking.
Beach has a lot of culinary options for every taste. Warm, cozy, tasty food, served good local beer and wine. Beer – in the first ranks in the world ranking for quality. From drinks Lemon & Paeroa is popular, prepared on the basis of mineral water, adding lemon juice.
Basis of menu is famous New Zealand lamb, pork, beef in any restaurant. In addition to fried potatoes often offer local variety – Camaro with a slightly sweet aftertaste. Produce first-class French-style cheeses. Traditional desserts are pies with cream, a variety of fruits, jams, plus crispy cookies, migrated here from England.
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- Travelers get to Hot Water Beach by car, their own or rented. About 70 km from Thames.
- Beach is visited at any time of year, water in the springs is always hot. A bit uncomfortable to be on air if wind is blowing or raining (which happens often in the winter months).
What to do while the natural "jacuzzi" washed away by the surf:
- Devote yourself to scuba diving around Cathedral Bay in the marine reserve.
- Take a kayak tour.
- With a boat cruise to visit the places where films were made about Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia, hidden sea caves.
- Visit the Moko Artspace art gallery. Here you can buy truly unique things.
- Fun Zone Adventure & Family Park - great place for families, groups of children of different ages or a picnic.
- Visit park Whiti Farm, home to many happy animals.