Last updated October 2026
Piripai Beach is part of a 50 kilometre stretch of golden sand on the western side of the Whakatāne River mouth, beside the residential suburb of Coastlands and about 68 kilometres north-east of Rotorua in a straight line. It is a long, open surf beach with car parking and public toilets at the end of Ohuirehe Road and walking tracks and a cycleway into Whakatāne nearby.
The Whakatāne i-SITE notes that the beaches at Coastlands offer great swimming and fishing. Bay of Plenty Regional Council tests the water at the Ohuirehe Road end every week over summer, and the site holds a Good LAWA long-term grade. It is a quieter alternative to Ōhope Beach on a 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 Piripai Beach
Monday 26 OctoberWater quality track record
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 (45 per 100 mL from 111 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- End of Ohuirehe Road, Piripai, west of the Whakatāne River mouth
- Distance from Rotorua
- About 68 km north-east in a straight line
- Water
- Sea beach, open surf; tidal (nearest tide station Whakatāne)
- Water quality
- Good (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Testing
- Weekly from October to March by Bay of Plenty Regional Council
- Patrols
- None listed: Surf Life Saving New Zealand does not list Piripai as a lifeguarded beach
- Dogs
- Piripai beach is a dog exercise area (off lead, under direct control); on a lead in the dunes; not allowed on Piripai Spit (Whakatāne District Council)
- Vehicles
- Driving on the beach or dunes is prohibited
- Facilities nearby
- Car parking and public toilets at the end of Ohuirehe Road
About Piripai Beach
Piripai Beach sits on the western side of the Whakatāne River mouth. LAWA describes it as part of a 50 kilometre stretch of golden sand beach near the residential suburb of Coastlands. Access is from the Ohuirehe Road end, where there is parking and a public toilet.
The dunes are an important part of the beach. Whakatāne District Council notes that coastal erosion is increasing on many of the district’s beaches, and volunteer Coast Care groups have planted tens of thousands of sand-binding plants along the coast in recent years.
The dunes are also nesting habitat for the New Zealand dotterel, which the council says is now far rarer than kiwi in the Whakatāne District. Their nests are perfectly camouflaged on the sand, so stick to the marked accessways through the dunes. Driving along the beach or dunes is prohibited under the council’s Beaches Bylaw.
Walking tracks and a cycleway link Piripai and Coastlands with Whakatāne, so you can walk or ride into town. Across the river mouth is Whakatāne Heads, where the statue of Wairaka on the rock commemorates her bravery when the first waka, the Mataatua, came ashore about 600 years ago.
The Heads has a playground and picnic spots, and you can watch the boats come and go through the harbour entrance.
People come to Piripai to swim, walk the beach and fish from the shore, and the long, open sand makes it a quieter choice than Ōhope Beach on the other side of Whakatāne.
Swimming and Water Quality at Piripai
Bay of Plenty Regional Council samples the sea at the end of Ohuirehe Road every week from October to March and sends the results to LAWA. The site has a Good LAWA long-term grade, based on 111 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25.
Of 133 tests between October 2019 and March 2025, 98% 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, when runoff can raise bacteria levels along the coast.
Piripai is an open surf beach with no surf lifeguard patrol listed by Surf Life Saving New Zealand, so take extra care. Surf Life Saving New Zealand’s advice is to know how to float, to stay out if in doubt, because waves can be bigger than they look and rip currents are hard to spot.
If you get caught in a rip, float to keep your airway clear and signal for help. If someone is in trouble, call 111 and ask for Police. For a beach with surf lifeguards, Whakatāne Surf Life Saving Club is based at Ōhope.
Getting There and Dog Rules
Piripai is on the western side of Whakatāne, in the Coastlands area. Follow the road to the end of Ohuirehe Road, where there is a car park and public toilets beside the beach access.
Small boats can be launched into the surf only at approved access points, and the launching vehicle must then leave the beach by the most direct route.
Under Whakatāne District Council’s dog control policy, Piripai beach is a dog exercise area: dogs can be off lead but must be kept under direct control, and owners must pick up after them.
All sand dunes are restricted areas, where dogs must be on a lead and use the designated paths to reach the beach. Dogs are prohibited on Piripai Spit and in all public playgrounds, and taking a dog into a prohibited area can bring an instant $300 fine.
Where to Learn More
LAWA and Bay of Plenty Regional Council: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result and the long-term grade for Piripai at Ohuirehe Road.
Whakatāne District Council: dog exercise and prohibited areas in the district, with links to the dog control maps for Coastlands.
Whakatāne District Council: Coastal Reserves and Beaches: the rules on vehicles on beaches and why the dunes and dotterel nests need protecting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Piripai Beach?
Yes. The Whakatāne i-SITE notes that the beaches at Coastlands offer great swimming, and the regional council tests the water at Ohuirehe Road weekly over summer. It is an open surf beach without listed lifeguard patrols, so check conditions and LAWA before you swim.
What is the water quality like at Piripai?
Piripai at Ohuirehe Road has a Good LAWA long-term grade, based on summers 2020/21 to 2024/25. Of 133 tests between October 2019 and March 2025, 98% were suitable for swimming.
Is Piripai Beach patrolled by lifeguards?
Surf Life Saving New Zealand does not list Piripai as a lifeguarded beach. The nearest surf life saving club is Whakatāne Surf Life Saving Club at Ōhope.
Are dogs allowed on Piripai Beach?
Yes. Piripai beach is a dog exercise area, so dogs can be off lead under direct control. They must be on a lead in the dunes and are not allowed on Piripai Spit.
Can you drive on Piripai Beach?
No. Whakatāne District Council prohibits driving along the beach or dunes, apart from launching small boats at approved access points.
Where do you park for Piripai Beach?
There is car parking and a public toilet at the end of Ohuirehe Road, beside the beach access.
How far is Piripai from Rotorua?
Piripai is about 68 kilometres north-east of Rotorua in a straight line, on the western edge of Whakatāne.
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