Sandy Bay
Facilities:
Boat launching
Car parking
Public toilets
Sandy Bay is most popular and well known for surfing, which occurs at the beach year round. As you would therefore expect the beach gets a good amount of swell and it is uncommon for the beach to have no waves at all. There are two stream mouths and strong rips form around these when there is a wave present. There is no Lifeguarding Service at Sandy Bay and users are recommended to take care at all times. If the surf is looking dangerous, swimmers should head to a safer beach to the south.
Waipu Cove
Facilities:
Car parking
Changing facilities
Food and beverage kiosk
Playground
Public toilets
Shower
Waipu Cove is popular with swimmers, surfers and fishermen alike. It has a large motor camp and good facilities including a Surf Club and is a busy beach during the summer months.
Whangarei Beaches
The NZAA
Whangarei, Mangawhai, Hikurangi, Waipu, Ruakaka, Kaikohe
Ocean Beach
Facilities:
Car parking
Public toilets
Ocean Beach is a popular location and it is good for numerous beach activities. Anyone intending on going into the water should seek advice from the Lifeguards and swimmers should always stick to the patrolled area.
Pataua Beach
Facilities:
Car parking
Food and beverage
kiosk
Public toilets
Pataua Beach is a beautiful golden sand beach but you will need to take care when there is a wave running. Even when there is no surf there are still strong currents around the harbour mouth. The harbour mouth is intricate and much time can be spent just checking the area out. Fortunately the inner harbour provides a safe haven from the dangerous surf and currents. There is no Lifeguarding Service at Pataua Beach.
Ruakaka
Beach
Facilities:
Boat launching
Car parking
Playground
Public toilets
Ruakaka Beach is popular with swimmers, surfers and fishermen alike. It has a modest but growing resident population and good facilities including a surf club, shops and motor camp. Given the heavy industrial development of the Marsden Point area beach usage north of the Ruakaka River mouth is minimal.
Langs Beach
Facilities:
Boat launching
Car parking
Playground
Public toilets
Langs Beach is a picturesque beach with an expanding resident population but limited facilities for casual beachgoers. It is nevertheless a pleasant swimming and fishing spot and can be quite busy during the summer months.
Mangawhai
Heads Beach
Facilities:
Car parking
Changing facilities
Public toilets
Shower
Mangawhai Heads Beach is a popular beach with an expanding resident population and reasonable facilities, including a surf club. This beach can become very busy during the summer months with a large influx of tourists and visitors. Swimming, fishing, surfing and boating are all very popular activities here.
Matapouri
Bay
Facilities:
Car parking
Food and beverage kiosk
Public toilets
Matapouri Bay is an attractive beach location and it has a solid residential base that provides a good number of beach users during the summer. The bay is safe for the most part however care needs to be taken during large easterly swells that come directly into the bay. Matapouri Bay has no Lifeguarding Service.
Woolley's Bay
Facilities:
Car parking
Public toilets
Woolleys Bay is good for a variety of activities but what exactly, depends on the day. Swimming is the most common pass time for visitors and care needs to be taken if there is a swell running as a nasty shore dump and strong undertows form. Woolleys Bay has no Lifeguarding Service.