The promontory at the southern end of the beach is Te Pare historic reserve which contains the site of Hereheretaura pa, the stronghold of Hei who founded the Ngati Hei tribe.
Looking south from the pa site to dramatic cliff scenery.
Six kilometres south of Hahei is Hot Water Beach.The hot water (about 80 degrees so not to be underestimated) comes from geothermal activity deep underground. There is only a small area where the water is within reach of the surface which can be accessed about two hours either side of low tide.
Here are instructions on building your own spa pool.
Step one – the engineer designs the extent of the pool.
Step two – management checks the design and modifies it. 
Step three – labourers do the grunt work. (Note the old fellow resting on his shovel.)
Step four – acceptance stage, it is important to mix cold water from the sea to obtain an acceptable temperature.
Here is a general shot of all the other hot pool constructors – it’s a bizarre sight from afar as there is this vast open beach, deserted except for a hive of industry around the active area.
Further south again is the town of Tairua. This shot is from across the river mouth at Pauanui. The big hill is Paku
and this the view from the top of Paku looking back on Pauanui.
A kind tourist took this shot of the four of us (we were staring straight into the setting sun so please forgive the squinting)
while Noreen did her impression of the Christ at Corcovado.
People were coming and going after the week at Hahei. The second week there was just Noreen, Janie, Denise and me. We spent the first night at Miranda on the Firth of Thames. There are hot pools there. I was joking about being with three witches and this photo proves, by their floating, that they are all of the occult. 
