It’s a Kiwi summer tradition – grabbing your towel and togs and heading to wherever you can dip, dive and drop into some water, but where are the best places to go?

The editorial team on AA Directions has pulled together 8 of its favourite summer swimming holes to help inspire Kiwis to make the most of summer.

Its list features in the latest issue of AA Directions and adds to the overall theme of celebrating New Zealander’s love of water. The magazine is currently being delivered to around 580,000 letterboxes of AA Members throughout New Zealand.

“What we love about swimming holes is that they’re not always easy to find, so stumbling across one is like finding a hidden gem,” says AA Directions Editor Kath Webster.

“Included on our list are a few spots that came highly recommended by AA Members,” she adds.

Here is AA Directions’ 8 favourite swimming holes:

• Kerosene Creek, Rotorua
  This natural hot spring in a river between Rotorua and Taupo is a popular gem.
• Rainbow Falls, Kerikeri
  An easy walk through native bush leads to these falls and swimming hole.
• Mermaid Pool, Matapouri, Northland
  Around the rocks from the beach, this rock pool is easiest to access at low tide.
• Mosquito Point, Whanganui
  What makes this spot special is a sturdy rope swing to leap into the river from.
• Pelorus Bridge Scenic Reserve, Marlborough
  Several great swimming spots are dotted along this river bank.
• Cleopatra’s Pool, Abel Tasman National Park
  Complete with a natural waterslide.
• Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes, South Island
  Leaping off the long wooden jetty into this cold lake is the best way to get in!

Kath says spending summer with water comes naturally to most New Zealanders.

“If it’s not camping at the beach, it’s fishing, surfing, or sailing and, in the height of summer, finding somewhere cool to swim,” she says.

“It makes up such a huge part of our summer experience that it felt like a natural theme to explore and celebrate for this issue.”

AA Members will receive their summer issue of Directions magazine from October 19 – by which time is will also be online.

For more information about these swimming holes and other summer hot spots see also the AA Traveller website.