An Unusual Spot, Hot Water Beach

I never imagined that I might need to rent a shovel…
Especially not here in New Zealand!

And yet, this village is a magnet for the crowds who want to dig small hot-water pools in the sand. On our first visit, this unusual beach looked like a gold rush with shovels and buckets. We just kept going a little further to enjoy the sunny late afternoon on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

The following day, what luck that low tide coincided with sunrise!
Without a shovel, a small plastic dish is just as good for digging. My partner Vanessa absolutely loves bathing, and even more so the sand. She’s in heaven here, in a pool heated by the Earth’s depths. Léo doesn’t get wet after all – maybe he’s not quite awake yet. Before rejoining Vanessa, I capture a few photos of the sun’s first rays and the powerful waves crashing against the rocks. It’s worth getting up early!

Learn more: New Zealand Tourism

---