Hot Water Beach

The Hot Water Beach is a stretch of beach on the Pacific coast about 12 km from the small town of Whitianga. It is located in the Thames - Coromandel district on the Coromandel Peninsula of the North Island of New Zealand. The beach bears his name, which translates to " hot water beach " means, because of the outlet of hot water on a narrow stretch of sandy beach. About 2 km below the earth's surface are located approximately 170 ° C hot rock layers, the remains of volcanic activity in a time before 5 to 9 million years. In addition to hot water reservoirs are located. Cold groundwater seeps into the rock, in its place rises hot water through cracks in the rock to the top. It occurs in two sources, " Maori " in the north with a temperature of 64 ° C and an output of 10 to 15 L / min and " Orua " 20 m to the south of 60 ° C.

The water has a neutral pH value and contain salts of calcium, magnesium, sodium, fluorine and bromine, as well as silicates. In water, dissolved carbon dioxide escapes in the form of bubbles.

The area in which exits the hot water is only in a period of two to four hours not covered by the sea during low tide. In this short time the beach is densely populated with New Zealanders and visitors, the wells dug in the sand to take advantage of the warm water for bathing. The annual visitor numbers are estimated at 130,000, making it the beach, the most important associated with geothermal attraction of Waikato Region.

The settlement of Hot Water Beach, located near the beach car park and visitor center with rental of blades extends on the coast just south of the sources.

Just south of the hot springs is a guarded beach.

Further south, the beach is covered with boulders, in which spherical concretions the Moeraki Boulders are similar, albeit much less well trained.

The beach can be reached from State Highway 25 a few miles away. North is the village of Hahei and Cathedral Cove.