Waikouaiti Beach
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Waikouaiti Beach
Waikouaiti Beach is located two kilometres drive from State Highway 1 and is accessed through Waikouaiti township. The beach has a scattering of local residents and the most popular all year round activity is fishing. Surfers also will use the beach during winter but swimming is isolated to the summer months. The beach is the shape of a squashed horse shoe and there will usually be a calm end of the beach. The beach can be dangerous during larger swells.
Forecast provided by SwellMap.com
Tides
Safety at Waikouaiti Beach
We want you to have a great time whilst visiting Waikouaiti Beach. But take a moment to learn more about being safe on New Zealand Beaches. More ►
Unpatrolled Beach

Never swim or surf alone.
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 Waikouaiti 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
Waikouaiti Beach is located 15 kilometres south of Palmerston and 42 kilometres northeast of Dunedin. The beach is four kilometres in length and extends from Cornish Head in the north to Karitane inlet in the south. The beach is made up of a light golden sand that becomes hard pack when covered by water. On the low tide the beach is used by harness trainers to work out their horses. The northern end of the beach is backed by a gravel road that runs behind the beach. There is also a sports ground, a golf course just behind the beach and Waikouwaiti township is located one kilometre from the beach.
Public Transport
Sorry, we have no public transport information available for this beach.
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.
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