Central North Island
Tauranga
Papamoa Beach
Despite relentless development along this beach, we're still there - and there are still a good number of people around, including families. (A Friends' & Family Day occurs here early in February.)
One of the jewels of the skinny-dipper scene in New Zealand
Rotorua Area
Manawahe Stream
There are a number of spots around Rotorua's Lakes were you can steal a little skinny-dip. Some are warm spots; thus generally, the most popular places.
This stream is near the eastern side of Lake Rotoma
Waiotapu area
This wonderful spot is quite hard to find - you have to know where to look
for the little 'hole in the bush' which is the entrance to the short (but rough)
track to the waterfall. (It's quite near the last corner on the paved road to the Lady Knox Geyser.)
The waterfall is about 2 km from the more popular spot shown next.
The hot waterfall is only metres from the Lady Knox Geyser
Waiotapu stream
Since these hot pools are 'natural' they don't have
temperature controls! Beware of straying from the 'used area' - if you do end up
having to pull your foot out of boiling mud, you may have some trouble locating
cold water in a hurry... (This isn't a problem in the popular spot pictured,
because the hot stream mixes with a cold one, right here.)
This spot is just off SH 5, quite near the Waiotapu Information Centre
Paradise
Between Rotorua and Taupo, in the middle of the North Island, are several hot pools and streams, which are not (yet!) commercialised. This means that if you're there first you can set the dress code. (If textiles are already there, it may pay to ask.)
A little bit of Paradise, 1 km north of the Rotota Sun Club
Taupo
Five Mile Bay
In the middle of the North Island is Lake Taupo, and only about 5 km south from the town centre, you can approach this 'bay' from either end; and walk 100 m to the spot shown here.
Just out of Taupo, great for an evening dip