Waitārere Beach Fishing: Surfcasting and Kontiki in Horowhenua

Last updated October 2026

Waitārere Beach is a wide, sandy surf beach on the Horowhenua coast, about 14 km north-west of Levin, where the sand slopes gently out into deep water. Horowhenua District Council lists kahawai, snapper, groper, gurnard, flounder and sole as the most common catches.

Anglers surfcast from the sand, and on calm nights many launch kontiki longlines a kilometre or more out to sea. The local fishing club runs a surfcasting kahawai competition here every year. The beach is a public road with cars on the sand, and toheroa are fully protected, so read the rules before you go.

Waitārere Beach at a Glance

Location

Beach end of Waitārere Beach Road, Waitārere Beach, about 14 km north-west of Levin

Water

South Taranaki Bight (sea)

Main species

Kahawai, snapper, gurnard, flounder and sole; elephant fish, red cod and small sharks on kontiki lines

Methods

Surfcasting and kontiki longlines launched from the beach

Getting there

Waitārere Beach Road to the car park at the surf club

Toilets

Waitārere Beach Surf Life Saving community facility

Vehicles

The beach is a road: WOF, registration and road rules apply

Tide port

Waitārere Beach (LINZ secondary port, about 20 minutes earlier than Port Taranaki; approximate)

Rules

MPI Central; no set netting within 4 nautical miles; toheroa protected; no licence needed

Cost

Free

What to Expect

Waitārere Beach is a small coastal settlement on the South Taranaki Bight, about 10 minutes’ drive from Levin and 17 km south-west of Foxton. The main way onto the beach is the Waitārere Esplanade Reserve at the end of Waitārere Beach Road, home to the surf club.

The council describes the beach as wide and sandy, slowly dropping off into deep water, and lists fishing alongside surfing, land yachting and beach riding as its main activities.

The dunes here are covered in native pīngao and spinifex and are much lower than the marram dunes found elsewhere on this coast.

About 1.25 km south of the main access lie the remains of the Hydrabad, an iron sailing ship built in Scotland in 1865 that foundered in a gale on 24 June 1878 on a voyage from Lyttelton to Adelaide. The wreck is now almost completely buried in sand.

Fishing is part of beach life. The Waitārere Beach Family Fishing Club runs an annual surfcasting kahawai competition and a fish-of-the-month competition. Volunteer Beach Wardens, warranted by the council and working the beach since 2002, watch vehicle speeds, help tow out stuck vehicles and remind people about driving, kontiki and beach etiquette.

How to Fish Waitārere Beach

Surfcasting

Most surfcasters fish from the sand near the main access or walk along the beach in either direction to find a quieter stretch away from the patrolled swimming area. Kahawai are the main surfcasting target: at one club competition the heaviest kahawai, 2.66 kg, was taken on half a pilchard soon after first light.

Kahawai do not always come in close, though. At the January 2021 competition, gusty winds and big surf made casting hard, and none of the 145 rods caught a kahawai all day. Calm mornings with a small swell give you the best chance.

Kontiki

Kontiki longlines are popular here, and a local account says kontiki fishers use the long stretch of beach between Hokio and the Manawatū River.

One angler’s report describes two night sets: the first, about 1,200 m out from 10pm, came back with four good snapper and plenty of small sharks, and the second, about 1,500 m out from 11.30pm, came back with nine snapper and a carpet shark.

On busy days the beach gets crowded with kontiki, so give other fishers’ lines room, keep well clear of swimmers and surfers, and follow MPI’s longline rules.

What to catch and what to use

• Kahawai: surfcast pilchard or other fresh bait into the surf, or cast a metal lure when they are feeding close in.
• Snapper and gurnard: mostly on kontiki lines set well out, and sometimes on surfcast baits fished on the bottom.
• Flounder and sole: on small baits fished on the sand.
• Others: local kontiki fishers also report elephant fish, red cod, trevally, stingrays and small sharks.

What to bring

A long surfcasting rod, a sand spike, bait, a headlamp for early or night sessions, and warm clothes, because it can get wild here when the wind gets up. If you use a kontiki, check your gear meets the current longline rules before you set.

Getting There and Facilities

• Road: Waitārere Beach is about 10 minutes’ drive from Levin. Follow Waitārere Beach Road to the car park at the beach end.
• Parking, toilets and changing rooms: at the Waitārere Beach Surf Life Saving community facility. The council lists the reserve as accessible. There is also a spot to launch boats.
• Lifeguards: the surf club patrols the beach in summer. Fish well away from the flags.
• Vehicles: the beach is legally a road, so a current WOF, registration and road rules apply, including speed limits. Watch for people, horses and children on the sand.
• Dogs and horses: dogs may be off the leash on the beach outside the patrolled swimming areas. Horses are allowed on the beach but must keep off the dunes.
• Freedom camping: allowed at the Esplanade Reserve, for up to two nights and four vehicles at a time.
• Tackle: no tackle shop is confirmed in Levin. The nearest Hunting & Fishing stores are in Ōtaki and on Grey Street in Palmerston North.

Rules and Safety

• Sea fishing here follows MPI’s Central area rules. Check the current limits on the MPI website or the NZ Fishing Rules app before you go. No licence is needed for sea fishing.
• Set netting is banned out to 4 nautical miles offshore from Hāwera south to the Wellington Harbour entrance, to protect Hector’s and Māui dolphins. Drift netting is banned in all New Zealand waters.
• Toheroa are a prohibited species: do not take or disturb them. The fine can be up to $20,000. MPI’s sand test tells them apart from tuatua: a tuatua stands up on its flat base, a toheroa falls over.
• No marine reserve, mātaitai or temporary closure is listed at Waitārere. The nearest marine reserve is Kāpiti. Check the NZ Fishing Rules app for any new closures.
• Horizons Regional Council says the water is generally safe for swimming in summer. Check LAWA after heavy rain before gathering shellfish or going in the water.
• Strong winds and big surf make this an exposed coast. Watch for vehicles on the sand, especially at night and on busy days.

Helpful Resources

Common Questions

What can you catch at Waitārere Beach?
The council lists kahawai, snapper, groper, gurnard, flounder and sole as the most common catches. Kontiki fishers also report elephant fish, red cod, trevally and small sharks.

Can you use a kontiki at Waitārere Beach?
Yes. Kontiki fishing is popular here, often at night. Follow MPI’s longline rules, give other fishers room and keep clear of swimmers.

Where do you fish at Waitārere Beach?
Most anglers start near the main access at the end of Waitārere Beach Road and walk along the sand to find a quiet stretch away from the flags.

Can I drive on Waitārere Beach?
Yes. The beach is legally a road, so your vehicle needs a current WOF and registration, and road rules and speed limits apply.

Can I take toheroa at Waitārere Beach?
No. Toheroa are fully protected. Do not take or disturb them, and use MPI’s sand test to tell them apart from tuatua.

Can I set net at Waitārere Beach?
No. Set netting is banned out to 4 nautical miles along this coast to protect Hector’s and Māui dolphins.

Do I need a fishing licence?
No. You do not need a licence for sea fishing in New Zealand, but MPI’s Central area rules apply.

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