The Bay

Frequent visitors to the beaches of Bream Bay wear knowing smiles – how lucky they are to call this their place? Where else can walkers, swimmers, runners and thinkers enjoy vacant stretches of beach almost year-round?

The 22km beach is broken into sections by the mouths of the Waipu and Ruakaka rivers. With waterproof shoes it’s possible to walk long lengths of the beach at low tide; however, when the beach just keeps on going, it’s easy to end up further than intended; best to arrange a car at a dropoff point to avoid a long (and potentially wet) walk home. It’s not only humans who explore this big blue backyard. Pods of dolphins are often seen playing in the surf, seals occasionally pop up (though give any sunbathing mammals a wide berth) and groups of orcas cruise past.