1. Kerosene Creek (Rotorua)

A geothermal stream. Warm water, natural pool. Free. Go early to avoid the crowds.

2. The Chasm (Tongariro River)

A deep, clear pool in the Tongariro River. Not signposted — ask locally. The water is cold. Really cold.

3. Rere Rockslide (Gisborne)

A natural waterslide. Slide down the rock face into the pool. Fun for all ages.

4. Hanmer Springs — the river

Not the thermal pools. The Waiau River behind the pools. Cold, clear, and free.

5. The Maruia Springs

A natural hot spring right next to the Maruia River. Sit in the hot pool, then jump in the cold river.

6. Abel Tasman — the tidal rivers

Falls River, Torrent River. Swim up them at low tide. The water is clear and the forest comes right to the water's edge.

7. The Pelorus River (Marlborough)

Canoeing and swimming. The clear, blue-green water is famous for a reason.

8. The Heaphy River (Kahurangi)

At the Heaphy Track's West Coast end. The most rewarding swim after a 3-day tramp.

9. The Whitcombe River (West Coast)

The swimming hole at the end of the Whitcombe Valley road. Cold, clear, and completely private.

10. Lake Clearwater (Canterbury)

Not a river, but the clearest swimming water in the region. Spring-fed. Cold year-round. Beautiful.

FAQ

Kerosene Creek is free and warm. What's the catch?

The catch is crowding: it's free, warm, and well known, so arrive early morning or you're sharing a natural pool with a busy car park's worth of people. It's also unpatrolled and geothermal, so temperatures aren't consistent pool to pool, worth checking before letting kids in unsupervised.

Is the Chasm on the Tongariro River signposted, and how do you actually find it?

It's not signposted, deliberately, and locals treat that as part of the deal, so plan to ask around in Turangi or National Park village rather than relying on GPS pins. The water is genuinely cold year round, more of a plunge than a swim, which suits a hot day in December-February far better than shoulder season.

Which of these swims are accessible without a multi-day hike, unlike the Heaphy River?

Kerosene Creek, the Rere Rockslide, Hanmer's river, Maruia Springs and Lake Clearwater are all roadside or short-walk swims. The Heaphy River swim only makes sense as the reward at the end of a genuine 3-day Heaphy Track tramp, not a spot to plan a day trip around unless you're already doing the full walk.