Whangapoua Beach: A Local’s Guide to the Gateway to New Chums

Heading to Whangapoua for a beach trip? We have got you covered with everything you need to know before you go.

The Coromandel is an amazing spot to enjoy some quality beach time. Some spots are far more popular then others and can become a bit over crowded. Whangapoua is still fairly quiet despite having the popular New Chums Beach near by.

Spending most of my summer in The Coromandel, Whangapoua has become high on my list of the best beaches in the area.

This blog contains all my favourite things to do, places to stay, where to get food, as well as other important bits of information to know before you head to this amazing spot.

How to get to Whangapoua Beach

Whangapoua is located around 30 minute drive east of Coromandel. It is easily accessible with a two way sealed road from State Highway 25 to the town and beach.

The turn off for Whangapoua is in Te Rerenga. It is pretty hard to miss, as there is good signage and the Whangapoua Holiday Park is located right on the corner.

Once you have turned down this road you will follow it for abut 5 minutes all the way to the beach.

Things to do in Whangapoua Beach

Whangapoua doesn’t have a huge selection of things to do, like some of the other nearby towns. However what it might lack in activities, it certainly makes up for in its natural beauty.

Visit New Chums Beach

New Chums Beach is probably one of the most well known beaches in The Coromandel. This stunning beach has been voted one of the the world’s top 10 beaches in recent years.

New Chums is only accessible by walking over from Whangapoua and is a great spot to spend a sunny day. The beach is well know for its long stretch of soft white sand as well as having crystal clear blue water.

I always make sure to visit New Chums Beach at least once, every time I am near Whangapoua. Having to walk here stops the huge crowds from coming over, and if you walk a bit further up the beach you are almost guaranteed to have no one around you.

To get to New Chums beach, you will need to head to the small car park at the end of Whangapoua Beach and park up. From here walk down to the beach and cross the stream, heading towards the rocks at the end of the beach. Walk over the rocks out towards the point until you find a track. This track then leads you the rest of the way to New Chums beach.

The walk will take you no more than 30 minutes and is not difficult, but take caution when walking over the rocks, as they can get slippery.

Walk up to the NEw Chums Lookout

It is amazing to spend the day on New Chums Beach, however you can’t miss out on the spectacular views from the top of the lookout.

It is a bit of steep climb but the track to the top isn’t long. The walk up here is unofficial, so it may not be well maintained in areas.

The views from the top are unforgettable and there is a great photo spot sitting on the rock and looking out towards the beach.

To get to the lookout you will need to follow the same instructions to get to New Chums Beach. About half way along the track after the rocks, you will see the unofficial track heading up the point.

Make sure to keep and eye out for it as it is not marked and could be easily missed. If you get to the beach, you have gone too far so head back the same way and you should find it.

Enjoy Whangapoua Beach

Of course the ultimate way to enjoy Whangapoua is to just spend some time relaxing at the beach.

Whangapoua Beach is a great spot to come to escape the crowds. You will find that many of the people who come here for the day are actually heading over to New Chums Beach, so it is often more quiet than you think it will be.

I love Whangapoua Beach as it hasn’t been completely over run with people and still feels like a relaxing spot. The sand here is very soft and a bright white colour. The water is clean and clear with small waves which are great for those wanting to learn to surf.

The busiest part of the beach is by the stairs that lead up to the bathrooms and the store, so if you want to keep your distance from people then make your way a bit further down the beach.

Opera Point Walk

Opera Point walk is currently close due to damage from storms.

The Opera Point walk is an easy short walk that makes its way around the headland at the southern end of the beach.

The track follows the old tramway and takes you past the old saw mill and a cute little beach and then makes its way up to the pā at the top of the hill. From here you get stunning views down the coast towards Matarangi.

The walk takes around 15 minutes and only has a small amount of uphill walking. Dogs are welcome on this walk as long as they are on a leash at all times.

Beach Hop

Whangapoua is not a very large town and if you are staying in the area for a while, I would strongly recommend adventuring out of the area and exploring some other awesome beaches that are close by.

• Otama Beach is probably my all time favourite beaches in The Coromandel. This beach is often quiet and has amazingly clear, blue water. The left hand side of the Otama also has a great area to snorkel in, with lots of rocky areas to explore and find amazing marine life.
• Crayfish Bay is the secret beach accessible from Opito Bay. There is about a 5 minute walk to get here and not too many people know about it. The beach is quite rocky and not the best to lay on, but most people climb up onto the rock ledge where there is plenty of flat space to relax. There is also a cool rock jump here which is a fun way to enjoy spending time in the water.
• Mercury Islands is becoming more and more of a popular place to visit. You will need your own boat to get here so it does restrict a lot of people coming out for the day. Drop anchor for the day in one of the amazing bays and enjoy swimming in the bright blue water that surrounds you.
• Opito Bay is a quiet beach with plenty of space to relax and set up for a great day at the beach. The water here is very calm and clear and a great place for those not as confident in the water to enjoy. You can also enjoy the walk up to the Opito Bay Pā which is easily accessible from the far end of the beach.

Accomodation In Whangapoua

As Whangapoua is a small beach town, it is quite limited when it comes to accomodation. There are no hotels or anything like that here, so the only option is to hire a beach house or to camp.

Despite being small there is actually a good selection of homes available to rent out for a great beach holiday.

Charming Family Bach – this place is an old style kiwi bach with 70’s style decor. It has a huge lawn space for family activities and is only a short walk to the beach. There are 3 bedrooms sleeping a maximum of 7 people. Because of its older style it is one of the cheapest places in Whangapoua.

Whangapoua Gem – this is one of the most popular baches in Whangapoua. It is an easy walk to both the main beach and the harbour. With a huge garden as well as 3 bedrooms, this home comfortably fits up to 8 people. Pets are also welcome here, so you can bring them along on the holiday.

Make sure to check out all the other holiday homes on offer HERE

Camping in Whangapoua

The Whangapoua Holiday Park is a great choice for those that would prefer to camp on their holidays. There are cabins as well as sites for tents, campervans and caravans.

There is a 5 minute drive required to get to the beach, but it is still close enough that it is not a huge deal.

The park is only open for the main summer months so this does mean you are unable to camp most of the year. However, if you are there during the right months then the Whangapoua Holiday Park is perfect.

Freedom Camping

There is a freedom camping spot right by the bathrooms and general store. This is for fully self contained vehicles only with a maximum stay of two nights. If you want to freedom camp please make sure to follow New Zealand’s freedom camping rules and regulations.

Facilities in Whangapoua Beach

Whangapoua is quite a small beach town compared to many of the others in The Coromandel. This means there isn’t much in terms of shops and other facilities in the area. It does have most of the basics though, so there always are some options.

Food Options

The only place to get food in Whangapoua is the local store. They have a good selection of everyday foods and other items that you might need. There is also a small selection of cabinet food which is great for a quick meal while you enjoy the beach.

There are no restaurants or cafes located in Whangapoua. If you are wanting something more than the local store there are a few options that are only a short drive away.

Matarangi is the closest option. Here you will find a Four Square supermarket, Piper’s Cafe as well as a liquor shop.

Kuaotunu is also not too far away and have Lukes Kitchen, Kua Kawhe and the local store which is the best place to get ice-cream in the Coromandel. Luke’s Kitchen is always very popular and is one of my go to spots when I am in the area.

If you need something in particular or want more options, then you will need to head over to Whitianga. Here, you will find almost anything you could need.

Bathrooms

Whangapoua has easy access to bathrooms at the main spots along the beach.

The best toilets are located half way up the beach next to the store and the play ground. These have been recently upgraded, so are very nice to use, unlike some other beach toilets. These are the bathrooms for freedom campers to use as well.

For those walking over to New Chums, there is a toilet right by the carpark to use before you start the walk.

There is also a toilet near the boat ramp just before you come in to Whangapoua.

Wrap up – Whangapoua Beach

Whangapoua is an amazing beach with some epic things to do and places to stay. With the added bonus of access to New Chums Beach, a visit to Whangapoua is an absolute must.

Whether you want to go on a walk to explore, catch some waves or just relax in the sun, Whangapoua really does have it all. I know you will love Whangapoua just as much as I do.