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Kaikoura Beach

(Canterbury)

Kaikoura Beach
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Events

Mar
27
The Alpaca Social Club with special guest Cousin Alice
The Alpaca Social Club plays fresh sounds from exotic lands. The music has a flavour of Arabic, Celtic, funk, soul and gypsy jazz cultures. The two musicians at its core are pianist and accordionist Craig Denham and ... More ►
Apr
4
The Big Bike Film Night 2022
Prepare to be inspired Kaikoura! The Big Bike Film Night is on a mission bringing the best cycling short films from around the world together for you. Showcasing our 2022 collection that has everything a ... More ►
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Kaikoura Beach

Kaikoura beach is used for swimming mainly in the summer months. It is safest down towards the southern end of the beach and when the surf is under 1 metre. The beach is not patrolled by a Surf Life Saving Club. The region has excellent fishing and there are some good consistent surfing spots up and down the coast, although not on Kaikoura main beach. Facilities and access to Kaikoura beach are good. The Kaikoura area is a popular area for tourists with whale and dolphin watching tours, and seal colonies popular attractions.

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Ratings

Family friendly

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

Swimming

Swimming is possible on the entire stretch of this beach, however most people tend to swim towards the southern end as it has more sand, a more gentle incline into the ocean and less swell reaching the shore due to the protection from the southern headland. Elsewhere along the beach swimmers need to be aware of the rocks in the bay and the rip currents associated around them. The steep incline into the ocean means in large seas the undertow can be strong. Swimming is safest under one metre of surf. Kaikoura beach is not patrolled by a Surf Life Saving club.

Surfing

The main beach is not a popular spot for surfing in Kaikoura as the steep incline into the ocean means swell tends to dump on the shoreline. However there are a number of excellent surfing locations on the Kaikoura coastline with some excellent point and beach breaks. One example is Mangamaunu, 16 kilometres north of Kaikoura which is a very good, consistent right point break, offshore in southwest to northwest winds. It is good on all tides.

Fishing

Kaikoura is well known for its seafood. Offshore fishing is best in this area, although surfcasting off the beach and rocky headlands is possible. There are numerous reefs in the bay where Kaikouras famous crayfish are captured.

Activities and facilities

Activities

  • Canoeing/kayaking
  • Dog walking
  • Motorbikes/4WD's
  • Scuba diving
  • Shell fish gathering

Facilities

  • Boat launching
  • Car parking
  • Food and beverage kiosk
  • Public toilets

Safety

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

Hazards

Submerged objects
Sudden drop off

Patrols

Unpatrolled Beach
Unpatrolled beach.
Never swim or surf alone.

Forecast provided by SwellMap.com

Sunny with some cloud
16°c
Max Temp.
18°c
Water Temp.

Wind

Still
9 kph
North East

Swell

Medium
0.6m
South East

Water Conditions

For boating and surfing
Good. 7/10
7
Average. 5/10
5

Tides

2:40Am
High
9:00Am
Low
3:10Pm
High
9:20Pm
Low
7-day Forecast ► Forecast for Saturday 29 Jan 2022, 7Am
Swellmap.com

Safety at Kaikoura Beach

We want you to have a great time whilst visiting Kaikoura 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

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 Kaikoura 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

Kaikoura beach is located immediately in front of the Kaikoura township. It is 5000 metres in length and is largely shingle, with some golden sand towards the southern end. It has quite a steep slope into the ocean. A small river enters the sea at the town centre and to the south of this are 2 rocky extensions into the ocean. There are a number of visible rocks and reefs in the bay. The beach is bound by a headland to the south and to the north the beach continues into the Kaikoura coastline. Access is via a 2000 metre stretch of road in front of the township. The beach has good facilities.

Public Transport

Bus: http://www.intercity.co.nz/

Train: http://www.tranzmetro.co.nz/

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Beach Water Quality

Many councils 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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