Last updated October 2026
Tamaterau Bay is a small harbour beach on the northern shore of Whangārei Harbour, about 10 kilometres from central Whangārei in a straight line, on Whangārei Heads Road.
The beach sits below a reserve shaded by old pōhutukawa, with a council car park and toilets right beside the sand. It is one of the swimming sites in Northland Regional Council’s recreational water quality programme, and the council reports results through Safeswim and LAWA.
The site holds a Good long-term grade on LAWA, and every one of its routine tests in recent summers has been suitable for swimming. With a short coastal walkway at one end and a boat ramp at the other, it is an easy stop on the drive out to Whangārei Heads.
Swimming Facts
Before you swim: Tested monthly all year by Northland Regional Council. Stay out for 48 hours after heavy rain. Latest result on LAWA
Today at Tamaterau Bay
Tuesday 10 NovemberWater quality track record
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 (63 per 100 mL from 55 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- Te Whenua Tāpui o Tamaterau (Tamaterau Reserve), 650 Whangārei Heads Road, Tamaterau
- Distance from Whangārei
- About 10 km from the city centre in a straight line; further by road via Onerahi and Whangārei Heads Road
- Water
- Sheltered harbour beach, tidal (nearest tide station: Whangārei)
- Water quality
- Good (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Testing
- Monthly through the year by Northland Regional Council, with results on Safeswim and LAWA
- Patrols
- None: the district’s patrolled surf beaches are elsewhere
- Facilities nearby
- Car park and public toilets beside the beach, shaded reserve, coastal walkway and a boat ramp at the end of Scott Road
About Tamaterau Bay
Tamaterau is one of a string of small bays along Whangārei Heads Road, on the way from Onerahi to the harbour entrance. The road runs right past the beach, and the reserve between the road and the sand is shaded by mature pōhutukawa.
The reserve has a long Māori history. Whangārei District Council records about 700 to 800 years of cultural history at the site, and the council describes intense coastal settlement there, with a large kāinga (village) and tauranga waka (canoe moorage) until the mid-1800s.
Ngāti Tū, Te Kahu o Torongare, Te Parawhau and Te Tāwera o Ngāti Pūkenga have connections to the reserve, and a midden on the foreshore is now protected.
The reserve became Tamaterau Domain in 1928 and was classified as a recreation reserve in 1953. In 1980 it was renamed Devonshire Park to honour Charlie Devonshire, a local teacher who helped restore the reserve’s ecology.
After consultation with local hapū and the community, the original name was restored as Te Whenua Tāpui o Tamaterau, and the reserve was blessed at dawn in November 2024.
That blessing marked the end of a four-year project, which began as a car park upgrade funded by the Tourism Infrastructure Fund.
Alongside new parking and bollards, it added carved pou, new signs about the site’s history, a bus shelter with artwork by Parua Bay School students, a stream clean-up and care for the old trees. A plaque to Mr Devonshire now sits beside a bench seat near Tamaterau Hall.
Swimming and Water Quality at Tamaterau Bay
Northland Regional Council samples the water at Tamaterau Bay on Whangārei Heads Road every month of the year and publishes the results on LAWA and Safeswim.
The site has a Good LAWA long-term grade, based on 55 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25, and all 55 of those tests, taken between December 2020 and March 2025, were suitable for swimming.
A Good grade means the water has rarely been found unsuitable, but it is a long-term record rather than a guarantee for the day you visit. In its Safeswim programme, Northland Regional Council lists the bay as a “permanent green” site because of its consistent record.
Check Safeswim or LAWA before you swim. As a rule, stay out of the water for at least 48 hours after heavy rain; Northland Regional Council suggests waiting two to three days after heavy rainfall, when runoff can carry bacteria into the harbour.
Health authorities have also issued short-term warnings for Whangārei Harbour after sewage overflows in the past, so look for any current alert before getting in.
This is a sheltered harbour beach rather than a surf beach, and there are no lifeguard patrols. Boats launch from the ramp at the end of Scott Road, at the far end of the walkway, so keep an eye out for boat traffic and swim close to shore. Supervise children closely. If you plan to gather shellfish, check the Ministry for Primary Industries shellfish biotoxin alerts first.
Getting There and Walks Nearby
From Whangārei, head out along Riverside Drive and Onerahi Road, then follow Whangārei Heads Road east along the harbour. The reserve and car park are at 650 Whangārei Heads Road, beside the beach.
The Tamaterau Coastal Walkway starts behind the reserve sign at the car park and follows the coast under mature pōhutukawa to the boat ramp at the end of Scott Road. It is about 500 metres long, takes around 15 minutes one way and is rated easy, though there is a short climb leaving the car park.
Dogs are allowed on the walkway on a leash. Further along Whangārei Heads Road are the walks of Bream Head Scenic Reserve and the harbour beaches closer to the Heads.
Where to Learn More
LAWA and Northland Regional Council: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result and the long-term grade for Tamaterau Bay at Whangārei Heads Road.
Northland Regional Council: how Safeswim works in Northland, how sites are monitored and when to avoid swimming after rain.
Whangārei District Council: the Tamaterau Coastal Walkway, with parking, toilets and dog rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Tamaterau Bay?
Yes. Tamaterau Bay is one of Northland Regional Council’s monitored swimming sites, with results on Safeswim and LAWA. There are no lifeguards, so check the latest result and take care around boats.
What is the water quality like at Tamaterau Bay?
The site has a Good LAWA long-term grade, based on 55 routine tests over summers 2020/21 to 2024/25. All of those tests, taken between December 2020 and March 2025, were suitable for swimming.
Who tests the water at Tamaterau?
Northland Regional Council samples the bay monthly through the year and reports results on LAWA and its Safeswim service.
Should I swim after rain?
No. Stay out for at least 48 hours after heavy rain. Northland Regional Council suggests waiting two to three days, as runoff can carry bacteria into the harbour.
Are there toilets and parking at Tamaterau Bay?
Yes. There is a council car park beside the beach at the reserve on Whangārei Heads Road, with public toilets close by.
What is the history of Tamaterau Reserve?
The site was a large Māori village and canoe moorage until the mid-1800s. The reserve was known as Devonshire Park from 1980 and now carries its restored name, Te Whenua Tāpui o Tamaterau.
Is there a walk at Tamaterau?
Yes. The Tamaterau Coastal Walkway runs about 500 metres from the reserve car park to the Scott Road boat ramp, taking around 15 minutes one way. Dogs are allowed on a leash.
How far is Tamaterau Bay from Whangārei?
It is about 10 kilometres from central Whangārei in a straight line; by road you follow Whangārei Heads Road past Onerahi.
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Sources and data notes 2
- Today at Tamaterau Bay: Tides: LINZ, CC BY 4.0; predictions only. Sea temperature: NASA JPL MUR satellite data for 8 Nov, via Tideteller.
- Water quality track record: Water quality: © LAWA and partner organisations (Northland Regional Council), licensed under CC BY 4.0, results to April 2025.