Whangamatā
A surfing town on the southern part of the east coast, famed for its long beach and harbour sandbar, where you can wade out to Hauturu Island at low tide.
Whangamatā is a well-known surfing destination in New Zealand, and its surf breaks on the harbour sandbar draw many surfers. The beach is about 4 km long, and at low tide you can wade from the north end to Hauturu Island (mind the tide times). Each early January, the Beach Hop retro-car and rock-and-roll festival draws tens of thousands of people. The town has surf shops and seafood restaurants, and nearby is the Wentworth Falls walking track.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Wentworth Falls
- Martha Mine, Waihi
- Tairua & Mount Paku
- Pinnacles Walk (Kauaeranga Valley)
- Karangahake Gorge
- Hot Water Beach
- Thames School of Mines
- Square Kauri