8 of the best wild swimming spots in New Zealand
By Wild Kiwi Team published on 13 February 2022
New Zealand has a big ocean soul, so it’s no wonder why aquaholics flock here to get their fill of unbelievable H20-based experiences. In fact, New Zealand has around 15,000 kilometers (9,320+ miles) of stunning and unique coastline bordering the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea – the 9th longest coastline in the world. So how do you find the best wild swimming spots in New Zealand to visit out of the 15,000 kilometers of coastline, 13 breathtaking national parks, and more than 25 flourishing marine reserves?!
Deep breaths, we’ve got you covered from our personal obsession with New Zealand’s stunning shorelines, hot springs, and remote water holes. Here’s our list of the 8 best wild swimming spots in New Zealand!
1) Hot Water Beach
Wouldn’t it be nice to take a cool and refreshing dip into the sea and have a hot tub waiting to slide into and relax on the beach? You can, and it’s au-natural. Hot Water Beach on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula is a soft golden sand stretch of beach that is already one of the best wild swimming spots in New Zealand, but if you dig down a bit you’ll have hot mineral water bubbling up from below. Carve out your sandy spa and soak your feet or lay out in a shallow pool in the hot soothing thermal waters.
Experience this on our Wild Kiwi Northern Voyager and NZ Discovery Tours!
2) Paihia & Bay of Islands
The Bay of Islands is a collection of 140 islands that make up this coastal nirvana, located nearby to the town of Paihia in Northland. Here you can swim in the crystal clear waters and discover the best wild swimming spots in New Zealand without the crowds. From soft sand beaches to smooth pebble ones, there’s a beach or bay to fit everyone’s swimming desires while exploring the region.
Experience this from Auckland before or after one of our Wild Kiwi experiences!
3) Raglan’s Black Sand Beach
Famous for its shimmering black sand, Raglan’s volcanic sand beaches are a must-visit with its idyllic waters great for swimmers or surfers of all skill levels. This unique crescent-shaped swim spot will send you scurrying across the hot iron sands in the summer straight into the water, but once in the cooling waters, the long rolling waves and shallow sandbars make for an unbeatable swim spot with the backdrop of lush green hillsides. And our top pick for those wanting to learn to surf!
Experience this on our Wild Kiwi Northern Voyager and NZ Adventurer Tours!
4) Taupo Hot Springs
There’s nothing like soaking tired muscles (or simply just soaking) in a natural geothermal spa after cycling around the picturesque Taupo region. Or after the adrenaline rush from a Bungy jump over the Waikato River. These mineral-rich hot springs have been known for hundreds of years by the Māori as some of the best wild swimming spots in Aotearoa New Zealand. They are just a short stroll from Taupo downtown, with the thermal streams flowing into the rock pools and out to the river below.
Experience this on our Wild Kiwi Nothern Voyager and NZ Explorer Tours!
5) Mount Cook (Polar Plunge)
They say ice baths and cold showers are great for the body and skin, so why not embrace those brisk benefits with a polar plunge into a glacial lake? With the peak of Mount Cook and the jagged Southern Alps ringing the horizon around, there’s nothing cooler than taking a swim amongst the panoramic snow-capped ranges and sparkling glaciers. Pun intended. The exhilarating feeling of a quick cold dip into Mount Cook’s Mueller Lake definitely makes this one of the best wild swimming spots in New Zealand.
Experience this on our Wild Kiwi Southern Voyager and NZ Explorer Tours!
6) Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown
The third-largest lake in New Zealand has heaps to offer for the water lover in all of us. Between the coastal strolls under the willow trees and the heart-pounding jet boat experiences, the scenic swim spots around Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu are seemingly endless. In the spring or summer, spend afternoons jumping between the picnic spot to leaping off the piers into the refreshing lake with the mountain peaks of the Remarkables on the horizon.
Experience this on our NZ Discovery and Southern Voyager tours!
7) Abel Tasman National Park
Abel Tasman National Park is one of our absolute favourite nature escapes in New Zealand and is filled with many of the best wild swimming spots in New Zealand. This lush wilderness reserve has kilometers of vibrant coastline with remote coves to claim for the day or soft sand beaches to swim from for an entire afternoon. Most swim spots are located along the Abel Tasman track on an easy to moderate hike through the towering ancient forests and captivating indigenous flora and fauna. Spend all day floating in the numerous coves and bays and keep an eye out for the cute fur seals lazying on the rocky coast.
Experience this on our NZ Adventurer and Big South tours!
8) Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve – Marlborough
This river cutting through the boulder-lined valley is classified as one of the cleanest and clearest water sources in New Zealand, and a must-visit for the best wild swimming spots in New Zealand. Lined with virgin native forest, this stop offers one of the most scenic and remote-feeling destinations you can find and was even used as a film location in that bumbling and bouncing barrel scene in The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug. Bake in the sun on the boulders between refreshing dips in this spectacular swim spot.
Experience this on our Southern Loop and Big South tours!
