Mōrere Hot Springs, about 45 kilometres north of Wairoa on State Highway 2, offers hot and cold mineral pools in one of the finest native forest settings in Hawke's Bay. The hot pools are therapeutic and well-maintained, and the surrounding nikau palm forest has a network of walking tracks ranging from a ten-minute stroll to a three-hour circuit through the reserve.
This is a genuine natural attraction, not a commercial spa resort. The pools are simple, the forest is extraordinary, and the combination makes Mōrere one of the best stops on the east coast of the North Island. Go on a weekday if possible — it gets busy with locals on weekends. Bring a towel and a change of clothes.