Whale Bay
A hidden bay at the northern end of the Tutukaka Coast, reachable only on foot and ringed by pōhutukawa trees, with calm, clear water.
Whale Bay lies north of Matapouri Bay. It has no road access. From a clifftop car park, a forest track takes about 15 minutes on foot to reach the beach, so it is quiet and uncrowded. A crescent of golden sand is embraced by large pōhutukawa trees (New Zealand's Christmas tree, which blooms with red flowers in December), and the sea is clear and calm, suitable for swimming and snorkeling. From Whale Bay you can follow the coastal track to Matapouri Bay, a round trip of about 1 hour. There are no facilities, so bring your own water and food, and take your rubbish with you. It is about 40 km from Whangārei city.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Matapouri Bay
- Sandy Bay
- Tutukaka Coast
- Whangārei Falls
- Abbey Caves
- A.H. Reed Memorial Kauri Park
- Mount Parihaka
- Town Basin