Kerosene Creek (Hakereteke Stream)

What to expect

Kerosene Creek is the popular name for a stretch of the Hakereteke Stream, which runs through the Waiotapu geothermal area south of Rotorua. Higher up it is an ordinary forest stream. Around the slopes of Maunga Kākaramea (Rainbow Mountain), hot springs start feeding into it, and by the time it reaches the swimming spot the whole creek is warm.

Nobody has built anything here. There are no concrete tubs or decking. The stream runs over a small waterfall about 2 m (6.5 ft) high and into a pool below it, and that waterfall pool is where most people sit. A rough path follows the creek to other access points, some of them needing a short scramble, so if the waterfall is busy you can usually find a quieter spot along the bank.

The water is brown and looks faintly oily. That comes from minerals and fine sediment, and from the petroleum seeps in some of the feeding springs that gave the creek its English name. It smells of sulphur. One 2026 visitor guide puts the water at around 86°F30°C on average, warmer near the springs and cooler downstream. Treat that as a rough guide: the temperature shifts with rain and season, and no official body publishes a figure.

The bush is a mix of native shrubs and exotic pine. It is a free, informal place with no operator, and it was ranked fourth on an AA Directions list of New Zealand’s favourite swimming holes in 2015, so do not expect it to be empty.

Getting there

Kerosene Creek is about 27 km (17 miles) south of Rotorua, roughly a 25-minute drive.

• From Rotorua: Head south on State Highway 5 (the Rotorua to Taupō road) towards Maunga Kākaramea (Rainbow Mountain). Shortly after you pass it, turn left (east) onto Old Waiotapu Road. The turn is easy to miss and some maps label the road differently, so watch your GPS.
• From Taupō: Drive north on SH5 and turn right onto Old Waiotapu Road shortly before you reach Maunga Kākaramea.

Old Waiotapu Road is unsealed, rutted and dusty in summer. A normal car manages it if you drive slowly. The car park is about 1 km along on the left. From there a short path, a couple of minutes on foot, leads down to the creek and the waterfall pool. The bank is uneven and can be muddy, so wear sandals with straps or old shoes rather than jandals.

There is no public transport. You need your own vehicle or a tour.

When to go

The creek is warm all year, so there is no bad season, only busy times.

• Summer (December to February) is the most popular time, and the waterfall pool fills with groups on fine afternoons and during school holidays.
• Winter (June to August) is when the warm water feels best. Steam lifts off the stream on cold mornings and there are fewer people.
• Early morning or evening gives you the best chance of space at the waterfall. Midday in summer can be crowded and hot on the walk back up.

After heavy rain the creek can rise, cool down and turn muddier. Give it a day or two if there has been a big storm.

The site has no published opening hours or managing agency, and access to unmanaged spots like this can change without much notice. If you see closure signs or locked gates at the turn-off, respect them.

Rules and etiquette

There is no ranger and no posted list of rules, so the etiquette is up to visitors.

• Keep your head above water. This is the one rule that matters. See the safety notes below.
• Wear swimwear. It is a public spot used by families and tour groups.
• No glass, no soap. Broken glass in a murky creek is a serious hazard for barefoot bathers, and soap and shampoo foul the water for everyone downstream.
• Take your rubbish home. There are no bins.
• Use the toilet. It is the only facility on site.
• Respect the place. The area is significant to Ngāti Tūhourangi and Ngāti Tahu-Ngāti Whaoa. The pools are not on public conservation land according to DOC’s land layer, so you are visiting on someone else’s goodwill. Do not cut vegetation, light fires or build dams.

Where to stay nearby

There is nowhere to stay at the creek.

• Rotorua, about 27 km north, has the widest choice: holiday parks, motels, backpackers and hotels, plus supermarkets and fuel.
• Taupō, further south on SH5, is the other base, with similar options and the lake.
• Several commercial geothermal attractions sit along SH5 between the two towns, so Kerosene Creek fits easily into a day of driving between Rotorua and Taupō.

Safety notes

• Amoebic meningitis: Warm geothermal water in New Zealand can carry Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba that causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. It enters through the nose when water is forced up it, by diving, jumping, ducking under or splashing. Infection is rare but almost always fatal. Keep your head above water at all times and watch children closely. If anyone develops a severe headache, fever, stiff neck or vomiting in the days after a soak, see a doctor and say they were in geothermal water.
• Footing: The bank and the rocks near the waterfall are slippery. Go slowly, especially with wet feet.
• Water quality: Nobody tests or treats the water. Do not drink it, and keep cuts covered.
• Car crime: Thefts from cars in the car park have been reported more than once. Leave nothing in the car, not even in the boot, and take your keys and phone to the water in a dry bag.
• Heat: At about body temperature the creek is gentle, but long summer soaks still dehydrate you. Bring drinking water.
• Remoteness: It is only 25 minutes from Rotorua, but there is no help on site. Go with a friend if you can and tell someone where you are.

Nearby stops worth adding

Maunga Kākaramea (Rainbow Mountain) sits right beside the turn-off, with a scenic reserve and a track to the summit for views over the volcanic plateau. Wai-O-Tapu and the other paid geothermal parks along SH5 show the same underground heat in a very different form, with mud pools, sinter terraces and coloured craters, all on formed paths. They pair well with a free soak at the creek on the way back to Rotorua.