This place is exactly as advertised- literally as close to Hot Water Beach as you can get. During our October visit, it wasn’t the warmest day in NZ history, but we came 9000 miles and we weren’t going to be denied digging our own sandy hot tub. It was great to just grab the provided spades and run across the street practically barefoot and down the beach to the springs. When we finally had enough of the unique and blissful experience, it was so nice to be able to run straight back to a hot shower at the cottage. Long after we were warm and dry, we watched from the couch as others had to do use the cold public shower in the public lot across the street then get back in their cars. Since low tide for our visit (scheduled on purpose) was late afternoon and early the next morning, staying here gave us two chances to visit the HWB, in case the first slot was a rainout (it wasn’t but could have been easily). Hotties and Hot Waves Cafes were both closed in the afternoon when we arrived, so no WiFi or snacks. Hot Waves was open the next morning. Did the Holiday Park fish-n-chips, which were just ok. Overall the cottage was exactly as advertised so expectations were met exactly!