Whangapoua Beach facts for kids
Whangapoua Beach is a beautiful spot on the eastern side of Great Barrier Island. This island is located in New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf. The beach stretches from north to south. From the beach, you can see Rakitu Island. A stream called Whangapoua Creek flows into the sea here. It comes from large wetlands nearby.
Contents
Camping at Whangapoua
You can find a special camping ground here. It is run by the Department of Conservation. The campsite is on the south side of the creek's mouth. It is also next to Okiwi Airfield. Staff are usually there from Christmas Day to Auckland Anniversary Day. Please remember that dogs are not allowed at the campsite. Also, there are no bins for rubbish or recycling. You need to take your waste with you. You can reach the northern part of the beach from Mabey Road.
Surfing at the Beach
Whangapoua Beach is a great place for surfing. There is a "bar break" where the creek meets the sea. This creates good waves. You can also find "beach breaks" all along the shore. To get to the bar break, you can walk across the flat areas near the camping ground.
Exploring Nearby Areas
The closest small town is Okiwi. It is to the west of the beach. The Harataonga Coastal Walkway starts nearby. It is about one kilometre south-east of the airfield. This walking track goes south-east through native forest. It takes about 4 to 5 hours to walk to Harataonga Bay.
History of Whangapoua
The Ngātiwai people have lived in this area for a very long time. They are the traditional guardians of this land.
The SS Wairarapa Shipwreck
A famous event happened here in the past. The ship called the SS Wairarapa crashed on 24 October 1894. It ran aground at a place called Miners Head. Many people survived the shipwreck. The local Ngātiwai people helped and cared for them. Sadly, many people also drowned. They were buried at a special grave site. This site is at Tapuwai Point, at the northern end of Whangapoua Beach. You can visit these graves by walking the Wairairapa Graves Walkway.
