Whangamata Beach
Events
Whangamata Beach
Whangamata Beach is one of the Coromandel's most well known locations. During the height of summer there are literally thousands of people in and around the water keeping Whangamata Lifeguards very busy. The beach can be good for surfing during large swells. The beach is generally safe but swimmers are advised to stay away from the northern and southern ends of the beach. If in doubt ask the Lifeguards (there will usually be someone at the Surf Life Saving Club).
Ratings
Activities and facilities
Activities
- Canoeing/kayaking
- Dog walking
- Scuba diving
- Shell fish gathering
- Wind/kite surfing
Facilities
- Car parking
- Changing facilities
- Food and beverage kiosk
- Playground
- Public toilets
- Shower
Safety
The beach is our favourite playground, but it can also be a dangerous place. Learn about the hazards at Whangamata Beach and be prepared so you and your family can enjoy the sun, sea and sand safely this summer.
Hazards
Patrols

Stay safe - swim beween the flags.
Forecast provided by SwellMap.com
Tides
Safety at Whangamata Beach
We want you to have a great time whilst visiting Whangamata Beach. But take a moment to learn more about being safe on New Zealand Beaches. More ►
Patrolled Beach

Stay safe - swim beween the flags.
Patrol Hours
Patrol times for this beach vary, please check with the local club & always swim between the red & yellow flags
Hazards
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 Whangamata 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
Location
Whangamata Beach is located 86 kilometres north of Tauranga. The beach is 4000 metres in length and faces towards the northeast, at its central point is Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club. The beach is a unique set up. At the northern end there is a harbour inlet (Whangamata Harbour). The central beach area has a large curve in it. Located just slightly south of the Surf Life Saving Club is Hauturu Island and a few other smaller islands and large rocks. Continue to the southern most point on the beach and you reach Otahu River mouth that runs along the small headland. Whangamata Beach is golden sand and is very appealing to the eye. It has a well established permanent population and this increases greatly over the summer months with holiday makers and tourists boosting the population of Coromandel beaches.
Public Transport
Bus: NO only bus stop outside Thames Coromandel
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.
Overall recreation risk
The long term risk status based on three years of data
- There is not enough data to generate a recreational risk grade.
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.
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