This is a tale of two beaches…so close together, yet a world apart.
Uretiti Beach. This is the vast beach that stretches 10km from Ruakaka to the Waipu River mouth. Uretiti is well-known as the North Island’s most popular nude beach. A super-popular DOC campground anchors the middle of the beach and it divides the beach between swimsuits (to the north) and birthday suits (to the south). On weekends especially, expect to see a large variety of both Ure and titties! (see entry H7 for translation. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
Waipu Cove. This beach, on the other hand, is the down-home family-type beach. It stretches 5km from the river mouth to the south rocks, but only the south end is popular and accessible. Lots of people flock to this beach for the regular surf, sand, and sun…but have you ever heard of the “pancake rocks” tucked away around the corner? Few have. These are the North Island’s miniature answer to the South’s famed Punakaiki Rocks. To go see ’em head up the stream at the cove’s south end for 50m, splash across and find the wide track. Follow a path for 15 minutes across private lands (be both gracious and tidy). Soon the basalt yields to pancaked limestone…and just like in the South, the waves love to have a bash at it!
