Anchor Bay at Tawharanui beach

Tawharanui Peninsula, Auckland

Is your beach dirty? Be the solution to pollution! Pick up litter at the beach. Nature thanks you!

awharanui Beach (Anchor Bay) is a great destination for a day out.

Take a picnic, or book in and stay overnight at the camping ground.

The beach can get good surf, but be aware that the waves may dump during outgoing tides. Rip currents are common along the beach, particularly adjacent to the rocks.

The beach is not patrolled by surf lifeguards, so stay within your limits; if in doubt stay out.

If you're planning on taking paddle craft out, make sure you check the conditions first, especially the wind as it may be stronger than it first seems. Inflatables are not recommended during offshore winds.

Visit www.adventuresmart.org.nz for more information.

Long-term monitoring by Auckland Council at Anchor Bay has consistently identified good water quality. However, please exercise caution following heavy rain in this area.

Get directions to this beach

COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is still essential. Only go to the beach if you are able to keep 6 feet or 2 meters away from others. Follow the instructions provided by your local health authorities. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter our efforts to curb the virus’s spread.

Water Quality

No data available
Current Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on November 1st, 2016. The Swim Guide - New Zealand updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on November 1st, 2016 at 9:19 AM.

For water quality icon legend, click:

Report Pollution

Monitoring Frequency

Source Information

Beaches in Auckland are monitored by Safeswim, a program which emerged out of a partnership between Auckland Council, Surf Life Saving Northern Region, and Auckland Regional Public Health Service. Safeswim forecasts water quality and real-time public health alerts and safety risks at 84 beaches and 8 freshwater locations around Auckland.

Safeswim uses predictive modelling to provide the public with real-time water quality and safety information. Predictive modelling allows Safeswim to forecast recreational water quality so that bathers and other recreational water users have better access to the current and future status of their beaches. This allows recreational water users to make better, more informed decisions about when and where to get in the water. Water quality predictions are made using statistical modelling. Models include historical and current water quality test results, as well as other environmental factors such as wind, rain, tides, and sewage events like CSOs. Safeswim’s models are updated every 10 minutes, and display results using 3 risk categories:

People are exposed to very low risk of infection from contact with the water. The beach’s water quality doesn’t present an immediate health risk to those in direct contact with it.

People are exposed to a low to moderate risk of infection from contact with the water. This is the minimum acceptable state. The beach’s water quality still meets an acceptable standard for swimming.

People are exposed to a moderate to high risk of infection from contact with the water. The beach’s water quality is considered unsuitable for swimming.

Swim Guide interprets these categories in our pass/fail system as:

Very low risk and low to moderate risk categories receive a GREEN/PASS in Swim Guide.

Moderate to high risk categories receive a RED/FAIL in Swim Guide.

The predictive models use New Zealand’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of the Environment’s Microbiological Water Quality Guidelines for Recreational Water. The Guidelines are:

Marine water : Single sample value > 140 Enterococcus / 100 ml
Freshwater : Single sample value > 260 E.coli / 100 ml

Water Quality Graph