Coastal Beaches

Blackhead Beach: Swimming, Winter Surf and Te Angiangi Marine Reserve

Last updated October 2026

Blackhead Beach is a remote Central Hawke’s Bay beach at the southern end of Te Angiangi Marine Reserve. Central Hawke’s Bay District Council calls it ideal for fishing and swimming, with easy access to the reserve, and Hawke’s Bay Tourism says it is well known among surfers in winter and a popular summer day trip from Hastings and Napier. The water holds a Good long-term grade on LAWA. There is no surf lifesaving patrol.

Swimming Facts

1Water testing spot1Surf break

Testing spots: LAWA and Hawke's Bay Regional Council. Surf breaks: Hawke's Bay Tourism.

Before you swim: Tested every two weeks Nov–Mar by Hawke's Bay Regional Council. Stay out for 48 hours after heavy rain. Latest result on LAWA

Today at Blackhead Beach

Monday 19 October

Tide falling

Sea

13.8°C

Cool, a wetsuit helps

8 very high

Cover up 9:40am to 4:20pm

Sunset

7:38pm

Light till about 8:05pm

Tides: LINZ, CC BY 4.0, times for Pourērere adjusted from Napier using LINZ offsets; the curve shows the shape of the tide, not local heights; predictions only. Sea temperature: NASA JPL MUR satellite data for 16 Oct, via Tideteller. UV: worked out for a clear day from the height of the sun and typical ozone; cloud lowers it, but you can still burn.

Water quality track record

1Blackhead BeachGood

97% of 61 tests suitable for swimming, 2019 to 2025

19/20

20/21

21/22

22/23

23/24

24/25

SuitableCautionUnsuitableEach bar is one summer of tests

What the grades mean

Excellent and Good: rarely unsafe for swimming. Fair: usually fine, but avoid swimming after rain. Poor: often unsuitable, especially after rain, so check the latest result first.

Grades use LAWA’s method: the 95th percentile of routine enterococci results over the five summers from 2020/21 to 2024/25, with at least 50 tests (138 per 100 mL from 51 tests).

Water quality: © LAWA and partner organisations (Hawke's Bay Regional Council), licensed under CC BY 4.0, results to March 2025.

Surf Facts

Surf break at Blackhead Beach

The surf break at Blackhead Beach is shown in blue on the map above. The compass shows which way it faces, the swell that can reach it and the wind that blows offshore there, which is when the waves are cleanest.

1BlackheadBeach break

FacesEast-southeastSwell reaches it fromThe north-northeast round to south-southwestOffshore windFrom the west-northwestBest tideNot recorded

Position approximate: not yet confirmed on aerial photos or by a local surfer

Swell can reach itFacesOffshore wind from

Before you paddle out

These facts say what suits each break, not whether it’s safe today. Surf breaks have rips, rocks and changing conditions. If you’re learning, surf where and when lifeguards patrol, and check the conditions yourself before going in.

Breaks: Hawke's Bay Tourism surfing guide (break names). The way each break faces, the swell that can reach it and its offshore wind are worked out from the LINZ coastline (CC BY 4.0); positions are checked on LINZ aerial photos unless marked approximate.

Practical Information

Location: Long Range Road, Blackhead, Central Hawke’s Bay
Getting there: About 40 minutes from Waipawa or Waipukurau (council directions via Pourerere Road and Long Range Road, or Tavistock Road and Farm Road)
Water: Open east coast beach and rock platform (nearest tide station: Pourērere)
Water quality: Good (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
Testing: Every two weeks from November to March by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
Lifeguards: None
Facilities: Public toilets at the campground only; plenty of parking
Camping: Blackhead Beach Camping Ground only; no freedom camping
Marine reserve: No fishing or gathering of anything in Te Angiangi Marine Reserve

About Blackhead Beach and Te Angiangi

Te Angiangi Marine Reserve, established in 1997, covers 446 hectares of coast between Blackhead and Aramoana. DOC says the name was chosen by Ngāti Kere, and the rock pools hold octopus, crayfish and anemones. Hawke’s Bay Tourism adds that seals and stingrays are often seen, and suggests Stingray Bay at low tide and Shelly Bay for a swim.

Inside the reserve there is no fishing and no gathering of seaweed or shellfish, and nothing may be taken. Vehicles and horses are allowed only on the sand at the top of the rock platform, not on the rocks below the high tide mark, and dogs must be on a leash. A low-tide walk of about 6 km return links Blackhead and Aramoana.

Swimming and Water Quality at Blackhead

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council tests the water every two weeks from November to March and shares the results on LAWA. Blackhead has a Good LAWA long-term grade, based on 51 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25.

Of 61 tests between November 2019 and March 2025, 97% were suitable for swimming. A Good grade means the water is rarely unsuitable for swimming, but it is a long-term record, not a promise for any particular day.

Check the latest result on LAWA before you swim, and stay out of the water for at least 48 hours after heavy rain. None of the Central Hawke’s Bay beaches has a surf lifesaving patrol, so swim with someone, stay within your depth and keep children within arm’s reach.

Surfing at Blackhead

Hawke’s Bay Tourism’s surfing guide says Blackhead Beach is well known among surfers during the winter, and that Central Hawke’s Bay line-ups are mostly quiet. No official source describes the break in detail; it is a remote, unpatrolled coast, so surf with others.

Camping and Facilities

There is no freedom camping at Blackhead. Blackhead Beach Camping Ground, run by a local committee on McHardy Place, has a kitchen, laundry and bathrooms, and Hawke’s Bay Tourism notes its facilities are reached by fording a stream. Those are the only toilets at the beach, so plan ahead for a day trip.

Where to Learn More

LAWA and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result and long-term grade for Blackhead Beach.

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council: Blackhead: activities, directions and the campground.

Department of Conservation: Te Angiangi Marine Reserve: the reserve’s rules, wildlife and history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you swim at Blackhead Beach?
Yes. The council calls it ideal for swimming. There is no patrol, so check LAWA first and stay out for at least 48 hours after heavy rain.

What is the water quality like?
Blackhead has a Good LAWA long-term grade. Of 61 tests between November 2019 and March 2025, 97% were suitable for swimming.

Can you fish at Blackhead?
Not inside Te Angiangi Marine Reserve, where no fishing or gathering is allowed.

Is Blackhead good for surfing?
Hawke’s Bay Tourism says it is well known among surfers in winter.

Can you camp at Blackhead?
Only at Blackhead Beach Camping Ground. Freedom camping is not allowed.

How far is Blackhead from Waipukurau?
About 40 minutes’ drive, the same as from Waipawa.

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