Ocean Beaches

Whangamatā Beach: Swimming, Surfing and the Famous Bar on a Day Trip from Tauranga

Last updated October 2026

Whangamatā Beach is a long, sandy ocean beach on the Coromandel’s east coast, known for summer holidays, swimming and surfing. Tourism New Zealand lists it for swimming and surfing, and Hauraki Coromandel Tourism calls it home to one of New Zealand’s most famous surf breaks, the Whangamatā Bar.

Whangamatā Surf Life Saving Club patrols the beach through summer, and the water holds an Excellent long-term grade on LAWA. It makes a summer day trip or weekend away from Tauranga.

Practical Information

Location: Whangamatā, Coromandel Peninsula (Thames-Coromandel District)
Water: East coast ocean beach, with estuaries at both ends; tidal (nearest tide station: Whangamatā)
Water quality: Excellent (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
Testing: Weekly from November to March by Waikato Regional Council
Lifeguards: Whangamatā Surf Life Saving Club, volunteer and paid patrols through summer
Access: Numbered beach access points along the Esplanade; mobility access best at points 8 and 9 by the surf club
Dogs: Restricted on parts of the beach in summer under the council’s dog bylaw
Cost: Free

Swimming Facts

Map of the water testing spots, surf breaks — Testing spots: LAWA and Waikato Regional Council. Surf breaks: Waikato Regional Council.

Today at Whangamatā Beach

Friday 13 November

Tide falling

Sunrise

6:00am

First light about 5:30am

10 very high

Cover up 9am to 5pm

Sunset

8:04pm

Light till about 8:30pm

UV: worked out for a clear day from the height of the sun and typical ozone; cloud lowers it, but you can still burn.

Water quality track record

Stay out of the water for 48 hours after heavy rain.

1Whangamata Beach at North Opposite Surf ClubExcellent

98% of 133 tests suitable for swimming, 2020 to 2026

20/21

21/22

22/23

23/24

24/25

25/26

SuitableCautionUnsuitableEach bar is one summer of tests

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 2021/22 to 2025/26, with at least 50 tests (31 per 100 mL from 109 tests).

Surf Facts

Surf breaks at Whangamatā Beach

2 breaks: a beach break and a river barShowHide

The 2 surf breaks at Whangamatā Beach are shown in blue on the map above. The compass shows which way each one faces, the swell that can reach it and the wind that blows offshore there, which is when the waves are cleanest.

1Whangamatā BeachBeach break

FacesEastSwell reaches it fromThe north round to east, and the east-southeast round to south-southeastOffshore windFrom the westBest tideAny tideSmallest surfable waveAbout 0.8 mLegal accessNext to a formed legal road

Position checked on LINZ aerial photos

2Whangamatā BarRiver barNationally significant

FacesSoutheastSwell reaches it fromThe north round to east, and the east-southeast round to south-southeast, and the northOffshore windFrom the northwestBest tideLow tideSmallest surfable waveAbout 0.8 mLegal accessEsplanade reserve or marginal strip 41 m from the beach

Position approximate: not yet confirmed on aerial photos or by a local surfer

Swell can reach itFacesOffshore wind from

Before you paddle out

These facts say what suits each break, not whether it’s safe today. Surf breaks have rips, rocks and changing conditions. If you’re learning, surf where and when lifeguards patrol, and check the conditions yourself before going in.

Legal access isn’t always easy access: paper roads are often unformed or fenced, so leave gates as you find them.

About Whangamatā Beach

Whangamatā is one of the Coromandel’s busiest summer towns, and the beach runs the length of it, with an estuary at each end and Whenuakura, also called Donut Island, sitting offshore. Use the numbered beach access points to cross the dunes; they protect the dunes and the endangered New Zealand dotterels that nest in fenced areas.

Swimming and Water Quality at Whangamatā Beach

Waikato Regional Council tests the water opposite the surf club every week from November to March and shares the results on LAWA. The beach has an Excellent LAWA long-term grade, based on 111 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25.

Surfing at Whangamatā

The Whangamatā Bar is listed as a nationally significant surf break in the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement, and Waikato Regional Council’s surf break records describe it as a hollow, high-performance wave. Hauraki Coromandel Tourism is clear about who it suits: the beach break is good for surfers of all levels, and the bar is reserved for experts.

Getting There and Facilities

Whangamatā sits on the Coromandel’s east coast, north of Waihī, reached from Tauranga by heading north through Waihī on State Highway 2 and then State Highway 25. There is parking along the Esplanade and by the surf club, and a public toilet at the wharf.

Thames-Coromandel District Council restricts dogs on parts of Whangamatā Beach over the summer, including near the wharf and the Ōtahu Estuary. Check the council’s Whangamatā dog rules before you bring a dog.

Like Tauranga’s outdoors?

Explore Tauranga Weekly has a walk or park idea every week, plus local news and weekend picks. Free every Thursday.

Free. One email a week. Unsubscribe any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you swim at Whangamatā Beach?

Yes. It is a popular swimming beach with summer lifeguard patrols. Swim between the flags, check LAWA first, and stay out for at least 48 hours after heavy rain.

What is the water quality like?

Whangamatā Beach has an Excellent LAWA long-term grade. Of 130 tests between November 2019 and March 2025, 98% were suitable for swimming.

Is the beach patrolled?

Yes. Whangamatā Surf Life Saving Club patrols through summer. Check the club’s website for the season’s times.

Is the Whangamatā Bar for beginners?

No. Hauraki Coromandel Tourism says the beach break suits surfers of all levels but the bar is reserved for experts.

Are there rips?

Yes. Lifeguards regularly rescue people caught in rips, mostly outside the flags.

Can I bring my dog?

Dogs are restricted on parts of the beach over summer. Check Thames-Coromandel District Council’s Whangamatā dog rules first.

Is there accessible beach access?

Hauraki Coromandel Tourism says mobility access is best at access points 8 and 9 by the surf club, where there is parking and a boardwalk.

Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.