Waipiro Bay

Waipiro Bay is a surf beach and a 'freedom camping' site. Once it was significant for more than leisure activities. A hundred years ago, before the main road bypassed the town in the 1920's, it was the largest settlement and centre of administration for the East Coast and a place where wool was shipped out in surf boats and sheep, horses and cattle brought ashore. There is fairly consistent surf from an exposed beach and a point break at the southern end. Near to the sea is the Iritekura Marae of the Whana-a-Iritekura, a hapu of the Ngati Porou. It has a fully carved meeting house. (note: a permit is required for freedom camping)

Bright Hives Waipiro by Tony Ogle