Explore Caves, Beaches, Waterfalls and More in Waipu and Bream Bay
Just south of Whangarei, Bream Bay is a sweeping arch of white-sand beaches, wildlife havens and small coastal communities. Waipu is the main town in the Bream Bay area, famous for its Scottish heritage, among being the centre of some amazing outdoor activities. Explore glowworm caves, surf the waves, see magnificent waterfalls and more! Discover it all with this list of things to do in Waipu and Bream Bay.
1. Check Out Waipu Cove
Bream Bay is full of stunning beaches so let’s kick this list off with one of the best, Waipu Cove! This white-sand beach is perfect for swimming, surfing and fishing. The best place for swimming is at the south end of the beach. There is also a campground, convenience store and cafe in the small settlement backing the beach.
Location: Cove Road, Waipu.
© Unsplash2. Visit the Waipu Scottish Migration Museum
Waipu has a proud Scottish heritage where you can learn the stories of the early settlers of the area in the Waipu Scottish Migration Museum. Not only that, the museum has displays on some of the world’s greatest migrations of the Scottish Highlanders who travelled to Nova Scotia, Australia and then Waipu. There’s also information on heritage trails where you can visit more historic sites around the town.
Location: 36 The Centre, Waipu.
© Pexels3. Explore the Waipu Caves
As one of the best free glowworm caves in New Zealand, Waipu Caves is not to be missed! The short walk to the caves takes you across farmland to a cave nestled among native trees. See amazing limestone formations like stalactites and stalagmites and explore the main cavern which is 175 m (574 ft) long. There is a shallow stream running in the bottom of the cave so be prepared to get your feet wet. Check out more free caves in our list of the 10 Free Glowworm Caves in New Zealand.
Location: Waipu Caves Road, approximately 13 km (8 mi) northwest of Waipu. The most straightforward route is via Shoemaker Road.
© russellstreet on Flickr4. Relax on Langs Beach
Another amazing beach in the Waipu/Bream Bay area, Langs Beach is a beautiful white-sand beach with craggy headlands and gnarling pohutukawa trees. It’s a great spot to do all your beachy activities from swimming to surfing. For more like this, check out the 10 Best Beaches in Whangarei.
Location: Cove Road, Langs Beach, approximately 11 km (7 mi) south of Waipu.
© Pxhere5. Watch the Sunrise from Ruakaka Beach
Spanning 13 km (8 mi), Ruakaka Beach is an amazing place for a stroll and to feel the sand between your toes. This beach is more “pristine” than the 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: Ruakaka Beach Road, approximately 10 km (6 mi) north of Waipu.
© Pxhere6. 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.
Location: The campsite is signposted off State Highway 1, approximately 5 km (3 mi) north of Waipu.
© Northland Inc7. See Piroa Falls
Sure, there are a lot of waterfalls in New Zealand, but Piroa Falls are among some of the most picturesque! The waterfall is accessed down a 10-minute walk through the forest and alongside the Ahuroa River. The river by the waterfall makes an amazing swimming spot in summer (or winter, after all, this is the “Winterless North”).
Location: Waipu Gorge Road, approximately 14 km (9 mi) south of Waipu. From State Highway 1, take Waipu Gorge Road until you see the Piroa Falls signposted.
© russellstreet on Flickr8. Birdwatch at the Ruakaka and Waipu Estuaries
The estuaries at Waipu and Ruakaka provide a unique habitat for rare New Zealand birds, such as the New Zealand dotterel and New Zealand fairy tern. Keep an eye out for oystercatchers, wrybill, reef heron and migrating godwits too! If you’re a bit of a bird nerd, don’t miss our 20 Amazing Native Birds in New Zealand.
Location: The Waipu Estuary is accessible from Johnson Point Road, off Cove Road in Waipu. The Ruakaka Estuary is accessible from Ruakaka Beach.
© NZPocketGuide.com9. Walk the Waipu Coastal Walkway and Find the Waipu Pancake Rocks
That’s right, Waipu 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 Waipu but best along the Waipu Coastal Walkway. The walk takes around 1 hr 30 mins to complete between Waipu Cove and Waterman Drive. The walk can be extended a further 45 minutes by walking from Waterman Drive to Langs Beach.
Location: 903 Cove Road, approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) south of Waipu. Start the Waipu Coastal Walkway from the southern end of Waipu 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.
© Unsplash10. 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 Waipu.
© UnsplashMore Things to Do Near Waipu and Bream Bay
That’s it for our list of the best things to do in Waipu and Bream Bay. While Bream Bay is full of things to keep you busy, don’t miss the attractions in the surrounding towns too:
- 20 Best Things to Do in Whangarei
- 10 Best Things to Do in Mangawhai
- 15 Best Things to Do at Whangarei Heads
Finally, plan the rest of your trip around Te Ika-a-Māui with the 51 Best Things to Do on the North Island.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2024])
- DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
- Visit Northland New Zealand (Regional tourism website)
- WhangareiNZ.com (Regional tourism website)
- Whangarei District Council (Local council website)
- Northland Regional Council (Local council website)
- Far North District Council (Local council website)
- Kaipara District Council (Local council website)
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