Last updated October 2026
Tanners Point Beach is a small harbour beach at the end of Tanners Point Road, on a headland in the northern part of Tauranga Harbour, north of Katikati and about 30 kilometres from the Tauranga city centre in a straight line.
The beach sits beside a jetty and a pohutukawa-lined harbourside reserve with picnic tables and toilets, and the Western Bay of Plenty District Council describes the reserve as ideal for quiet family outings.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council tests the water every week from October to March as one of its Tauranga Harbour swimming sites. The site holds a Good long-term grade on LAWA, and 98% of its 133 tests over six summers were suitable for swimming.
Swimming Facts
Before you swim: Tested weekly Oct–Mar by Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Stay out for 48 hours after heavy rain. Latest result on LAWA
Today at Tanners Point Beach
Monday 26 OctoberWater quality track record
What the grades mean
Excellent and Good: rarely unsafe for swimming. Fair: usually fine, but avoid swimming after rain. Poor: often unsuitable, especially after rain, so check the latest result first.
Grades use LAWA’s method: the 95th percentile of routine enterococci results over the five summers from 2020/21 to 2024/25, with at least 50 tests (70 per 100 mL from 112 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- End of Tanners Point Road, off State Highway 2 north of Katikati, in the northern part of Tauranga Harbour
- Distance from Tauranga
- About 30 km from the city centre in a straight line
- Water
- Tidal harbour beach. Nearest tide station: Waihi Beach (secondary port of Tauranga)
- Water quality
- Good (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Testing
- Weekly from October to March by Bay of Plenty Regional Council
- Facilities nearby
- Toilets, picnic tables and parking by the beach; jetty
- Walk
- Tanners Point walk, about 30 minutes return (part of the track is closed)
About Tanners Point Beach
Tanners Point is a small rural settlement on a low headland that pushes into the northern part of Tauranga Harbour, across the water from the Katikati Entrance.
Tanners Point Road runs from State Highway 2 north of Katikati down to the end of the point, where a short stretch of sand, a jetty and a grassed reserve face the harbour. The water here is tidal, so the beach looks very different at high and low tide.
The land at the point was originally a Native Reserve. According to a Bay of Plenty Times series on Western Bay street names, held by Tauranga City Libraries, it was first known as Frazer’s Point before it took the name Tanner’s Point.
Thomas Tanner arrived with the first group of settlers to Katikati and was allocated 226 acres of land, with a further 100 acres in 1878 when the second party arrived. The Tanner family had left the district by 1940, but the name stayed, and it is now spelt Tanners Point.
The council keeps the coastal edge of the settlement as a reserve and walkway. Its Tanners Point walk starts at the beach near the jetty and follows a pohutukawa-fringed track along the harbour edge to Moana Drive, where you can drop down to another sandy beach and return the same way or along Moana Drive.
The council rates it at about 30 minutes return, and notes that a portion of the track from Giles Way to Moana Place is still closed, so check the track page before you set out.
Most visitors come for a swim at high tide, a picnic under the pohutukawa, a stroll along the walkway or some time on the jetty watching the harbour. It is a quiet spot compared with the ocean beaches at Waihī Beach, and the council describes the reserve setting, with its picnic tables and toilets, as ideal for quiet family outings.
Swimming and Water Quality at Tanners Point Beach
Bay of Plenty Regional Council samples Tauranga Harbour at Tanners Point Beach every week from October to March and publishes the results on LAWA’s Can I Swim Here? pages. The council lists Tanners Point Beach among its estuarine and harbour swimming sites, part of a programme covering popular coastal, river and lake recreation sites across the region.
The site has a Good LAWA long-term grade, based on 112 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25. Across 133 tests between October 2019 and March 2025, 98% were suitable for swimming, and no test in that period was rated unsuitable.
A Good grade means the water has rarely been found unsuitable for swimming, but it is a long-term record rather than a promise for any given day.
Check the latest result on LAWA before you swim, and stay out of the water for at least 48 hours after heavy rain.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council advises avoiding swimming for two to three days after heavy or prolonged rain, and keeping away from places where contamination is likely, such as stormwater or wastewater outlets. Any current health warnings are posted by Toi Te Ora Public Health.
Tanners Point is a tidal harbour beach, so the depth changes a lot through the day: swim around high tide, and watch for channels where water moves quickly on the tide. Boats use the jetty and this part of the harbour, so swim away from the jetty and keep a close eye on children in the water.
Getting There and Facilities
From Tauranga, drive north on State Highway 2 through Katikati, then turn off onto Tanners Point Road and follow it to the end. Parking and toilets are close to the beach, and the reserve has picnic tables. The tide predictions for the nearest station, Waihi Beach, are a useful guide for planning a swim at the top of the tide.
Where to Learn More
LAWA and Bay of Plenty Regional Council: the latest Can I Swim Here? result and long-term grade for Tauranga Harbour at Tanners Point Beach.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council: the Tanners Point walk, with directions, facilities and current track closures.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council: summer swimmability report covering the Tauranga Harbour swimming sites and advice on swimming after rain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Tanners Point Beach?
Yes. Bay of Plenty Regional Council monitors Tanners Point Beach as one of its Tauranga Harbour swimming sites. Swim around high tide, check the latest result on LAWA first, and stay out for at least 48 hours after heavy rain.
What is the water quality like at Tanners Point Beach?
The site has a Good LAWA long-term grade for summers 2020/21 to 2024/25. Of 133 tests between October 2019 and March 2025, 98% were suitable for swimming.
When is the water at Tanners Point tested?
Bay of Plenty Regional Council samples the site weekly from October to March, and the results go onto LAWA.
Is Tanners Point Beach tidal?
Yes. It is a harbour beach and the water level changes a lot with the tide. The nearest tide station is Waihi Beach, a secondary port of Tauranga.
What facilities are at Tanners Point?
The reserve has toilets, picnic tables and parking near the beach, plus a jetty.
Is there a walk at Tanners Point?
Yes. The council’s Tanners Point walk runs from the beach near the jetty along a pohutukawa-fringed track to Moana Drive, about 30 minutes return. Part of the track between Giles Way and Moana Place is closed.
How do you get to Tanners Point from Tauranga?
Drive north on State Highway 2 through Katikati, turn onto Tanners Point Road and follow it to the end. The beach is about 30 kilometres from the Tauranga city centre in a straight line.
How did Tanners Point get its name?
The land was originally a Native Reserve and was known as Frazer’s Point before it was named after Thomas Tanner, one of the first Katikati settlers.
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