Kai Iwi Beach

A good beach for families with some facilities and is patrolled by Surf Lifeguards over summer months. It does have the potential to be dangerous in poor conditions so ensure your family is well prepared.

Kai Iwi Beach is a very popular swimming location but can be very dangerous. The beach has two main sandbars that run the length of the beach. These bars can be cut through at times by the stream mouths at either end of the beach. The Mowhanau and Kai Iwi Streams, in addition to causing rips at the beach also create larger holes. There are also underlying rocks that can be very hazardous to swimmers. Wanganui Surf Life Saving Club provide Lifeguards on the weekends during summer and also professional full time lifeguards during the primary school holidays. Swimmers should always swim between the flags and accept any advice the lifeguards give them.

Kai Iwi Beach gets west to southwest swells that are common along this stretch of coastline. The stream mouth at each end of the beach form good bars and waves can be good. The bars are flat and change regularly, so wave quality varies a great deal. The beach can be surfed on any tide, but is best around high tide. Kai Iwi Beach is offshore in a northerly wind.

Both the Mowhanau and Kai Iwi Streams can have productive fishing but the area is erratic. Just to the north of the main beach area, over the Kai Iwi Stream footbridge is considered the best fishing in the area. Many people attempt to launch small boats off the beach and this gives access to great offshore fishing, but caution must be taken as many boats end up capsizing crossing the bars.