Our environment
Waikawa Beach is a unique and special environment, unlike other beach communities in the region. To the south, the beach communities of Raumati, Paraparaumu and Waikanae have merged over time, having developed when council restrictions over the dunes and foreshore were less stringent and protective of the natural environment. This has resulted in the loss of natural habitat and breeding grounds for the local and migratory wildlife, resulting in reduced diversity in the area. The growth and development of Waikawa Beach has been much slower and, due to being in a different jurisdiction and with changing legislation, has been protected from ‘rushed’ development. This has resulted in a longer stretch of coastal and mobile dunes with large areas of esplanade reserve and recreational reserve land.​
Waikawa Beach is a small community with three distinct areas of development
To the east, before arrival at the ‘beach’, Waikawa Heights is a relatively new area of housing surrounded by farmland. The ‘original’ village at the end of Waikawa Beach Road is bounded by farmland to the north and east and by the Waikawa Stream to the west. To the south, the most recent development of Strathnaver Drive, Reay Mackay Grove and environs.
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The ‘village’ has it’s own unique characteristics, being situated on the banks of the Waikawa Stream which flows to the sea via an expansive estuary. This is home to an abundance of native and migrating birdlife, with nests located both on the beach and in the dunes.
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Early morning mid winter Waikawa Beach
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The awa was, and continues to have, a wealth of cultural history as a source of kai moana including eel, flounder and whitebait. Across a foot bridge to the north is a large area of wetland where a huge variety of native plant species can be found, both welcome and invasive. Much of this area is held privately, and also contains a forest of mature wilding pines and macrocarpa trees. This unique combination of wetland, river, estuary, dunes and a relatively high water table has resulted in a natural environment which is richly diverse and, with careful management, will only get better.
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Original Waikawa Beach baches on Drake Street, viewed from the Macarocarpa forest​
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The night sky
Our night sky has low light pollution and is an ideal location for stargazers and experiencing events such as the Aurora Australis.
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Clear night sky at from Waikawa Beach
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