Last updated October 2026
Ōhope Beach is an 11 kilometre run of white sand on the Bay of Plenty coast, stretching from the Ōhiwa Harbour entrance to West End, just east of Whakatāne and about 74 kilometres east of Rotorua in a straight line. It has been voted New Zealand’s Best and Most Loved Beach, and it looks out to Whakaari (White Island) and Moutohorā (Whale Island).
The sand slopes into the sea very gradually, so the water stays shallow a long way out, and West End is a popular spot for learning to surf.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council tests the water at two points along the beach every week over summer, and both hold a Good LAWA long-term grade. It makes a full day trip from Rotorua.
Swimming Facts
Before you swim: Tested weekly Oct–Mar by Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Stay out for 48 hours after heavy rain. Latest result on LAWA
Today at Ōhope Beach
Monday 26 OctoberWater quality track record
Good at all 2 testing spots (2019 to 2025)ShowHide
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 (Ohope Beach opposite Moana Street: 110 per 100 mL from 110 tests; Anne Street: 120 per 100 mL from 110 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- Ōhope, east of Whakatāne: testing points opposite Moana Street and at Anne Street; West End at the western end
- Distance from Rotorua
- About 74 km east in a straight line
- Water
- Sea beach, open to the Pacific Ocean; tidal (nearest tide station Port Ōhope Wharf)
- Water quality
- Good at both testing points (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Testing
- Weekly from October to March by Bay of Plenty Regional Council
- Surf lifeguards
- Whakatāne Surf Life Saving Club, based on Mair Street, Ōhope
- Dogs
- Beach fronts at West End, Pohutukawa Avenue and Ocean Road are dog exercise areas (off lead, under control); on a lead in the dunes; not allowed in playgrounds or on Ōhope Spit reserve (Whakatāne District Council)
- Facilities nearby
- Parking, toilets and showers around the surf club; playground and a shop with outdoor seating; cafés and shops a few minutes’ walk from West End
About Ōhope Beach
Ōhope Beach runs for 11 kilometres from West End east to the entrance of Ōhiwa Harbour. The whole length is easily walkable, and the Whakatāne i-SITE describes it as having abundant sunshine and warm water. It has been voted New Zealand’s Best and Most Loved Beach, and offshore you can see Whakaari (White Island) and Moutohorā (Whale Island).
Ōhiwa Harbour and its surrounds have been prized for centuries. The harbour was one of the most densely settled areas of pre-European Aotearoa, and the iwi of the area are Ngāti Awa, Whakatōhea, Upokorehe and Tūhoe. Archaeologists have identified more than 90 pā sites on the headlands and islands around the harbour, including the major Tauwhare Pā above the harbour.
The peninsula itself was settled much later. Until the late 1950s it had no houses and only a rough access track, and people came to camp. Development began after the Whakatāne Harbour Board built the Port Ōhope Wharf in 1957 and sold residential sections to pay for the port.
Today the beachside village has shops, cafés, a tavern and holiday parks, and most of the shops and restaurants are within a few minutes’ walk of West End.
The area is also rich in wildlife. Ōhope Scenic Reserve, behind the beach, is home to more than 300 wild kiwi, and Ōhiwa Harbour is an internationally important habitat for shore and wetland birds, including bar-tailed godwits.
Dolphins and orca are sometimes seen offshore. From West End, Ōtarawairere Bay, reachable only on foot or by kayak, is a 15 minute walk away.
Swimming and Water Quality at Ōhope Beach
Bay of Plenty Regional Council samples Ōhope Beach at two points every week from October to March and sends the results to LAWA.
Opposite Moana Street
The western testing point, opposite Moana Street, has a Good LAWA long-term grade, based on 110 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25. Of 132 tests between October 2019 and March 2025, 97% were suitable for swimming.
Anne Street
The testing point at Anne Street, further east, also has a Good LAWA long-term grade, based on 110 routine tests over the same summers. Of 130 tests between October 2019 and March 2025, 97% were suitable for swimming.
A Good grade means the water has rarely been found unsuitable for swimming, but it is a long-term record, not a guarantee for any given day. Check the latest result on LAWA before you swim, and stay out of the water for at least 48 hours after heavy rain.
The sand slopes very gradually at all parts of the beach, and especially at West End: at low tide you can walk hundreds of metres out before the water reaches your waist, which is why the i-SITE recommends the area for swimming with children. It is still an open surf beach.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand advises swimming between the red and yellow flags when surf lifeguards are on patrol, and staying out if in doubt: waves can be bigger than they look and rip currents are hard to spot.
Whakatāne Surf Life Saving Club is based on Mair Street at Ōhope. If someone is in trouble and there are no lifeguards, call 111 and ask for Police.
Surfing at West End
The western end of the beach, known simply as West End, is the most popular part of Ōhope and a popular place to learn to surf.
The Whakatāne i-SITE notes that the seafloor drops away gently, so the waves don’t break hard, that the corner is sheltered from the north-west wind, and that the water is often warm. Experienced surfers use it too, because there is a reliable break almost every day.
Salt Spray Surf School, set up in 2003, works from a gazebo at West End, beside the pōhutukawa-covered rocky point. It teaches surfing and stand-up paddleboarding and hires out boards and wetsuits.
In bigger conditions, experienced surfers also head to spots off Whakatāne, the Ōhiwa Harbour mouth and Matatā. Keep surfboards away from swimmers, and stay out of the flagged swimming area when lifeguards are on patrol.
Where to Learn More
LAWA and Bay of Plenty Regional Council: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” results and long-term grades for Ōhope Beach opposite Moana Street, with a link to the Anne Street site.
Whakatāne i-SITE: visitor guide to Ōhope Beach, West End, Ōhiwa Harbour and Ōtarawairere Bay.
Whakatāne i-SITE: Surfing: surf spots around Whakatāne, with notes on the West End break and surf lessons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Ōhope Beach?
Yes. Ōhope is a popular swimming beach, and the gentle slope at West End makes it popular with families. Swim between the flags when surf lifeguards are on patrol, and check LAWA for the latest water quality result.
What is the water quality like at Ōhope Beach?
Both testing points, opposite Moana Street and at Anne Street, have a Good LAWA long-term grade, based on summers 2020/21 to 2024/25. At each site 97% of tests between October 2019 and March 2025 were suitable for swimming.
Is Ōhope Beach patrolled?
Whakatāne Surf Life Saving Club, based on Mair Street at Ōhope, provides surf lifeguards. Check Surf Life Saving New Zealand for patrol days and times, and swim between the red and yellow flags.
Is West End good for learning to surf?
Yes. The seafloor drops away gently so the waves don’t break hard, and the corner is sheltered from the north-west wind. Salt Spray Surf School runs lessons and hires boards at West End.
Are dogs allowed on Ōhope Beach?
The beach fronts at West End, Pohutukawa Avenue and Ocean Road are dog exercise areas, so dogs can be off lead under direct control. Dogs must be on a lead in the dunes and are not allowed in playgrounds or on Ōhope Spit reserve.
How far is Ōhope Beach from Rotorua?
Ōhope is about 74 kilometres east of Rotorua in a straight line, just past Whakatāne, so it makes a full day trip.
What facilities are at Ōhope Beach?
There is parking around the surf club, with toilets, showers, a playground and a shop with outdoor seating nearby. Cafés and shops are a few minutes’ walk from West End.
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