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The Bluff Beach

(Northland)

The Bluff Beach
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Events

Sep
23
Mangakahia Yoga
Winter special: 5 class concession card for adults. 5 classes for $40 (usually $45). Held in the upstairs lounge. Yoga asanas (exercises/postures/poses) and breathing practices for all, finishing with a short ... More ►
Sep
23
Return to Wholeness
Return to Wholeness are Yogaora classes for the community designed as a starting point for the Science of the Self. Each class supports ‘grounding in the body’ & ’Self Stability’ as the body is a vehicle ... More ►
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The Bluff Beach

The Bluff Beach is a popular spot with locals and tourists and on any given day you can expect to see a couple of tour buses parked up at Wakatehaua Island and numerous locals and visitors to the region fishing from the rocks. Fishing is the most popular activity at the Bluff but the beach also sees its fair share of sightseers, surfers and swimmers. The Bluff is very exposed to swell with average wave height in the region of 1.5 metres. These powerful swells combine with strong rips, currents that are associated with Wakatehaua Island. The Bluff is a very dangerous beach and all users should be very cautious. There is no Lifeguarding Service.

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Ratings

Family friendly

A good beach for families however limited facilities and can be dangerous in poor conditions.

Swimming

Swimming around the rocky outcrops that steam from the island is very dangerous even when the waves are small. Strong currents and rips form around the island. The beach is very dangerous with strong rips and currents forming anywhere. Swimmers should only go in the water if they are confident and if the waves are above a metre, swimmers should be very cautious. It pays to check both the north and south of Wakatehaua Island as wave conditions may vary a great deal either side.

Surfing

Surfing at the Bluff can be good. Bars form off the island and the surrounding rocks. The beach gets good waves under the right swell and weather conditions. Surfers need to be careful if surfing around this beach as rips and currents can be very strong and unpredictable.

Fishing

Fishing off the rocks is very popular but also dangerous if there is a swell running. The changing tide can have a great effect on how dangerous a fishing position is. Surfcasting from the beach is practiced but fishing from the rocks is much more productive. The Bluff is a very popular fishing spot and if there are no locals fishing here, it is a good indication that the surf conditions are too dangerous. There is a life bouy at the top of the rock for anglers who get themselves into trouble.

Activities and facilities

Activities

  • Motorbikes/4WD's

Facilities

  • Public toilets

Safety

The beach is our favourite playground, but it can also be a dangerous place. Learn about the hazards at The Bluff Beach and be prepared so you and your family can enjoy the sun, sea and sand safely this summer.

Hazards

Large breaking waves
Strong rips/currents
Submerged objects
Sudden drop off

Patrols

Unpatrolled Beach
Unpatrolled beach.
Never swim or surf alone.

Forecast provided by SwellMap.com

Mainly clear with some cloud
14°c
Max Temp.
16°c
Water Temp.

Wind

Still
16 kph
South West

Swell

Large
2m
South West

Water Conditions

For boating and surfing
Poor. 3/10
3
Average. 4/10
4

Tides

7-day Forecast ► Forecast for Tuesday 17 Sep 2019, 3Am
Swellmap.com

Safety at The Bluff Beach

We want you to have a great time whilst visiting The Bluff Beach. But take a moment to learn more about being safe on New Zealand Beaches. More ►

Unpatrolled Beach

Unpatrolled Beach
Unpatrolled beach.
Never swim or surf alone.
 

Hazards

Large breaking waves
Large breaking waves
Strong rips/currents
Strong rips/currents
Submerged objects
Submerged objects
Sudden drop off
Sudden drop off

Click a safety symbol for more information on the risk

4 simple rules to keep you safe

We want you to have a great time whilst visiting The Bluff Beach. But take a moment to learn more about being safe on New Zealand beaches and looking out for each other. More ►

The Water Safety Code:

  • Be prepared
  • Watch out for yourself and others
  • Be aware of the dangers
  • Know your limits
DIAL 111 in the event of an emergency

Location

Bluff Beach is located 13 kilometres west of Te Kao, towards the northern end of Ninety Mile Beach. The beach is made up of golden sand and Wakatehaua Island is attached to the beach by a large sand bar. Either side of the island there is a golden sand beach that can be driven along on lower tides. This beach is exposed to heavy seas and strong rips and currents form around the rocks. The beach is visited regularly by locals and tourists. On any given day there will usually be heavy traffic along the beach.

Public Transport

For NRC ‘Safe Beach Driving’ & WDC ‘Vehicles on Beaches’ bylaws information please visit:-

Northland Regional Council | Whangarei District Council

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Beach Water Quality

The Overall Recreation Risk is a guide to give a general picture of water quality at a site. Updated annually, it is calculated from bacteria (enterococci) data collected over the last three years. The Overall Recreation Risk indicator is a precautionary approach to managing health risk and is not designed to represent health risk on a particular day. As such, a site can have an Overall Recreation Risk of ‘Caution’ but still be suitable for swimming some of the time.

Many councils also provide the results of their weekly monitoring. This lets people know what the most recent bacteria levels were. Remember, even sites with low risk can be unsuitable to swim at from time to time and we recommend that you avoid swimming for 48 hours after heavy rainfall.

Visit lawa.org.nz for further information on recreational water quality and in season monitoring over summer ►

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