Beach & bay

Waikawa Bay

The next bay north of Picton, home to Waikawa Marina and the Te Ātiawa community that moved here in 1850.

Photo: W. Bulach / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Reached on foot by the Picton–Waikawa Track (3.5 km, Easy) or by Waikawa Road. The marina is the departure point for several fishing and sailing charters.

Beach
Free
On the water
No car needed

Show on the Picton map Open in OpenStreetMap Directions

At a glance

Cost: Free
Getting there: On foot via the Picton–Waikawa Track, or by road
Facilities: Waikawa Marina
Swimming: Not stated by any source

Looking down on Waikawa Bay and its marina from the Snout track — Waikawa Bay, photographed from the Snout track above it. Sid Mosdell / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

About Waikawa Bay

Waikawa is where Te Ātiawa shifted when the Waitohi site was sold in 1850, and today it is effectively Picton's northern suburb, wrapped around a large marina. It is the far end of the Picton–Waikawa Track and the base for Compass Charters' yachts, Reel Therapy and Katabatic's fishing charters, and Waikawa Dive Centre.

Photographs

Waikawa Bay with the Snout headland reaching out into the sound — Waikawa Bay and the long ridge of The Snout / Te Ihu Moeone. Krzysztof Golik / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

A reef heron standing at the water's edge in Waikawa Bay — A reef heron at Waikawa Bay. Sid Mosdell / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Sources for this page

Location: OpenStreetMap contributors via Nominatim (Waikawa Bay; feature).

Facts on this page were checked against the sources listed on 5 Sep 2026.

Nearby

Straight-line distances from Waikawa Bay.

Looking down on Waikawa Bay and its marina from the Snout track

The Snout Track

The classic Picton walk: along the headland between the two marinas to a lookout, then on to the point.

1.5 hrs – half a dayModerateFree1 km away

Yachts and launches moored at Waikawa Marina

Picton to Waikawa Track

The easy, dog-friendly walk between Picton and the next bay.

45 min – 1.5 hrsEasyFree1 km away

A carved pou and the view over the sound from Karaka Point

Karaka Point Historic Reserve

A headland lookout beyond the Snout on the road to Whatamango Bay.

15 min – 1 hrsShort driveFree1.7 km away

Calm water and bush hills at Whatamango Bay

Whatamango Bay

A DOC campsite bay 10 km east of Picton on Port Underwood Road — about 15 minutes from the ferry.

1 hrs – half a dayDrive2.2 km away

Related

Yachts and launches moored at Waikawa Marina

Picton to Waikawa Track

The easy, dog-friendly walk between Picton and the next bay.

45 min – 1.5 hrsEasyFree

Looking down on Waikawa Bay and its marina from the Snout track

The Snout Track

The classic Picton walk: along the headland between the two marinas to a lookout, then on to the point.

1.5 hrs – half a dayModerateFree

Sunset over the water seen past the bow of a small boat

Fishing charters

Skippered fishing trips out of Picton and Waikawa, gear supplied.

Half a day – a dayShort drive