Last updated October 2026
Waverley Beach is a black sand beach on the South Taranaki coast, about 9 kilometres from Waverley township and roughly 37 kilometres north-west of central Whanganui in a straight line.
Venture Taranaki describes it as a popular swimming beach over the summer months, an easy two-minute stroll from the car park, and it is known for its rock stacks and caves.
A South Taranaki District Council campground sits just behind the beach, and there is a boat ramp beside the water testing point. Taranaki Regional Council tests the water every week over summer, and the beach holds a Fair long-term grade on LAWA, so the water is usually fine but is best avoided after rain.
Practical Information
- Location
- Waverley Beach, South Taranaki, about 9 km from Waverley township; campground on Coleman Avenue
- Distance from Whanganui
- About 37 km north-west of the city centre in a straight line, via State Highway 3 and Waverley
- Water
- Open sea beach on the South Taranaki coast, tidal (nearest tide station: Pātea)
- Water quality
- Fair (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Testing
- Weekly from November to March by Taranaki Regional Council, next to the boat ramp
- Camping
- South Taranaki District Council campground, 28 powered sites, no bookings, no dogs
- Facilities nearby
- Toilets, hot shower, kitchen, playground and barbecue at the campground (kitchen and toilets for paying campers)
Swimming Facts
Today at Waverley Beach
Sunday 15 NovemberWater quality track record
Stay out of the water for 48 hours after heavy rain.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 2021/22 to 2025/26, with at least 50 tests (147 per 100 mL from 108 tests).
About Waverley Beach
Waverley Beach lies on the South Taranaki coast, a quick detour off State Highway 3 from the town of Waverley. South Taranaki District Council describes it as renowned for its rock stacks and caves, with fishing and offshore reef diving that it describes as some of the best in New Zealand.
Venture Taranaki adds that walkways along the beach give views of the sea and coastline, and that the sand is black.
The beach is about 9 kilometres from Waverley township, which sits on State Highway 3 between Whanganui and Pātea. Te Wairoa-iti Marae and its meeting house, Maruata, are a meeting place for Ngāti Tai, a hapū of Ngā Rauru Kītahi.
The land around Waverley has an industrial past. The Waipipi onshore ironsand mine operated near the town from 1971 to 1987 and produced 15.7 million tonnes of concentrate for export.
LAWA notes that the beach can be quite popular during the summer months, particularly with visitors staying in the nearby settlement and campground. Swimming, fishing, diving and beach walks are the main draws, and the boat ramp sits beside the spot where the regional council takes its water samples.
Swimming and Water Quality at Waverley Beach
Taranaki Regional Council samples the water next to the boat ramp at Waverley Beach every week from November to March and shares the results on LAWA. The beach has a Fair LAWA long-term grade, based on 83 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25.
Across 84 tests between November 2021 and March 2025, 93% were suitable for swimming. A Fair grade means the water is usually fine for swimming but is more likely to be affected after rain, when runoff reaches the coast.
Check the latest result on LAWA before you swim, and stay out of the water for at least 48 hours after heavy rain.
Taranaki Regional Council goes further and advises against swimming for at least three days after heavy or prolonged rainfall, even at sites that usually have good water quality, and to avoid the water if it looks murky or has an unpleasant smell.
This is an open sea beach on an exposed coast. Swim with someone else, stay within your depth and keep away from the boat ramp when boats are launching or coming in.
If you explore the rock stacks and caves, check the tide first, keep clear of the base of the cliffs and do not get cut off by an incoming tide.
Getting There and the Campground
From Whanganui, drive north-west on State Highway 3 to Waverley, then follow the road to the coast, about 9 kilometres from the township. From the car park it is an easy two-minute walk to the sand.
The Waverley Campground on Coleman Avenue is run by South Taranaki District Council and is less than a five-minute walk from the beach along an unsealed path. It has 28 unmarked powered sites, a hot shower, toilets, a kitchen with two ovens (no fridge), a playground and a barbecue that campers can use free.
Sites cannot be booked, fees are paid on an honesty system, and the entry code for the kitchen and toilets is given on payment. The maximum stay is 50 days, a custodian oversees the area over summer, and dogs are not permitted at the campground.
From locals
How long is the walk from the car park to the beach at Waverley?
Is there any shade on the beach in the afternoon, or do you need to bring your own?
No answers yet. If you know, a local would love to hear it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Waverley Beach?
Yes. Venture Taranaki describes Waverley Beach as a popular swimming beach over summer. Check LAWA before you swim, stay out for at least 48 hours after heavy rain (the regional council suggests three days), and avoid the water if it looks murky or smells.
What is the water quality like at Waverley Beach?
Waverley Beach has a Fair LAWA long-term grade for summers 2020/21 to 2024/25. Of 84 tests between November 2021 and March 2025, 93% were suitable for swimming, so it is usually fine but best avoided after rain.
When is the water at Waverley Beach tested?
Taranaki Regional Council samples the water next to the boat ramp every week from November to March and shares the results on LAWA.
How far is Waverley Beach from Whanganui?
The beach is about 37 kilometres north-west of central Whanganui in a straight line. Drive to Waverley on State Highway 3, then head about 9 kilometres to the coast.
What is there to do at Waverley Beach?
Besides swimming, people explore the rock stacks and caves, walk the beach, fish and dive the offshore reefs. Check the tide before exploring the caves.
Can you camp at Waverley Beach?
Yes. South Taranaki District Council runs a campground on Coleman Avenue with 28 powered sites, a hot shower, toilets, a kitchen, a playground and a barbecue. It cannot be booked, and fees are paid on an honesty system.
Are dogs allowed at Waverley Beach?
Dogs are not permitted at the Waverley Campground. Check South Taranaki District Council’s dog rules before taking a dog onto the beach.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Related links 3
- LAWA and Taranaki Regional Council: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result and long-term grade for Waverley Beach.
- Venture Taranaki: visitor listing for Waverley Beach, its rock stacks, caves and beach walkways.
- South Taranaki District Council: facilities, fees and rules for the Waverley Campground beside the beach.
Sources and data notes 2
- Today at Waverley Beach: Tides: LINZ, CC BY 4.0, times for Pātea adjusted from Port Taranaki using LINZ offsets; the curve shows the shape of the tide, not local heights; predictions only.
- Water quality track record: Water quality: © LAWA and partner organisations (Taranaki Regional Council), licensed under CC BY 4.0, results to April 2026; latest results on LAWA.