Last updated October 2026
Anzac Bay is a sheltered beach on the harbour side of Bowentown, at the southern end of Waihī Beach and the northern entrance to Tauranga Harbour, about 29 kilometres from the Tauranga city centre in a straight line. It faces the harbour rather than the open sea, and Tourism Bay of Plenty describes it as extremely popular with families.
The Western Bay of Plenty District Council notes that the bay offers swimming, picnic sites and toilets, and it is the starting point for walks to the pā sites on Bowentown Heads.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council tests the water weekly from October to March, and the site has a Fair long-term grade on LAWA, so it is usually fine for swimming but best avoided after rain.
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 Anzac Bay
Tuesday 27 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 (259 per 100 mL from 112 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- Bowentown Domain, at the end of Seaforth Road, Bowentown, Waihī Beach
- Distance from Tauranga
- About 29 km from the city centre in a straight line
- Water
- Sheltered tidal harbour beach. Nearest tide station: Waihi Beach (secondary port of Tauranga)
- Water quality
- Fair (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25): avoid swimming after rain
- Testing
- Weekly from October to March by Bay of Plenty Regional Council
- Facilities nearby
- Parking, toilets, picnic sites and a boat ramp; barbecue within about 500 m
- Walks
- Shelly Bay loop (30 minutes), headland loop via Shelly Bay (75 minutes), Te Ho pā site
About Anzac Bay
Bowentown Domain covers the end of the long peninsula that runs south from Waihī Beach to the northern entrance of Tauranga Harbour. Anzac Bay is the domain’s main harbour beach: a sandy beach facing the inner harbour rather than the open sea.
Tourism Bay of Plenty describes its sheltered inlet as having calmer water, good for paddleboarding, and recommends it for children who want calm water to swim in.
The bay has carried its name since the First World War. According to Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand, in September 1915 the Katikati Domain Board noticed that the steep slope up from what was then St George’s Bay resembled the landing beach at Gallipoli, and proposed renaming it Anzac Bay. The Tauranga Harbour Board supported the idea.
Without waiting for official approval, local leaders held a ceremony on 6 January 1916 to christen the bay and open a new jetty and shelter shed, with the Mayors of Tauranga and Waihi attending. It was one of the first commemorative namings of its kind in New Zealand, although the Lands Department refused to approve the name at the time, arguing that a Māori name would be more appropriate.
The headland above the bay has a much longer history. The council notes that Bowentown Domain contains a number of pā sites dating back several hundred years, and Tourism Bay of Plenty records three major pā sites on Bowentown Heads.
The summit of Te Ho pā is described as the final resting place for important ancestors, so treat the site with respect when you visit.
Anzac Bay is a busy spot over summer. There is a boat ramp on the beach, and Tourism Bay of Plenty describes the bay as a good vantage point to watch the harbour full of recreational boats.
The rocks on the point are a popular fishing spot and are also good for snorkelling. When the pohutukawa flower in December and January, the council says the whole headland is a particularly spectacular place to walk.
Swimming and Water Quality at Anzac Bay
Bay of Plenty Regional Council samples Tauranga Harbour at Anzac Bay every week from October to March and publishes the results on LAWA’s Can I Swim Here? pages. The site is one of the council’s estuarine and harbour swimming sites.
The site has a Fair LAWA long-term grade, based on 112 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25. Across 140 tests between October 2019 and March 2025, 93% were suitable for swimming.
A Fair grade means the water is usually fine, but it can carry higher levels of bacteria after rain, when runoff from the land reaches the harbour. The last two summers in the record each had a few unsuitable results: two in 2023/24 and three in 2024/25.
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 stormwater or wastewater outlets. Any current health warnings are posted by Toi Te Ora Public Health.
Although the bay is sheltered from the surf, it is tidal and sits close to the harbour entrance, a busy route for boats. Stay close to the beach, keep well clear of the boat ramp and the boats coming and going, and watch children closely.
For a quieter swim, the council points to Shelly Bay, a short walk from the northern end of Anzac Bay, as a sheltered swimming spot.
Walks from Anzac Bay
At the northern end of Anzac Bay, a wide grassy track leads west up to a junction of tracks. Straight ahead is Shelly Bay, and left takes you to a popular fishing area. The council rates the Shelly Bay loop at about 30 minutes and the headland loop via Shelly Bay at about 75 minutes.
From the top car park you can also walk up to the Te Ho pā site for views over the harbour and the coast, or drop down to Cave Bay at the harbour entrance. Tourism Bay of Plenty puts the walk from the top car park to the Te Ho pā site or Cave Bay at about 45 minutes return.
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 Anzac Bay.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council: Bowentown Domain walks, including Shelly Bay, the headland loop and the pā sites.
Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand: the story of how Anzac Bay at Bowentown was named in 1916.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Anzac Bay?
Yes. Anzac Bay is a sheltered harbour beach and one of Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s monitored swimming sites. It has a Fair grade, so check LAWA first and stay out for at least 48 hours after heavy rain.
What is the water quality like at Anzac Bay?
The site has a Fair LAWA long-term grade for summers 2020/21 to 2024/25. Of 140 tests between October 2019 and March 2025, 93% were suitable for swimming. Water quality is usually fine but can drop after rain.
When is the water at Anzac Bay tested?
Bay of Plenty Regional Council samples the site weekly from October to March, and the results are published on LAWA.
Is Anzac Bay good for children?
Tourism Bay of Plenty describes the sheltered inlet as extremely popular with families and recommends it for calm-water swimming with children. There is a boat ramp on the beach, so keep children away from it and watch them closely in the water.
Why is it called Anzac Bay?
In 1915 the Katikati Domain Board thought the slope above the bay looked like the landing beach at Gallipoli. The bay was christened Anzac Bay at a ceremony on 6 January 1916.
What facilities are at Anzac Bay?
There is parking, toilets, picnic sites and a boat ramp, with a barbecue nearby in Bowentown Domain.
Where is Anzac Bay?
Anzac Bay is in Bowentown Domain at the end of Seaforth Road, at the southern end of Waihī Beach and the northern entrance to Tauranga Harbour, about 29 kilometres from the Tauranga city centre in a straight line.
Are there walks near Anzac Bay?
Yes. Tracks lead from the northern end of the bay to Shelly Bay, around the headland and up to the Te Ho pā site, with walks from about 30 to 75 minutes.
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