Coming Events

Monday 21st June is the day when Winter Solstice occurs in the Southern Hemisphere. It marks the shortest day of the year between sunrise at 7:29 a.m. and sunset at 5:07 p.m.

To mark the day, we're heading to Hot Water Beach, on the Coromandel Peninsula, to watch the sunrise from the luxury of our own hot spa pools dug in the sand! If you've never experienced Hot Water Beach before, then this is a treat not to be missed!

To take full advantage of the thermally heated water, we'll be meeting on the beach at 7:30 a.m. (Earlier if you wish!). Low tide is at 9:16 a.m. and your hot water pool will be usable until around 11:15, when the incoming tide of cold sea water will take over once more.

To get to the right spot on the beach you have 2 options: Park at the Main Beach Carpark on Pye Place and walk 300 meters north up the beach, or park at the Middle Carpark on Domain Road and walk 450 meters south down the beach. Bear in mind that the first option involves wading across a stream just after you leave the carpark, and I believe there's a charge for parking there.

What to bring: Definitely bring a shovel to dig your pool in the sand. Also you'll need a towel and some warm gear to put on when you get out of the pools. And, of course, some refreshments - you might feel like staying for lunch if the weather is nice.

Hot Water Beach is off State Highway 25, North of Tairua on the Coromandel East Coast. Driving times are: from Auckland, 2 hr 35 min; Tauranga, 2 hr 20 min; Hamilton, 2 hr 10 min; Waihi, 1 hr 20 min. There are camping grounds there if you wish to drive up the day before.

Any questions? Don't hesitate to ask.