Going camping takes on a whole new perspective.

Holidaying under canvas has always been a popular way to escape the stresses of everyday, relax and unwind but this place is another level. A true camping village at the Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park lies just a stone’s throw from the famous Coromandel hotspot of the same name. Who wouldn’t want to camp when it offers the chance to be immersed in nature with easy access and more time to be able to explore?

For a start, its affordable. With options to suit every budget, the park offers family  campsites and motorhome and caravan parking spots, cabins and motel units. But camping on a budget isn’t without frills.  Private fully self-contained bathrooms are available in addition to the traditional-style shower blocks, which are sleek and modern. The camp cookhouses resemble commercial kitchens, fragrant aromas included. The park continues to expand its selection of bespoke options, cleverly designed to add luxury without expense in self-contained deluxe villas and new apartments, added last year.

Not only that, camping at Hot Water Beach Top 10 has you right up close to nature, one of the main points of camping. The large treed property has been cleverly laid out to maximise your feeling of escape in the great outdoors, while connecting you with the background hum of camp life. The park is divided into small areas with their own services, and the camp sites and accommodation are situated so that you have the feeling of a private retreat.

Because camping is about de-stressing, the team has thought of everything. If you left something behind when packing, or the boot was over-full, you can hire everything you might need from extra dining utensils to boogie boards for surf expeditions. The traditional camp store is more like a mini-mart, with all the essentials, plus holiday treats of course.  The ice-cream freezer is well-stocked and you will always find the fixings for a camp-style meal. During the summer there is a food cart for fresh breakfast and dinner items, and with the range of great cafes and restaurants nearby, you need never cook.

A short walk from the camp is Hot Waves Café, a locals’ favourite, open daily with open mic nights on Friday, when you will be entertained by talented (and enthusiastic) local musicians. Bring your ukulele. Ten minutes’ drive takes you to the next beachside town of Hahei, and The Pour House (boutique brews and excellent pizza), The Church and Hahei Beach Café. A little further afield is The Hive at Purangi, popular with young families for price and space, and Colenso Café at Whenuakite.

So the thing about Hot Water Beach is the hot springs bubbling up through the sand tricking into pools you dig around low tide. This natural home-made spa provides hours of amusement and soaking throughout the day as the tide times vary. The waves roll in beside you, making Hot Water Beach a popular surfing spot. There are always rips on a surf beach so if you are dashing in for a cooling dip or riding your boogie board, make sure you stay within the area of beach patrolled by the volunteer surf-lifesaving crew. A walk further up the beach will be rewarded with uninterrupted views over the Pacific, and it is likely yours will be the only footprints.

Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park is also in the centre of many of The Coromandel’s top leisure activities and some of the best coastline in the country.  Cathedral Cove is just down the road, within pedalling distance on a bike hired from the camp store. Boat and kayak tours leave from Hahei, allowing you to explore the dramatic volcanic coastline with all its sea caves, blowholes and wildlife.  Snorkel and dive tours also depart from Hahei for adventures in the Te-Whanganui-a-Hei marine reserve to suit all levels of water skills. The team at Hot Water Beach Top 10 can tell you about all the things to see and do nearby and make things easy by booking for you.