Matauri Bay

Matauri Bay holds best on a clean E swell with a W wind, when the Cavalli Islands stop being an obstruction and become a postcard backdrop. On those days the wave is a forgiving, soft beach break with multiple peaks running across the sand, a classic longboard or mid-length setup that suits all levels. The catch is the islands themselves: they sit between the bay and the open Pacific and largely block the most common Northland swell direction, a NE groundswell, so on NE-dominant days the bay can sit flat while spots either side are firing. Treat Matauri as a holiday destination with surf as a bonus, not a banker.

This is one of New Zealand's most photographed coastlines, looking out across the Cavalli Islands to the Rainbow Warrior memorial on the headland above the bay, and the view alone is worth the drive. The bay sits in the heart of Ngāti Kura's rohe, with two marae nearby supporting the local iwi. The Matauri Bay Holiday Park behind the dunes is under Māori ownership and operates the beachfront. In summer the place is busy with families, but in the off-season it can be empty enough that you will have the bay and the islands to yourself.

• Matauri rewards spending the night more than just a session, since it changes character at sunrise and sunset with the islands catching the light, so book the holiday park and paddle out at dawn into glassy water with no one around.
• When it is flat, dive instead: the Cavalli Islands offshore are a marine reserve and one of the best snorkel spots in the country, and the Rainbow Warrior wreck rests in the channel between the islands, dived by operators running half-day charters in summer.
• Pull over at the Samuel Marsden Memorial Church 400 metres before the beach, which marks where the missionary made his first landfall in New Zealand on 20 December 1814, brokering peace between the local Ngāti Uru and Ngāpuhi days before New Zealand's first Christian service in the Bay of Islands.
• Combine Matauri with the Bay of Islands for a long weekend, with Russell and Paihia 60 to 90 minutes south for the historic walks and the harbour ferry, then run the Northland east coast loop down to Mangawhai, one of NZ's great drives.

• If the forecast shows NE-dominant conditions and other Northland beaches are pumping, Matauri may still be flat, so check the cams before committing to the drive in.
• Swimmers share the lineup, especially in summer when the holiday park is full, because the same gentle waves that draw learners also draw families, so keep your board under control near the inside.
• There are rocks at both headlands, so if you are picking a peak at either end of the bay, scout your exit and entry before paddling out.
• The bay is unpatrolled, and while the holiday park has a first-aid presence there is no surf lifeguard service, so check the water and surf with company.

Getting there

Far North, about 30km north of Kerikeri via SH10 then Matauri Bay Road, which is sealed in to the beach. The scenic alternative runs about 25km from Whangaroa Harbour on Wainui Road, narrow and slow, so allow extra time. Kerikeri, 30 minutes south, is the last stop for fuel and supplies.

Parking

Holiday park parking at the beachfront. Day visitors typically use the public area at the southern end of the beach access road. Free.

Toilets & showers

Toilets and cold showers on site at Matauri Bay Holiday Park.

Shops, cafes & fuel

Small store at Matauri Bay Holiday Park for holiday essentials. Stock up in Kerikeri 30 minutes south before the drive in for fuel, supermarket supplies and full restaurants.

Accommodation

Matauri Bay Holiday Park is privately operated by the local iwi and runs the beachfront, with camping, cabins and tent sites. Kerikeri 30 minutes for motels and the wider range.

Camping

Matauri Bay Holiday Park is the legal camping option directly on the beach. Far North District Council bylaw restricts freedom camping elsewhere in the area.