Last updated October 2026
Foxton Beach is a long, hard iron-sand beach 5 km west of Foxton on the Manawatū coast, beside the mouth of the Manawatū River. Horowhenua District Council lists fishing among its main draws, and the coast either side is known for kontiki fishing as well as surfcasting.
Kahawai are the usual surf catch, with snapper and gurnard mostly taken on kontiki lines set further out. The beach is patrolled in summer, there are toilets at the surf club car park, and at low tide you can drive along the sand to the river mouth.
At a Glance
- Location
- Off the Ocean Beach Road and Marine Parade roundabout, Foxton Beach
- Water
- Tasman Sea, beside the Manawatū River mouth
- Main species
- Kahawai; snapper and gurnard (mostly on kontiki); flounder
- Facilities
- Elevated car park, toilets and showers by the surf club
- Lifeguards
- Patrolled swimming area in summer
- Vehicles
- Beach is legally a road: WOF, registration and road rules apply
- Dogs
- Off leash outside the patrolled swimming area (ramp to ramp)
- Tide port
- Port Taranaki, with Manawatū River Entrance offsets
- Rules
- MPI Central; toheroa are protected
- Licence
- None needed for sea fishing
- Low about 2:51 am
- High about 8:51 am
- Low about 3:17 pm
- High about 9:08 pm
Best times today: around 2:51 am, 8:51 am, 3:17 pm and 9:08 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 10:25 am and 10:47 pm (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best.
Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
About Foxton Beach
Foxton Beach is 5 km west of Foxton and about five minutes off SH1. From above, the elevated car park beside the surf club sits on the dunes at the end of the road, overlooking a wide, flat beach with lines of surf breaking well out.
The town spreads behind the dunes, and the Manawatū River mouth and its Ramsar-listed estuary are at the northern end.
The council calls it Horowhenua’s best surfing beach, and the firm sand is popular for kite sports and blokarting. At low tide you can drive along the beach to the river mouth, a favourite spot for fishing, jet skiing and boating.
The coast from Hōkio north to the Manawatū River is a long stretch of open beach where locals set kontiki longlines on calm days. Surfcasters share it with swimmers, surfers, horse riders and vehicles, so give everyone room.
How to Fish Foxton Beach
Surfcasting
Walk or drive away from the patrolled area and look for gutters and holes in the surf. Calm mornings with a small swell give the best chance of kahawai coming in close. Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes better than slack water.
Kontiki
Kontiki longlines are popular along this coast on calm days, and they are the usual way snapper and gurnard are caught here. Check your gear meets MPI’s longline rules, and keep lines well clear of swimmers and surfers.
What to catch and what to use
- Kahawai: fresh bait such as pilchard, or a metal lure when they feed close in.
- Snapper and gurnard: mostly on kontiki lines set well out, and sometimes on surfcast baits on the bottom.
- Flounder: small baits on the sand.
- Near the mouth: mullet, kahawai and herring, and the odd sea-run trout. See our Manawatū estuary guide.
Getting There and Facilities
- Driving: turn off SH1 at Foxton and follow the road 5 km west to Foxton Beach.
- Car park: the elevated car park by the surf club, off the Ocean Beach Road and Marine Parade roundabout, has toilets and showers.
- Vehicles: the council has no beach bylaw; the beach is classed as a road, so a current WOF and registration, speed limits and road rules apply. Keep off the dunes.
- Dogs and horses: dogs may be off leash outside the patrolled swimming area. Horses are allowed on the beach but must keep off the dunes.
- Food: the Ocean Beach Eatery and the Little White Rabbit café are in Foxton Beach.
- More: for the town and the estuary walks, see our Foxton Beach guide.
Rules and Safety
- Sea fishing here follows MPI’s Central area rules. No licence is needed.
- 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.
- Toheroa are a protected species on this coast. Do not take or disturb them.
- The beach is patrolled in summer. Fish well away from the flags.
- This is an exposed coast where strong winds and big surf build quickly. Get swell and wind forecasts from MetService, and watch for vehicles on the sand.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Manawatu, 35 Grey Street, Palmerston North.
Trusted Sources
Horowhenua District Council: Foxton Beach foreshore: car park, patrols, dogs and horses.
MPI Central fishing rules: size limits, daily limits and longline rules.
MPI: tuatua or toheroa?: how to tell the protected toheroa apart.
Common Questions
Where is Foxton Beach?
5 km west of Foxton, five minutes off SH1, beside the Manawatū River mouth.
What can you catch at Foxton Beach?
Kahawai off the beach, snapper and gurnard mostly on kontiki lines, and flounder on the sand.
Can I drive on Foxton Beach?
Yes. The beach is classed as a road, so WOF, registration, speed limits and road rules apply. Keep off the dunes.
Is Foxton Beach patrolled?
Yes, in summer. Fish well away from the patrolled swimming area.
Can I take my dog?
Dogs can be off leash on the beach outside the patrolled swimming area.
Can I collect toheroa?
No. Toheroa are protected. Learn to tell them from tuatua before gathering shellfish.
Do I need a fishing licence?
No. You do not need a licence for sea fishing, but MPI’s Central area limits apply.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ), adjusted from Port Taranaki using LINZ secondary port offsets.