Coastal Beaches

Pōrangahau Beach (Te Paerahi): Swimming, Surfing and Camping

Last updated October 2026

Pōrangahau Beach, known as Te Paerahi, is a long golden-sand beach in southern Central Hawke’s Bay. Central Hawke’s Bay District Council lists swimming, surfing, surfcasting and walking, and LAWA calls it a popular beach in summer for swimmers and boaties. Its water has an Excellent long-term grade on LAWA, the best of the Central Hawke’s Bay beaches. There is no surf lifesaving patrol. The council puts it 45 minutes’ drive from Waipukurau.

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 Pōrangahau Beach

Monday 19 October

Tide falling

Sea

13.6°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 Pōrangahau River Entrance 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

1Porangahau BeachExcellent

100% 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 (24 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 Pōrangahau Beach

The surf break at Pōrangahau 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.

1Te Paerahi (Pōrangahau)Beach break

FacesEast-southeastSwell reaches it fromThe 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: Te Paerahi Road, near Pōrangahau township, Central Hawke’s Bay
Getting there: About 45 minutes from Waipukurau on Pōrangahau Road, then Beach Road and over the bridge to the beach
Water: Open east coast beach, tidal (nearest tide station: Pōrangahau River Entrance)
Water quality: Excellent (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, drinking water, picnic areas and day parking along the beachfront reserves
Camping: Council freedom camping at Te Paerahi, including tents, up to 7 nights
Cost: Free

About Te Paerahi

Hawke’s Bay Tourism describes Te Paerahi as a long golden-sand beach for surfing, swimming, surfcasting, fishing, diving and kite flying. The council notes a walk of about 4 km along the sand to the river mouth, so 8 km return.

The hill with the world’s longest place name is a few kilometres south of Pōrangahau township on Wimbledon Road, according to Hawke’s Bay Tourism, which makes an easy detour on the way.

Swimming and Water Quality at Te Paerahi

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council tests the water every two weeks from November to March and shares the results on LAWA.

Pōrangahau Beach has an Excellent LAWA long-term grade, based on 51 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25, and all 61 tests between November 2019 and March 2025 were suitable for swimming. That is a strong record, but it is a long-term grade, 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 Te Paerahi

Hawke’s Bay Tourism’s surfing guide says Pōrangahau’s Te Paerahi Beach can expose tidy little beach breaks after a storm. No official source describes the surf in more detail, and the beach is unpatrolled, so surf with others.

Camping and Getting There

Te Paerahi is one of Central Hawke’s Bay District Council’s freedom camping sites that allows tents and vehicles that are not self-contained, with toilets, a drinking fountain and an outdoor shower, for up to seven nights. It is beside the Recreation Reserve on the corner of Te Paerahi Road and Puketauhinu Place.

From Waipukurau, take Pōrangahau Road and follow the signs from Pōrangahau township: past the store, right onto Beach Road and over the bridge to the beach. Hawke’s Bay Tourism suggests allowing an hour. The council has put weight and speed limits on the bridge in the past, so check its current notices if you are towing.

Where to Learn More

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

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council: Te Paerahi Beach: activities, facilities and directions.

Hawke’s Bay Tourism: Te Paerahi: the official visitor guide to the beach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you swim at Pōrangahau Beach?
Yes. It is popular with swimmers in summer and has an Excellent water quality grade. 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?
Excellent. All 61 tests between November 2019 and March 2025 were suitable for swimming.

Is Te Paerahi patrolled?
No. There is no surf lifesaving patrol.

Can you surf at Te Paerahi?
Yes. Hawke’s Bay Tourism says it can expose tidy little beach breaks after a storm.

Can you camp at Te Paerahi?
Yes. It is a council freedom camping site that allows tents, with toilets and an outdoor shower, for up to seven nights.

How far is it from Waipukurau?
About 45 minutes’ drive; Hawke’s Bay Tourism suggests allowing an hour.

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