Discover Whangamata: Beach, Harbour and Bush Walks

Whangamata combines a four-kilometre-long ocean beach with calm harbour waters. This gives you different ways to enjoy the water during your stay: the long ocean beach or swimming in the calm harbour. There are also walks through native bush, cycling opportunities and cultural discoveries.

Beach and Harbour Waters

The ocean beach stretches for four kilometres and defines Whangamata’s coastal character. The harbour offers a different perspective on the water: its calm waters invite you to swim. When planning your stay, you can consider whether the ocean beach, swimming in the harbour, or a combination of both is most important to you. This makes choosing accommodation part of your travel planning, without assuming that you need to stay in a particular location.

Walks Through Bush and Forest

The Whangamatā Harbour & Lookout Track passes through native bush and offers views of the harbour, estuary and surrounding hills. The Wentworth Valley Walk also passes through native forest; from there, you can look out over the estuary and Whangamatā Harbour. The landscapes described can help you choose between the two walks: the surrounding hills are also part of the panorama on the Harbour & Lookout Track, while the Wentworth Valley Walk combines forest with views of the estuary and harbour. It’s worth checking current track conditions for the Harbour & Lookout Track, as they can change.

Explore Whangamata by Bike

Most of Whangamata is flat, making it well suited to exploring by bicycle. Cruiser bikes, e-bikes and four-wheeled “Croc Bikes” are available to hire locally. Availability can change, so it’s a good idea to check in advance if bike hire is important to your plans.

If you’re specifically looking for mountain bike trails, Whangamatā Ridges Mountain Bike Park is in Matariki Forest, four kilometres north of Whangamatā. The trails range in difficulty from grade 2 to 5 and are suitable for children, families and advanced riders. A valid pass is required to ride. Forestry operations or weather can affect access, so check conditions before visiting. The park offers an alternative for a day of cycling to exploring the mostly flat town area.

Culture, Art and Local History

Beach Hop is a five-day celebration of 1950s and 1960s culture, held in Whangamata. If you’d like to plan your trip around the event, check the dates in advance. This helps keep your specific travel plans aligned with the actual event dates.

The Little Gallery in Whangamata showcases a varied, changing selection of original paintings, prints, sculptures, textiles and ceramics. The works on display may change. At Moana Point Reserve, a plaque marks the site of a historic store in Whangamata. Together, the gallery and plaque offer two different points of interest: contemporary art forms and a place with local history.

Include Other Interests in Your Plans

Whangamatā Golf Club operates two golf courses in Whangamatā year-round. As operations can change, it’s a good idea to check in advance if golf is to be a fixed part of your plans. The beach, harbour, forest walks, cycling, art and golf offer different ways to shape your trip.

Discover more destinations: Coromandel, Pauanui, Thames, Opito Bay, Matarangi, Tairua, Whenuakite, Hikuai.

For the broader travel overview: Thames-Coromandel District.