Kaitoke Hot Springs Walk is a moderate 40-minute track on Great Barrier Island leading to natural thermal pools nestled in native forest. Located near Kaitoke Beach, the trail crosses streams and passes through regenerating bush before reaching the secluded hot springs, where visitors can soak in warm, mineral-rich waters surrounded by lush vegetation.
Find more walks in this area… explore all Great Barrier Island walking tracks
Great Barrier Island sits about 90 km northeast of Auckland and requires either a ferry or flight to reach. Once you’re on the island, you’ll need your own vehicle as there’s no public transport. From Tryphena Wharf, drive north on Port Fitzroy Road for about 20 km, then turn right onto Whangapoua Road. After roughly 5 km, turn left onto Kaitoke Hot Springs Road – it’s signposted but easy to miss if you’re chatting with passengers. The road is unsealed and can get rough after heavy rain. Drive slowly for about 1 km until you spot the small parking area on your left. There’s space for maybe five or six vehicles, so arrive early during peak summer months or prepare to reverse back and park considerately on the roadside.
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Let’s be honest – this isn’t a manicured Department of Conservation showcase walk. The track shows its backcountry character from the get-go. You’ll encounter mud, exposed roots and stream crossings that require a bit of balance. The path can disappear under fallen leaves, so keep an eye out for those orange markers tied to trees.
The forest here is regenerating nikau, puriri and kohekohe, which means the canopy provides decent shelter from light rain but won’t save you in a proper downpour. The undergrowth can brush against your legs, so long pants aren’t a bad idea if you’re bothered by scratches or prefer to avoid any unwanted passengers of the tick variety.
Here’s what catches people out: the stream crossings. During dry spells they’re nothing more than damp rock-hopping exercises. After significant rainfall the second crossing near the hot springs can become knee-deep and properly swift. If the water looks sketchy, it probably is – turn back and try another day.
When you arrive at the thermal area you’ll find several pools of varying temperatures where hot spring water bubbles up and mixes with the cold river water. Previous visitors have strategically arranged rocks to create bathing pools, though these configurations shift over time as floods rearrange the landscape.
The water temperature varies dramatically depending on which pool you choose and how much cold river water is mixing in. Some spots are genuinely too hot to enter comfortably. Others are barely lukewarm. Smart soakers test multiple pools before committing to a proper soak. You can also adjust temperatures by moving rocks to allow more or less cold water in, though this requires a bit of engineering patience.
The minerals in the water give it a slightly slippery feel and a faint sulfur smell – nothing overpowering but definitely present. Some people swear by the therapeutic benefits for sore muscles and joints. Whether that’s genuine geothermal magic or simply the relaxation of sitting in hot water surrounded by native bush is up for debate, but who cares when it feels that good?
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The moderate grading is accurate for most reasonably fit people, but a few factors can bump up the difficulty. Wet conditions make the track genuinely slippery and the stream crossings more challenging. The exposed roots become hazards rather than minor inconveniences when they’re covered in mud.
There’s also the navigation aspect. While orange markers guide the way, they’re not always immediately visible and the track isn’t always obvious underfoot. If you’re not confident with backcountry navigation, stick close to any groups ahead of you or wait for others to catch up behind you.
The sandflies deserve their own warning paragraph. These tiny biting insects are New Zealand’s most democratic pest – they attack tourists and locals with equal enthusiasm. They’re particularly active on humid, overcast days and seem to view the hot springs area as their personal feeding ground. Insect repellent helps but isn’t foolproof. Some people find the bites merely annoying while others react with proper welts that itch for days. If you’re in the latter category, consider antihistamine cream in your pack.
The hot springs are on public conservation land, which means a few common-sense rules apply. Don’t use soap, shampoo or any products in the pools – they contaminate the water and aren’t necessary for a soak anyway. Pack out all rubbish including organic waste like fruit peels and cores.
If other people are already soaking, give them space. There are multiple pools and everyone’s come for the same peaceful experience. Loud conversations and music kill the atmosphere faster than a cold snap.
The rock arrangements aren’t permanent installations – they’re temporary pools that shift with floods and visitor adjustments. Feel free to modify them to improve your soaking experience, but don’t go wild with major earthworks. And definitely don’t block the flow of thermal water or divert the entire stream. Someone tried that once and created a scalding hazard downstream.
Yes, and many people prefer it. Bring a reliable head torch and take extra care on the track as roots and uneven ground are harder to spot in darkness. The experience of soaking under stars with steam rising around you is properly magical on clear nights.
Older children who are confident walkers can manage the track, but you’ll need to supervise them closely around the pools. The varying temperatures mean some pools are too hot for kids. The stream crossings also require adult assistance for younger children.
No booking or payment required. The hot springs are on public conservation land and free to access.
Move to pools further from the thermal source where more cold river water mixes in. You can also carefully rearrange rocks to increase cold water flow, or simply wait a bit as temperatures fluctuate with river levels and thermal output.
While the thermal water itself is generally safe, the pools are natural and unfiltered. Most people keep their heads above water to avoid any potential issues with bacteria or parasites that might be present in natural water sources.
Absolutely – winter soaks are brilliant when the air temperature is cool and the contrast more dramatic. Just be prepared for potentially muddy track conditions and pack warm clothes for after your soak.
Great Barrier Island doesn’t get the tourist numbers of mainland hotspots, so the springs are rarely crowded. Summer weekends and holiday periods see the most visitors, but even then you’re unlikely to encounter more than a handful of other people.
The walk to Kaitoke Hot Springs turned out to be more of an adventure than I expected. I parked at the small gravel area off the main road and started down the track through native bush. The path was muddy in places, and I had to watch my footing on the exposed tree roots that snaked across the trail.
After about twenty minutes of walking, I heard the river before I saw it. The track opened up, and there it was—the Hutt River flowing clear and cold beside several pools of steaming water. Someone had built up rocks to create natural bathing areas where the hot spring water mixed with the cold river water.
I tested the temperature with my hand in a few different spots. Some pools were scalding, others barely warm. I settled into one that felt just right—hot enough to ease the ache in my shoulders but not so hot I couldn’t stay in for a while. A couple of other people were there, quietly soaking in their own pools. We exchanged brief nods but mostly kept to ourselves.
The contrast was striking. My body sat in hot water while cold drizzle fell on my face. Steam rose around me, and I watched it disappear into the gray sky above the surrounding hills. I stayed for maybe half an hour, moving between pools, before the walk back. My skin stayed warm for ages afterward, even as I drove home through the rain.
