A flat 2.5 km track through wetlands and bush to natural sulphurous hot pools on Kaitoke Creek. One of the more accessible walks on Great Barrier Island, good for all ages, and the pools are free. No dogs.
| Distance | 2.5 km one way, 5 km return |
| Time | 40-45 minutes one way, allow 2-3 hours including soaking time |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Start | Whangaparapara Road car park |
| Parking | Free, ample at the trailhead |
| Dogs | No, not permitted on DOC conservation land |
| Pushchair/wheelchair | Yes, track is flat and suitable |
| Toilets | Yes, at the trailhead |
| Cost | Free |
Before you go, check the Auckland Council kauri trail map to confirm the track is open. Some trails on Great Barrier Island may be temporarily closed to manage the spread of kauri dieback disease.
The track starts on Whangaparapara Road and heads flat through the Kaitoke wetlands and regenerating kanuka forest. It follows an ancient shoreline and the walking is easy the whole way. Orchids and sundews grow close to the track. Keep an ear out for fernbirds and spotless crakes in the wetland sections, and tui, fantails and grey warblers in the bush.
After about 40 minutes the track reaches the hot pools, where Kaitoke Creek is dammed at a fork and surrounded by umbrella ferns. There are several pools at different temperatures depending on how much cold creek water is mixing in. The lower pool is the shallowest and most accessible. Further upstream the pools are deeper and more hidden.
Test the water before getting in. Some pools are genuinely too hot. Don’t submerge your head in the water.
The springs are sulphurous and natural with no man-made enhancements beyond a picnic table nearby. Previous visitors have arranged rocks to create bathing areas, and these shift over time with floods. You can adjust temperatures by moving rocks to let more cold water in.
Bring your togs in a waterproof bag, everything gets damp from the steam and humidity. Water shoes are useful for exploring the pools. Sandflies can be persistent in this area so bring repellent.
Great Barrier Island is about 90 km northeast of Auckland. You can get there by ferry (around 4-5 hours on standard services, 2 hours on faster passenger ferries) or by flight (about 30 minutes from Auckland to Claris Airport).
There’s no public transport on the island so you’ll need a car or bicycle from the ferry terminal or airfield.
From Claris crossroads, head north then turn immediately left onto Whangaparapara Road. Continue to the signed car park on the right. From Port Fitzroy, cross the Kaitoke Stream heading south and turn right into Whangaparapara Road.
