Last updated October 2026
Waipiro Bay is a remote bay on the East Coast of Tairāwhiti, about 10 km from Te Puia Springs. LAWA describes it as good for swimming, surfing, fishing and diving, and Gisborne District Council tests the water every week through the warmer months. It holds an Excellent long-term grade on LAWA. The bay is reached by an unsealed road and the beach is unpatrolled, so come prepared.
Swimming Facts
Before you swim: Tested weekly Oct–Apr by Gisborne District Council. Stay out for 48 hours after heavy rain. Latest result on LAWA
Today at Waipiro Bay
Friday 23 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 (22 per 100 mL from 115 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- Waipiro Bay, East Coast (Gisborne District), about 10 km toward the coast from Te Puia Springs
- Getting there
- Off State Highway 35; LAWA says the bay is 6 km from the highway on an unsealed road
- Water
- Sea beach, tidal (nearest tide station: Waipiro Bay)
- Water quality
- Excellent (LAWA long-term grade)
- Testing
- Weekly from October to April by Gisborne District Council
- Facilities
- Picnic area and car parking (LAWA); council toilets on McIlroy Road and Marae Road
- Camping
- The council’s seasonal camping area at Waipiro Bay is closed
- Lifeguards
- None; the beach is unpatrolled
About Waipiro Bay
Waipiro Bay is a quiet coastal settlement today, but it has a big past. Gisborne District Council’s township plan says the bay was once the largest settlement on the East Coast, with up to ten thousand people living there at its peak. It sat on the main route north, with a maternity hospital, a general store, two hotels and a picture theatre, and goods and passengers were taken out through the surf on lighters to waiting ships.
The name Waipiro means “putrid water”, which the township plan links to the area’s sulphur springs. Iritekura Marae is one of the marae in the bay. There are no shops, so bring what you need; Te Puia Springs, about a 10 minute drive away, has a general store with fuel and food.
Swimming and Water Quality at Waipiro Bay
Gisborne District Council tests the water at Waipiro Bay every week from October to April and shares the results on LAWA. The bay has an Excellent LAWA long-term grade: 99% of 140 tests between 2019 and 2025 were suitable for swimming.
An Excellent grade means the water is rarely unsuitable for swimming, but it is a long-term record, not a promise for any particular 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 council advises waiting two to three days after heavy or prolonged rain, keeping clear of lagoons, estuaries and stormwater outlets, and skipping a swim if you can’t see your toes when standing calf-deep.
Waipiro Bay is an open, unpatrolled beach far from help. LAWA’s advice is to watch out for yourself and others, never swim or surf alone, and if in doubt, stay out. Be aware of rips, strong currents and sudden drop-offs, and keep children within arm’s reach.
Surfing, Fishing and Diving
The bay is known for its waves. Gisborne District Council’s surf break report notes that East Coast breaks are ridden by locals from settlements such as Tolaga, Tokomaru and Waipiro Bays, and surfers it surveyed rated the Creek and Frog Rock breaks at Waipiro Bay highly, describing them as fast, hollow waves for advanced and expert surfers. They are not learner waves.
LAWA also lists snorkelling, kayaking and fishing here. If you fish, dive or gather kaimoana, check the Ministry for Primary Industries rules for the area first.
Getting There and Facilities
Waipiro Bay is reached from State Highway 35, north of Gisborne. LAWA says the bay is 6 km from the highway on an unsealed road, and Tairāwhiti Gisborne puts it about a 10 minute drive from Te Puia Springs. Drive to the conditions on the gravel.
Gisborne District Council lists public toilets at Waipiro Bay on McIlroy Road and Marae Road; coastal toilets may only be fully serviced over the summer season. The council’s seasonal camping area at Waipiro Bay is closed, so check its summer camping page for other sites nearby.
Where to Learn More
LAWA and Gisborne District Council: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result and the long-term water quality grade for Waipiro Bay.
Gisborne District Council: Can I swim here?: how the council tests popular swimming spots, with its advice on swimming after rain.
Tairāwhiti Gisborne: Te Puia Springs and Waipiro Bay: the regional visitor guide to the bay and nearby Te Puia Springs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Waipiro Bay?
Yes. LAWA describes the bay as good for swimming, and Gisborne District Council tests the water weekly from October to April. Check the latest result on LAWA before you swim, and stay out for at least 48 hours after heavy rain.
What is the water quality like?
Waipiro Bay has an Excellent LAWA long-term grade. Of 140 tests between 2019 and 2025, 99% were suitable for swimming.
Is the beach patrolled?
No. It is a remote, unpatrolled beach, so never swim or surf alone, and stay out if in doubt.
How do you get to Waipiro Bay?
Turn off State Highway 35 north of Gisborne. LAWA says the bay is 6 km from the highway on an unsealed road, about a 10 minute drive from Te Puia Springs.
Can you camp at Waipiro Bay?
Not at the council’s seasonal camping area, which is closed. Check Gisborne District Council’s summer camping page for alternatives.
Can you surf at Waipiro Bay?
Yes, but the best-known breaks, the Creek and Frog Rock, are described in the council’s surf break report as waves for advanced and expert surfers.
Are there toilets and shops?
The council lists public toilets on McIlroy Road and Marae Road. There are no shops in the bay; Te Puia Springs has a general store with fuel and food.
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