WELCOME TO WAIHĪ BEACH
Waihī Beach - located at the northern tip of the Bay of Plenty - has that old-school, Kiwi beach holiday vibe about it. The laidback coastal town is a popular holiday destination - and it's easy to see why! With approximately 10 kilometres of safe swimming and surfing beach, stunning bush walks and secluded bays, Waihī Beach is the perfect place to spend your Bay of Plenty beach getaway.
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Highlights
Chill out and relax at one of New Zealand's favourite beaches. Sample one of the BEST burgers in the country. Discover secluded bays and beaches.
Proximity
By Car (to Waihī Beach):
From Auckland: 2 hours
From Hamilton: 1 hour and 30 minutes
From New Plymouth: 4 hours and 40 minutes
From Napier: 4 hours and 30 minutes
From Wellington: 7 hours and 10 minutes
Waihī Beach
There's plenty to do when you visit Waihī Beach; the top of your list should be hitting the beach! There is oodles of space for everyone so park up for the day (remember your sunscreen!) or just nip down for a quick dip as this beach is super accessible! The beach is patrolled from Labour weekend until the end of Easter weekend making it a safe swimming beach and ideal for families or those learning to surf.
If you're after a surf lesson, check out Waihī Beach Surf School. They'll get your riding waves in no time.
Waihī Beach
Walks, Waterfalls & Wondrous Bays
If you're keen to explore the Waihī Beach area, we recommend walking over the hill to Orokawa Bay. This stunning, secluded beach is only accessible by foot (approximately 45 minutes one way). The bay is part of a scenic reserve comprising of 145 hectares of native bush, including kauri and nikau. While the beach is pretty spectacular, it's not recommended for swimming due to the steep grade of the ocean floor. Experienced surfers will have fun if you want to walk in with your board! It's a great place to relax for a day with a book - or carry on to William Wright Falls or Homunga Bay.
At the other end of Waihī Beach, you'll discover Bowentown and Anzac Bay. If you're after slightly calmer waters for some stand-up paddleboarding (SUPing) or if you're travelling with small children, this is the place for you! The sheltered inlet of Anzac Bay is popular for families and it is a great vantage point to watch the busy harbour full of recreational boaties.
There's plenty of history in this area, with three major pā sites on Bowentown Heads. In particular, Te Ho pā on the east headland is the final resting place for important ancestors who are buried on the summit where they can look back to their former home of Tuhua (Mayor Island).
Highlights
Secluded bays, historical pā sites, waterfalls and walking.
Places to eat
Peckish? There are plenty of epic places to grab a bite to eat in Waihī Beach.
Flatwhite Café
One of the very few true beachfront dining options in the Coastal Bay of Plenty, Flatwhite Café is the place to go if you want to dine with a view! Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Flatwhite offers fabulous food and epic views.
Surf Shack
Appreciate a good burger? Well, you need to head to the Surf Shack for possibly the BEST burger in New Zealand (they do great coffee, too!). Run by the fabulous Pip and Jo, the Surf Shack oozes a cool, laidback beach vibe. They also give back a huge amount to the local community; they offer free coffees to people working in emergency services, and support Canteen’s CanSurf Waihī Beach Summer Camp. Every time someone orders a Ha-Waihī Surf Burger, the Surf Shack will donate a dollar to the charity. The eatery also feeds the kids for free during their annual CanSurf Waihī Beach Summer Camp visit.
The Secret Garden
Start the day off with a delicious breakfast at the Secret Garden - a Balinese style outdoor space serving up great coffee, superfood smoothies and other treats!
For more information on where to eat in Waihī Beach, check out waihibeachinfo.co.nz.
Highlights
Beachfront dining and New Zealand's best burger.
Fishing
If you're a keen fisherman or fisherwoman, here are some of the best spots to fish in and around Waihī Beach:
Anzac Bay
This is an extremely popular beach for families and, thanks to the boat ramp, is a popular spot to set off on your boat or jet ski for some fun water adventures. The rocks on the point is a popular fishing spot and offer great snorkelling too.
Shelly Bay
Just over the hill from Anzac Bay is the secluded Shelly Bay. This is a great place to pull up in the kayak or head further around to another popular fishing spot.
Bowentown Marina Boat Ramp
For larger boats, the Bowentown Marina Boat Ramp is the best place to launch. Visitors can obtain a one-month membership for free from the Bowentown Boating and Sport Fishing Club.
Orokawa Bay
Only accessible by foot, Orokawa Bay is not a safe swimming beach, but it's a great place to cast a line.
Highlights
Find the best fishing spots in the area.
Waihī Beach Accommodation
There are plenty of amazing accommodation options to choose from when you stay at Waihī Beach, from beachfront campgrounds to luxury apartments and everything in-between!
