Last updated October 2026
Tolaga Bay Beach is the long sandy beach in front of the East Coast town of Tolaga Bay (Ūawa), about 45 kilometres north-east of Gisborne on State Highway 35. It runs either side of the Ūawa River mouth, from the surf club at the northern end down towards the historic wharf at the end of Wharf Road.
The Tolaga Bay Surf Life Saving Club, Uawa Tiaki Tai, patrols the beach in summer, and Gisborne District Council tests the water every week from October to April. Both council testing spots hold a Fair long-term grade on LAWA, so the water is usually fine for swimming but best avoided after rain. The river mouth has strong currents, so swim between the flags when the beach is patrolled.
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 Tolaga Bay Beach
Friday 23 OctoberWater quality track record
Fair 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 (Surf Club: 305 per 100 mL from 125 tests; End of Wharf Road: 218 per 100 mL from 125 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- Tolaga Bay township, State Highway 35, about 45 km north-east of Gisborne
- Lifeguard patrols
- Tolaga Bay Surf Life Saving Club (Uawa Tiaki Tai) in summer; check Safeswim for the current season’s days and times
- Water quality
- Fair (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2019 to 2025) at both the surf club and the end of Wharf Road
- Testing
- Gisborne District Council, weekly from October to April
- Hazards
- Strong currents at the Ūawa River mouth; stay clear of the wharf
- Facilities
- Public toilets near the surf club and at the Wharf Road end; parking at both ends
About Tolaga Bay Beach
Tolaga Bay is a wide, shallow bay on the East Coast of the North Island, and the beach along its inner shore is the town’s main place to swim.
The Ūawa River, called the Hikuwai further upstream, crosses a bar into the sea in the middle of the bay, splitting the beach into a northern stretch by the town and the surf club, and a southern stretch towards Wharf Road and the 660-metre historic wharf.
The bay has a long history. It is the home of Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, and James Cook’s Endeavour anchored here in October 1769. Pourewa Island sits in the bay, and the Cooks Cove Walkway starts off Wharf Road near the southern end of the beach.
The beach is popular with locals and holidaymakers over summer for swimming, surfing and fishing. Facilities are simple: toilets and parking near the surf club and at the Wharf Road end, with the town’s shops and services a short walk from the northern end.
Swimming and Water Quality
Gisborne District Council tests two spots on the beach every week from October to April: Tolaga Bay at the Surf Club, and Tolaga Bay at the end of Wharf Road. Both hold a Fair long-term grade on LAWA for the summers from 2019 to 2025. A Fair grade means the water is usually fine for swimming, but it is best avoided after rain.
At the surf club, 91% of 150 tests between 2019 and 2025 were suitable for swimming. At the end of Wharf Road, 93% of 176 tests were.
Check the latest result on LAWA or Safeswim before you swim, and stay out of the water for 48 hours after heavy rain, when runoff from the river and surrounding land can lift bacteria levels.
Safety at the River Mouth and Wharf
The Ūawa River mouth has strong currents, and the river is not a safe place to swim. Surf lifeguards have had to pull swimmers out of the river current there, so keep to the beach and swim between the red and yellow flags when the beach is patrolled. Outside patrol times, swim near the surf club end and stay well clear of the river mouth.
Stay away from the wharf when swimming. It has been closed from its halfway point since February 2024 because of failed piles, and the water around its structure is not a swimming area.
Where to Learn More
LAWA and Gisborne District Council: Tolaga Bay at the Surf Club: the latest swimming water quality result and the long-term grade.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand: Tolaga Bay SLSC: the club that patrols the beach, with a link to current patrol times.
Safeswim: patrol times and swimming conditions for New Zealand beaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tolaga Bay Beach patrolled?
Yes, in summer. The Tolaga Bay Surf Life Saving Club, Uawa Tiaki Tai, patrols the beach, and Safeswim lists the current season’s days and times.
What is the water quality like at Tolaga Bay?
Both council testing spots hold a Fair long-term grade on LAWA for 2019 to 2025. That means the water is usually fine for swimming but best avoided after rain. Check the latest result before you swim.
Can you swim in the Ūawa River at Tolaga Bay?
It isn’t a safe place to swim. The river mouth has strong currents, so swim on the beach between the flags instead.
When is the water tested?
Gisborne District Council tests at the surf club and at the end of Wharf Road every week from October to April.
How far is Tolaga Bay Beach from Gisborne?
About 45 kilometres north-east of Gisborne on State Highway 35.
Can you swim near Tolaga Bay Wharf?
Stay clear of the wharf when swimming. It has been closed from its halfway point since February 2024 because of failed piles.
Are there toilets at the beach?
Yes, near the surf club and at the Wharf Road end, with parking at both.
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