Events
Whites Bay
Whites Bay is a popular spot for most recreational activities. Swimming is most popular in summer, and the beach is patrolled in the weekends during this period by Rarangi Surf Life Saving Club. Conditions are generally quite safe in surf under 1 metre, but swimmers should always swim between the flags and keep away from the headlands. Fishing and surfing is possible all year round. Facilities on the beach are good. There is no motor camp but camping is possible for a small fee. The coastal walkways in the area are popular.
Ratings
Activities and facilities
Activities
- Canoeing/kayaking
- Scuba diving
- Shell fish gathering
- Snorkelling
Facilities
- Car parking
- Public toilets
Safety
The beach is our favourite playground, but it can also be a dangerous place. Learn about the hazards at Whites Bay 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 Whites Bay
We want you to have a great time whilst visiting Whites Bay. 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
The volunteer patrol service at this beach will commence in the summer season. More information about the 2018/2019 season (including start/end dates and times) will be available here once they are confirmed.
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 Whites Bay. 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
Whites Bay is located 26 km northeast of Blenhiem. It is a golden sand beach which slopes gently into the ocean and is bound to the north and south by rocky headlands. The bay is 800 metres in length. To the south, 200 meters of this is only accessible at low tide and is divided from the main bay by a small rocky outcrop. The bay is protected from pure southerly swells and swells from the north due to the wider coastline in the Marlborough region, so the surf is usually of a manageable size. Rarangi Surf Life Saving Club is located at about the midpoint of the bay, at the main access point to the beach. There are good facilities with wheelchair access to the beach. The beach is backed by a rangers house and hill country. There is a walkway over the southern headland to Rarangi beach.
Public Transport
Sorry, we have no public transport information available for this beach.
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.
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