Last updated October 2026
Maketū Beach is the patrolled surf beach at Maketū, a small coastal town on Okurei Point east of Te Puke, about 27 kilometres east of central Tauranga in a straight line. Tourism Bay of Plenty describes sandy shores, rockpools, surfcasting and swimming, with lifeguards from Maketū Surf Life Saving Club patrolling over the peak summer season.
The town is the traditional landing place of the Te Arawa waka, and a monument marks the spot. Bay of Plenty Regional Council tests the water beside the surf club every week over summer, and the site holds a Good long-term grade on LAWA.
The coast either side is also known for its surf, from the Kaituna Cut in the west to Newdicks Beach in the east.
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 Maketū 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 (140 per 100 mL from 110 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- Maketū Surf Life Saving Club, Beach Road, Maketū, Western Bay of Plenty
- Distance from Tauranga
- About 27 km east of the city centre in a straight line, via Te Puke
- Water
- Open sea beach with surf and rockpools; tidal (nearest tide station: Maketu)
- 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, at the surf club
- Patrols
- Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in the peak summer season; times vary
- Surf breaks
- Maketu, Newdicks and Kaituna Cut are all mapped in the Bay of Plenty Regional Coastal Environment Plan
- Facilities nearby
- Parking, barbecue, playground and toilets within about 450 m; cafés and takeaways in the village
About Maketū Beach
Maketū sits on Okurei Point, also known as Town Point, east of Te Puke. Western Bay of Plenty District Council describes it as the traditional landing site of the Te Arawa waka more than 800 years ago, after voyages from Polynesia, and says the name comes from an ancient kūmara pit in Hawaiki. Most of the population belongs to the Whakaue hapū of Te Arawa.
History is easy to find on foot. Tourism Bay of Plenty points to seven markers along Little Waihi Road that tell the story of significant events at Maketū, and a walk up the same road leads to Pukemaire pā, with wide views over the coast.
The restored Kotukutuku Gully track starts at the corner of Hapimana and Little Waihi Roads and passes fruit trees where you may see tūī, korimako (bellbird) and tauhou (silvereye).
The beach itself has sandy stretches and rockpools, and it is popular for surfcasting and gathering shellfish as well as swimming. Check the rules and daily limits before you gather.
Maketū Surf Life Saving Club is based beside the beach on Beach Road. The club went into recess for about six years before reforming in 2009, and it has since been named Bay of Plenty Patrol Club of the Year several times, most recently in 2026.
Food is close at hand too: Maketū Takeaways appears in a 1975 painting by Dame Robin White, and the beachside café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Swimming and Water Quality at Maketū Beach
Swim between the red and yellow flags. Tourism Bay of Plenty says surf lifeguards patrol Maketū Beach on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the peak season, and that times vary, so check with the surf club before you go.
Outside patrol hours there are no lifeguards. Western Bay of Plenty District Council reminds swimmers to watch for rip currents, underwater objects, stinging jellyfish and steep drop-offs, and never to swim alone.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council samples the sea beside the surf club every week from October to March and sends the results to LAWA. The site has a Good LAWA long-term grade, based on 110 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25.
Across 135 tests between October 2019 and March 2025, 96% were suitable for swimming. A Good grade means the water has rarely been found unsuitable for swimming, though a handful of results in that period, mostly in the 2021/22 summer, were unsuitable. It is a long-term record, not 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.
The district council advises avoiding rivers, streams and harbour areas for 48 hours after heavy rain, and the regional council suggests two to three days after heavy or prolonged rain, when run-off from farms and towns can carry bacteria into the sea. Keep away from pipes, culverts and flocks of birds.
If you plan to collect shellfish, check the Ministry for Primary Industries shellfish biotoxin warnings first, as the regional council advises.
Surfing at Maketū
Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Regional Coastal Environment Plan maps three surf breaks around Maketū. Maketu itself is listed as a beach and point break. About three kilometres west, the Kaituna Cut is a river mouth break. To the east, Newdicks is a beach break, with the Little Waihi river mouth and Pukehina Beach further along the coast.
Tourism Bay of Plenty describes Newdick’s Beach as a white-sand beach of about five kilometres that suits surfing. It is reached by a private access road up the hill, and a toll is paid to the landowner for track upkeep.
Keep well clear of the flagged swimming area at Maketū during patrol hours, and check the forecast before paddling out on this exposed coast.
Where to Learn More
LAWA and Bay of Plenty Regional Council: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result, health warnings and the long-term grade for Maketu at Surf Club.
Tourism Bay of Plenty: visitor guide to Maketū, its beaches, historical markers, walks and places to eat.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council: swim smart advice, health alerts and sites where swimming is not recommended in the district.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Maketū Beach?
Yes. Maketū Beach is a lifeguard-patrolled swimming beach in the peak summer season. Swim between the flags, check the latest result on LAWA, and stay out for at least 48 hours after heavy rain.
What is the water quality like at Maketū?
Maketu at Surf Club has a Good LAWA long-term grade, based on summers 2020/21 to 2024/25. Of 135 tests between October 2019 and March 2025, 96% were suitable for swimming.
Is Maketū Beach patrolled?
Yes, in summer. Maketū Surf Life Saving Club patrols on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during the peak season. Times vary, so check with the club first.
When is the water at Maketū tested?
Bay of Plenty Regional Council samples the beach by the surf club weekly from October to March, and the results are published on LAWA.
Where can you surf near Maketū?
The regional coastal plan maps surf breaks at Maketu, Newdicks and the Kaituna Cut. Tourism Bay of Plenty notes that Newdick’s Beach, reached by a private toll road, suits surfing.
Why is Maketū historically important?
Maketū is the traditional landing site of the Te Arawa waka. A monument marks the landing place, and seven markers along Little Waihi Road tell the story of events in the town.
Can you gather shellfish at Maketū?
Shellfish gathering is popular, but check the rules and daily limits, and look up Ministry for Primary Industries biotoxin warnings before you collect.
What facilities are near Maketū Beach?
Parking is close to the surf club, with a barbecue, a playground and toilets within a few hundred metres. The Park Road Reserve playground, takeaways and a café are in the village.
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