- Explore a coastal reserve, paddle in the lagoon and find a historic walking track between Napier and Wairoa
Waipatiki Beach is an ideal family holiday spot with a local campground, adjacent reserve and close enough to Hastings and Napier for a coffee / cafe fix. There are classic baches and poor Wifi reception meaning it is a break from the routine. Relax or get active swimming, boating, fishing, cycling or horse trekking. There is a sense of getting away from it all with the long descent into the valley and Waipatiki Scenic Reserve greeting visitors. Hawke’s Bay surf beaches are not always safe for swimming. Waipatiki is a typical beach with strong undercurrents and a steep drop off from the beach. Always swim between the flags (late December to mid January). The lagoon is a great place for kids and the beach offers plenty of opportunities to build sandcastles. There is a shop at the camping grounds and public toilets. There are no changing rooms or outdoor wash facilities.
Waipatiki Scenic Reserve
Discover a heritage trail used by pre-European Maori and up to the early 20th century with pack horses. Enjoy the original coastal bush and nikau palms dominating the lower flat while kanuka and a wide variety of larger native trees cover the hillside. Look for traces of the original paths connecting Napier to Wairoa. By 1900 inland roads replaced the historic coastal route.
Beach cam: Waipatiki Beach Surf Report & Surf Forecast with Live Surf Webcams.
Find out more about what to do nearby Waipatiki Beach in Hawke’s Bay guide things to do with places to stay and nearby walks.