Most Hawkes’ Bay beaches are quite dangerous for kids due to the undercurrent but beaches both north and south of Napier sometimes have a lagoon at a river mouth which can be safer for family swimming. This is the case at Ocean Beach although kids will still need to be actively supervised even in the lagoon, as parts of it are deep.

A section of Ocean Beach is patrolled by surf life guards from mid November to early March on weekends only. This is an exposed surf beach so keep yourself and your family safe by only swimming between the flags when the guards are there.

The beach itself is wide and there are great opportunities for long walks, collecting shells and digging in the sand. There are no shops at this beach so take all your provisions with you.