Located on the shores of beautiful Te Rata Bay on the southern arm of Lake Tarawera and complete with its own natural hot springs, Hot Water Beach campground is one of Rotorua’s secret gems and one of New Zealand’s most unique and beautiful campsites.
Surrounded by lush bush, with views of the lake and mountain, as well as steaming thermal waters in parts, the campsite is naturally formed and popular with locals and visitors alike.
Accessible only by boat or on foot via the Tarawera Trail the campground is at the end of the Tarawera Trail. This Trail is a 15km, one-way day hike, taking moderately fit walkers approximately 5-6 hours to complete. The Trail winds through stunning native bush and past expansive lake views. Direct water taxi transport to Hot Water Beach campsite from The Landing is available from Totally Tarawera. You can also organize to have your camping gear transported to the campsite if you would like a lighter load to hike with.
There are 30 pegged campsites of various sizes, as well as toilet facilities, and a sheltered space for cooking.
Please view the site map, and book online via our calendar below.
All bookings for any date after 01/07/2019 will have an increase, this is been directed by DOC.
Adults: $15 per night
Child (5-17 years): $7.5 per night
Infant (0-4 years): Free
Note: Arrival / check in time 1pm, departure / check out time 11am
Click here to organize Water Taxi transport with Totally Tarawera.
Te Rata Bay and the campsite itself is at the end of the Tarawera Trail, a point-to-point walk that begins just off Tarawera Road at Te Wairoa, around 15 minutes from Rotorua City. The Trail itself represents the return of the people to their land after the devastation of the 1886 Mount Tarawera eruption, celebrating the Tarawera region as the birthplace of tourism in New Zealand.
Winding through lush native bush, over streams and past stunning lake views, the trail is well-formed and requires a medium level of fitness. It showcases many of the hallmarks of the Central North Island – beautiful forests, native birds and geothermal elements – and also traverses a place of utmost importance to New Zealand history.
Bathing in the natural hot springs at Hot Water Beach after completing the trail is a real highlight, as is camping beside the lake itself.
Ensure you book the water taxi to take you from Hot Water Beach campsite to The Landing ahead of time – in the summer months, it can get very busy.
This campsite is now a Smoke-free and Vapor free place.
Due to the COVID-19, all names of campers and your phone numbers and addresses need to be placed in the
Preferences or comments section of the booking. Find Out More
If you have any enquiry, please email be hotwaterbeach@totallytarawera.com and we’ll be happy to help!