Kawhia

If low tide is late afternoon, Kawhia’s hot water beach offers the rare experience of soaking in a sandy spa pool while you watch the sun go down.

The coastal village of Kawhia is a great fishing spot for holiday makers. For much of the year, Kawhia is a peaceful, quiet spot, with an increase in beach-goers arriving over summer. Kawhia's main claim to fame is the hot water spring on Ocean Beach. At low tide, geothermally heated water bubbles up through the black sand – you can dig your own bath. To find the springs, walk around the beach from the boat ramp or drive to the end of Te Puia Road and walk over the dunes. Another expedition is the walk to Maketu Marae, where two stones mark the burial place of the Tainui canoe (one of the migration canoes that came from Polynesia). Kawhia has a general store and a camping ground.
The Kawhia Kai Festival is also a must do. Known world wide and listed in the Lonely Planet Guide's top 10 Maori Experiences in New Zealand.

Functional facts: Approx. population 400, choice of cafés, limited accommodation.