Mangatutu Hot Springs - near Napier (Kaweka Forest Park)
The Mangatutu Hot Springs has two steam vents, with the more accessible being reached from the carpark. The pools themselves are made of fiberglass and hold up to six people comfortably. They are perched on a cliff face overlooking the wildly beautiful Mohaka River. Sodium-rich hot water is collected from the resurgence of a hot stream via a PVC pipe so you can adjust the temperature by filling fresh hot water into the tub. You can camp here for free! (at 'The Gum' carpark).
Getting there: From Napier drive to the Kaweka State Forest. Pass through Patoka and Puketitiri and then onto metal (stone chip) road. Keep going until you see a sign, shortly after you will come to a car park and BBQ area, park and follow the track down towards the Mohaka river until you find the pools. This area makes for great camping.
Safety: You will need to travel for nearly one hour on a gravel access road that is unsuited to larger campervans and caravans so please drive slowly, a 2wd is fine though. You will cross 1 ford & 2 bridges. The track down to the hot-pools can be slippery when wet, its approx a 100m steep walk down.
Tips:
Check out the close by (but further walk): Mangatainoka Hot Springs (in this guide)
There are reviews about the pools being very hot.
You can cool off in the nearby Mohaka River down below the hot springs
We read lots of (old) reviews on the nzhotpools.co.nz website that alot of nudist come here, however I havent seen any google reviews about this and no other reviews to state it still attracts nudey rudeys.. however, you have been warned or maybe this entices you more? lol (please don't tag us in those pix please 😅)
For camping information: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/hawkes-bay/places/kaweka-forest-park/things-to-do/campsites/mangatutu-hot-springs-campsite/
Reviews:
"My best friend and I camped one night at Mangatutu hot springs. It was worth the drive, it feels remote and even though there were quite a few other campers there was a lot of space so we didn't feel crowded in. The walk down to the hot springs is short but steep with steps. There are two rectangular pools, overlooking the bush down to the river. Very picturesque. The pools fit 4-6 comfortably" Mel, Google
"This is an awesome spot. About 90 minutes from Napier. Half of that is sealed road the other half is gravel. The road is narrow but taking it easy means if you meet someone going the other way you can easily make space to pass. There is 1 Ford to cross and 2 small bridges so this can be done in a 2wd. Once you are there it is an easy but steep 100 meter walk down to the pools. The setting is amazing and if you are lucky enough to be there in the snow it is unbeatable." - Beven, Google
'Awesome little hot springs with an amazing view just a short walk from the carpark. The track down to the hot springs is very steep and has a few large steps so not wheelchair accessible. The pools themselves are fibreglass tubs and can be drained for cleaning using a valve on each tub and the water can be turned on and off with a valve upstream at the source of the water. The road in is gravel and has a Ford across the river at Makahu Station so don't come after heavy rain and make sure you have a suitable vehicle.' - Anthony, Google
Handy websites:
https://nzhotpools.co.nz/hot-pools/mangatutu-hot-springs/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmsXJF8-85I
https://www.a-maverick.com/blog/kaweka-forest-park-two-hot-springs-up-one-road
