10 Best Things to Do in Waipū & Bream Bay

1. Check Out Waipū Cove

Bream Bay is full of stunning beaches so let’s kick this list off with one of the best, Waipū Cove! This broad white-sand beach is perfect for swimming, surfing and fishing. The south end is the ideal spot for swimming; it’s also home to a river, rocky outcrops and shaded picnic areas.

Surf lifeguards patrol during summer (including weekends, public holidays and weekdays during peak school-holiday period), giving families extra peace of mind. The beach stretches on for ages, making it great for long shoreline walks, and you’ll get lovely views towards Taranga, Marotere and Whangārei Heads.

The southern end also offers access to the Waipū Coastal Walkway. Plus, there’s a beachfront holiday park, convenience store and café in the small settlement, so you can easily spend several hours here without needing to bring a full picnic spread.

Location: Cove Road, Waipū.

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2. Visit the Waipū Scottish Migration Museum

Waipū has a proud Scottish heritage where you can learn the stories of the early settlers of the area in the Waipū Scottish Migration Museum.

The museum tells the remarkable story of how around 1,000 Gaelic-speaking Highlanders made their way to Waipū during the 1850s, led by Reverend Norman McLeod on a journey from Scotland through Nova Scotia and Australia before finally settling here.

Exhibitions use documents, photographs, family histories and personal objects to explain the Highland Clearances, shipbuilding and the development of the Waipū community. The museum’s archives are particularly useful if you’re researching family connections to the area.

There’s also information on heritage trails where you can visit more historic sites around the town.

Location: 36 The Centre, Waipū.

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3. Explore the Waipū Caves

As one of the best free glowworm caves in New Zealand, Waipū Caves is not to be missed! The short walk to the caves takes you across farmland to a cave nestled among native trees. See limestone formations like stalactites and stalagmites and explore the main cavern which is 175 m (574 ft) long.

Treat this as an undeveloped caving experience rather than a casual walk. The caves are wet, dark and slippery, with a shallow stream running through the bottom (you’ll get your feet wet).

For a safer above-ground option, follow the separate 2 km (1.2 mi) one-way Waipū Caves Track. This 1 hr 30 mins return walk climbs through karst formations, grassland and regenerating bush to views across Whangārei Harbour and the offshore islands. The surface track begins near the cave entrance but does not enter the caves.

Check out more free caves in our list of the 10 Free Glowworm Caves in New Zealand.

Location: Waipū Caves Road, approximately 13 km (8 mi) northwest of Waipū. The most straightforward route is via Shoemaker Road.

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4. Relax on Langs Beach

Another amazing beach in the Waipū/Bream Bay area, Langs Beach is a beautiful white-sand beach framed by rocky headlands and gnarling pōhutukawa trees.

It’s a quieter coastal spot compared to nearby Waipū Cove, making it ideal for a peaceful day of swimming, walking or surfing (when the waves cooperate, you’ll find both right- and left-hand breaks).

Just note that Langs Beach doesn’t have lifeguard patrols, so keep that in mind before diving in. The beach also connects to the Waipū Coastal Walkway near Ding Bay.

For more like this, check out the 10 Best Beaches in Whangarei.

Location: Cove Road, Langs Beach, approximately 11 km (7 mi) south of Waipū.

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5. Watch the Sunrise from Ruakākā Beach

Spanning 13 km (8 mi), Ruakākā Beach is an amazing place for a stroll and to feel the sand between your toes. This east-facing stretch of sand forms part of Bream Bay, offering open views towards the Pacific Ocean.

The beach is more “pristine” than other beaches in Bream Bay and is ever-changing with the tide.

It’s a popular spot for surfing and kitesurfing, but simply a walk along the beach at sunrise will still amaze.

Location: Ruakākā Beach Road, approximately 10 km (6 mi) north of Waipū.

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6. Camp at Uretiti Beach

No, we are not done with giving you amazing beaches to visit in Bream Bay just yet! Another one to add to the list is the stunning sandy shores of Uretiti Beach. The beach is good for surfing, fishing, swimming and horse riding.

What’s more, there’s a scenic DOC campsite just behind the sand dunes which makes an amazing place to wake up in the morning.

Uretiti Beach Campsite is a large Department of Conservation campground with 300 non-powered sites tucked in right behind the dunes.

You’ll find treated water, toilets, a cooking shelter and hot showers (NZ$2 coin-operated). Bookings are essential; no spots are held for walk-ins.

Location: The campsite is signposted off State Highway 1, approximately 5 km (3 mi) north of Waipū.

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7. See Piroa Falls

Sure, there are a lot of waterfalls in New Zealand, but Piroa Falls are among some of the most picturesque!

A short walk through native bush leads to the falls, where the Ahuroa River drops into a forested gorge. The 200 m (219-yard) return track takes around five minutes, descending several steps before crossing the river on a low concrete bridge.

The river by the waterfall makes an amazing swimming spot in summer (or winter, after all, this is the “Winterless North”).

Just don’t attempt the crossing when the river is flooded; the bridge becomes submerged after heavy rain.

Location: Waipū Gorge Road, approximately 14 km (9 mi) south of Waipū. From State Highway 1, take Waipū Gorge Road until you see the Piroa Falls signposted.

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8. Birdwatch at the Ruakākā and Waipū Estuaries

The estuaries at Waipū and Ruakākā provide a unique habitat for rare New Zealand birds, such as the New Zealand dotterel and New Zealand fairy tern. Waipū is one of only four regular breeding sites for tara iti, or the New Zealand fairy tern, one of the country’s rarest birds.

Bring binoculars to the Waipū River Mouth Wildlife Refuge and Ruakākā Wildlife Refuge, two important habitats for native and migratory shorebirds. Keep an eye out for variable oystercatchers, reef herons and migratory godwits around the estuary and sandbanks at Waipū. At Ruakākā, look across the river mouth and tidal flats for similar sightings.

If you’re a bit of a bird nerd, don’t miss our 20 Amazing Native Birds in New Zealand.

Location: The Waipū Estuary is accessible from Johnson Point Road, off Cove Road in Waipū. The Ruakākā Estuary is accessible from Ruakaka Beach.

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9. Walk the Waipū Coastal Walkway and Find the Waipū Pancake Rocks

That’s right, Waipū has its own “pancake rocks” much like their famous counterparts found in the South Island in Punakaiki. The limestone rocks appearing in a stacked formation can be seen in many parts of Waipū but best along the Waipū Coastal Walkway.

The walk takes around one hour 30 minutes to complete between Waipu Cove and Waterman Drive. If you’re keen for more, the walk can be extended a further 45 minutes by continuing from Waterman Drive to Langs Beach.

For a longer coastal adventure, consider the Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway which winds from the surf beach to elevated viewpoints overlooking Bream Head and the Tāwharanui Peninsula.

Location: 903 Cove Road, approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) south of Waipū. Start the Waipū Coastal Walkway from the southern end of Waipū Cove beach by crossing the stream opposite the last concrete barbecue area. Alternatively (and to avoid wet feet if the tide is in), start from Waterman Drive or Ding Bay.

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10. Hike the Mangawhai Cliff Walk

Climb coastal cliffs and revel in the rugged coastal scenery on the Mangawhai Cliff Walk. This 9 km (6 mi) return walk takes between two to three hours to complete, following a well-marked trail.

The track starts at the end of the surf beach and starts off with a steep 20-minute climb up some steps to the first lookout, return from the lookout for a worthwhile yet shorter alternative to the full 3-hour hike.

There are many more experiences in the area, from the Langsview Track to the golf course, so check out the 10 Best Things to Do in Mangawhai for more ideas.

Location: Start from the car park at the end of Wintle Street, Mangawhai, approximately 23 km (14 mi) southeast of Waipū.

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