Hot Water Beach is famous for its natural hot springs bubbling up right on the sand, drawing visitors year-round for a one-of-a-kind soak on the Coromandel coast.

At low tide, you can grab a shovel and dig your own hot pool in the sand. Sunrise is an especially magical time here—head left from the main car park towards the cliff and large rocks for the best spot. With the sun rising in the east and steam rising from the pools, it makes for stunning photos if the tide is right.

Even if you miss low tide, the beach is still worth a visit. You’ll find rocky areas that are great for seascape photography. A wide-angle lens (16–35mm) is perfect for capturing the scene, but having a mid-range zoom (24–70mm) will give you extra flexibility.