Please Note: The start of both North and South bank routes to the hot pool cross private property. You will need to seek permission from the land owner before visiting. Contact details will be listed below if they are available.
Sadly we don’t have a decent description for this hotpool. Can you write one? [andrew buglass , Ruatapu/ NZ]
Waitaha River Hot Springs
On Private Property
Description
Directions
This hot spring was in the Morgan Gorge on the True Left. Approx grid reference on the NZTM 2000 maps is E1415560, N5222293. You access it from the Kiwi Flat track by walking down Anson Stream [anon]/n
End of Allen Road near Ross.Get permission from land owner if crossing the small bit of farm to get to the kiwi flat track he gets real mad if you don’t – we found out – we had tried to get to ivory lake. (Yelling, threating, he even wrote f**% off in sticks on the ground…)/n
UPDATE NOV 2012: New track / markers to head of Morgan’s Gorge cut by DOC recently. Hotpools at bottom end of gorge on true LEFT of river, must swim across big calm pool where gorge track (true right) begins to climb into bush. 1/4km upstream on river L, up creek 100m to small track going upstream, take 3rd creek/slip with small trail to lip of gorge. climb down carefully! HOT but nice [Justin Venable, Hokitika]
Interactive Map
Bather Reviews
I just visited this one. It’s a pretty unique spot! It’s fairly technical access though, be warned! The pool is fairly small by default. Sometimes it has sediment, sometimes not. I didn’t have sediment on my trip. If it does have sediment, use the white bags under a rock above access to fill (to act as sandbags). Two sandbags here…
Matthew -
Queenstown
/10
NEW track / markers to head of Morgan’s Gorge cut by DOC recently. Hotpools at bottom end of gorge on true LEFT of river, must swim across big calm pool where gorge track (true right) begins to climb into bush. 1/4km upstream on river L, up creek 100m to small track going upstream, take 3rd creek/slip with small trail to…
justin venable -
hokitika
/10
Neil I’ve been back into the Waitaha once since my last post & also chatted with one of the more regular visitors. It seems the area got heavily modified by a flood approx early 2010 hence post number 2. by kristen saying the pool had been washed out. My post of 22/3/12 was thus old news but new to me…
Trevor Kaniere -
Westland/NZ
/10
Yes we had to climb down to get to the hot springs. Its not to bad but it would be tough if the rock was wet (im sure this area doesnt get to much rain!). The hotpool had been created by visiters who had dammed up the small pool in the pic.. I wish I visited the older larger pool…
Neil Silverwood -
/10
Neil the bathing spot in your photo is different to a more accessible & larger one that used to be there. Did you free climb down to that spot? I did say the hot water sources were still there but I didn’t see anything bigger than a small shallow accumulation of hot water on a small ledge. I was there…
Trevor Kaniere -
NZ
/10
I was there a month ago. We climbed down to the pool. It’s large enough for one but two would be a squeese! I cant imagine that it has dissapeared since then.
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The good news is that the hot water springs are still there. The bad news is that the hot pool that was a water worn depression in solid rock has gone and there are now no useable hot pools. Hundreds of tons of rock bench have gone down the gorge. At least three boiling water sources now gush/bubble from the…
Trevor Kaniere -
NZ
/10
Update from Permolat as of Sept, 2011: we followed the original NZFS line from the old farm trail on the terrace up to Douglas Creek. The first part of the farm track is now obliterated by gravel flowing through the trees. The shingle fan is obviously still on the move. John Hutt & Neil Bradley who gave the track to…
Honora Renwick -
Christchurch, New Zealand
/10
Permolat are looking at this access issue and are hoping to get the Walking Access Commission involved for advocacy. DoC (Ted Brennan) is also aware of issues. In the meantime, Evans Pass might be an option and one hardy stalwart went in via the north bank and crossed over! Not usually possible, I suspect.
Honora Renwick -
Christchurch, New Zealand
/10
This spring site is not on private property! One shortcut in can involve crossing private property though if you use the farm track at the end of the Council Road on the south bank (TL) of the Waitaha R. Merv Fleming ph 03 7557570 was leasing this land from PD holdings Ltd. You can still get up the river without…
Trevor Kaniere -
Kehutahi NZ
/10