Last updated November 2026
Pukehina Beach runs along a 10 km peninsula east of Maketū, with the open Bay of Plenty surf on one side and the sheltered Waihī Estuary on the other. The Western Bay of Plenty District Council describes the beach as a popular surfcasting spot.
Local reports describe snapper around 43 cm and small kahawai taken into dusk on calm evenings, and good-sized snapper along the beaches from Pukehina to Matatā. Access is from the signed accessways off Pukehina Parade.
Pukehina Beach at a Glance
- Location
- Pukehina Parade, east of Maketū and Te Puke, Western Bay of Plenty
- Type
- Long open surf beach on a peninsula, with an estuary behind
- Water
- Bay of Plenty coast (sea)
- Main species
- Snapper and kahawai
- Best time
- Calm evenings into dusk, on the change of light
- Access
- Signed beach accessways off Pukehina Parade
- Lifeguards
- Pukehina Surf Lifesaving Club patrols in summer; fish away from the flags
- Tide port
- Kaituna River Entrance (LINZ)
- Rules
- MPI Auckland and Kermadec; inside the Maketū Taiāpure coastline
- Cost
- Free; no licence needed
- Low 2:18 am 0.2 m
- High 7:44 am 1.4 m
- Low 2:30 pm 0.2 m
- High 7:53 pm 1.4 m
Best times today: around 2:18 am, 7:44 am, 2:30 pm and 7:53 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 1:02 am and 12:38 pm (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best. Full 7-day Tauranga tides ›
Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
What You'll Find Here
Pukehina is a 10 km peninsula with a sheltered estuary on one side and a sandy surf beach on the other. The settlement has a surf lifesaving club, a playground, a local store and café, and tennis courts.
From the air, a single row of houses lines the narrow strip between the farmland and the beach, with the sand running straight for kilometres in both directions.
The estuary at the western end is the Waihī Estuary, also called Little Waihī, and the estuary side is a breeding ground for endangered birds. The surf beach is the fishing side: the council calls it a popular surfcasting spot, and a 2012 local fishing column reported good-sized snapper coming from the beaches between Pukehina and Matatā.
This whole stretch of coast lies within the Maketū Taiāpure, which runs from Wairakei in the west to Ōtamarākau in the east and has its own rules for green-lipped mussels and pāua.
How to Fish Pukehina Beach
Where and when
Walk out from any of the signed accessways off Pukehina Parade and cast into the surf, well away from the patrolled swimming area in summer. One local report describes a calm-sea session from the afternoon into dusk, with the bite coming on the change of light. Flat, calm conditions make the beach much easier to fish.
What to catch
- Snapper: the main target; fish around 43 cm have been reported off Pukehina.
- Kahawai: often small, mixed in with the snapper.
- Rigs and bait: there is no tackle shop at Pukehina, so buy bait in Tauranga or Whakatāne and ask there what is working.
Getting There and Facilities
- Access: use the signed beach accessways off Pukehina Parade.
- Vehicles: the beach is under regional council control. The ratepayers’ association asks drivers to use only signed accessways, keep to 15 km/h near houses and stay off the dunes and plantings.
- Estuary ramp: there is a boat ramp on the estuary side at Ororoa Reserve.
- Dogs: the district council has a dog-control map for Pukehina. Check it before you go, and keep dogs away from the estuary bird areas.
- Supplies: the local store and café is in the settlement.
Rules and Safety
- Sea fishing follows MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec rules. No licence is needed.
- Pukehina is on the Maketū Taiāpure coastline, which has its own rules for green-lipped mussels and pāua. Check MPI’s rules before gathering shellfish.
- Toi Te Ora has a permanent warning against collecting or eating shellfish in the Waihī Estuary (Little Waihī). Do not gather shellfish there.
- Fish well away from the surf club flags and swimmers in summer.
- This is an open surf beach. Do not wade out in a big swell, and watch for rips.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Tauranga, 19 Bethlehem Road: surfcasting gear and bait.
- Top Catch Bait & Tackle Mount Maunganui, 147 Totara Street: bait and tackle.
- Hunting & Fishing Whakatāne, 129 Commerce Street: an option if you are coming from the east.
Where to Learn More
Western Bay of Plenty District Council: Pukehina: the settlement, beach and estuary.
MPI Auckland and Kermadec fishing rules: limits, including the Maketū Taiāpure rules.
Health New Zealand: permanent shellfish warnings: the Waihī Estuary warning and others.
Common Questions
Is Pukehina Beach good for fishing?
Yes. The district council calls it a popular surfcasting spot, and snapper and kahawai are reported.
What can I catch at Pukehina?
Snapper, with fish around 43 cm reported, and small kahawai.
When is the best time to fish Pukehina?
Calm evenings into dusk; one local report had the bite on the change of light.
Can I drive on Pukehina Beach?
Only from signed accessways, slowly near houses, and never on the dunes or plantings.
Can I collect shellfish at Pukehina?
Not in the Waihī Estuary, which has a permanent health warning. On the open coast, the Maketū Taiāpure mussel and pāua rules apply.
Do I need a licence?
No. Sea fishing needs no licence, but MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec limits apply.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ).