Last updated October 2026
Whairepo Lagoon is a small seawater lagoon on the Wellington waterfront, between Frank Kitts Park and Te Wharewaka o Pōneke on Taranaki Street Wharf, right in central Wellington. It is linked to the harbour by a narrow channel, with a footbridge across its mouth, and it is one of the inner-harbour spots where people swim in the middle of the city. Its name comes from the Māori word for the eagle ray, and eagle rays are sometimes seen in the lagoon.
Greater Wellington Regional Council tests the water every week from November to March, and the site has a Fair long-term grade on LAWA, so the water is usually fine for a swim but should be avoided after rain.
Swimming Facts
Before you swim: Tested weekly Nov–Mar by Greater Wellington. Stay out for 48 hours after heavy rain. Latest result on LAWA
Today at Whairepo Lagoon
Wednesday 28 OctoberWater quality track record
What the grades mean
Excellent and Good: rarely unsafe for swimming. Fair: usually fine, but avoid swimming after rain. Poor: often unsuitable, especially after rain, so check the latest result first.
Grades use LAWA’s method: the 95th percentile of routine enterococci results over the five summers from 2020/21 to 2024/25, with at least 50 tests (438 per 100 mL from 72 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- Wellington waterfront, between Frank Kitts Park and Taranaki Street Wharf
- Distance from Wellington
- In central Wellington, a short walk from the CBD
- Water
- Man-made seawater lagoon connected to Wellington Harbour, tidal (nearest tide station: Wellington)
- Water quality
- Fair (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Testing
- Weekly from November to March by Greater Wellington Regional Council
- Other users
- Rowing clubs are based beside the lagoon, and waka tours run from Te Wharewaka o Pōneke
- Facilities nearby
- Toilets, showers and drinking water within about 100 m; playground and parking within about 200 m
About Whairepo Lagoon
The lagoon is a product of reclamation. Land between Queens Wharf and Taranaki Street Wharf was reclaimed from 1969, creating both Frank Kitts Park and the lagoon beside it. In 1989 the Star Boating Club and Wellington Rowing Club buildings were moved to the edge of the lagoon, where both clubs are still based.
For years it was known simply as the Frank Kitts Park Lagoon, or just The Lagoon. On 17 December 2015 it was officially named Whairepo Lagoon, after the Māori name for the eagle ray, which can sometimes be seen in the lagoon.
Beside the lagoon stands Te Wharewaka o Pōneke, a waka house built on Taranaki Street Wharf and opened at a dawn ceremony on Waitangi Day, 6 February 2011. The building draws heat from the lagoon itself, using a heat exchanger fed with seawater from the lagoon.
The Wharewaka o Pōneke Charitable Trust runs walking tours and waka tours from here. A split-level footbridge crosses the lagoon mouth, and Tanya Ashken’s Albatross fountain sits on the northern side.
The lagoon has its own place in New Zealand swimming history. On 4 April 2026, open water swimmer Jono Ridler finished an unassisted swim of about 1,400 km from North Cape at Whairepo Lagoon, setting a world record for a multistage ultramarathon swim and raising awareness of the damage done by bottom trawling.
Swimming and Water Quality at Whairepo Lagoon
Greater Wellington Regional Council samples the lagoon every week from November to March, and the results are published on LAWA. The site has a Fair LAWA long-term grade, based on 72 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25.
Across all 100 tests between December 2019 and March 2025, 89% were suitable for swimming. A Fair grade means the water is usually suitable for swimming, but contamination is more likely after rain.
The inner harbour around the waterfront has had water quality problems linked to stormwater. In December 2019 Wellington Water found high levels of enterococci at the lagoon and the nearby Taranaki Street dive platform, put up no-swimming signs and increased sampling, because wastewater leaking into the stormwater network reaches the inner harbour in heavy rain.
By February 2020 testing showed the lagoon was suitable for swimming again, and Wellington Water advised rinsing off with clean water after swimming and taking extra care with skin wounds.
Check the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result on LAWA before you get in, and stay out of the water for at least 48 hours after heavy rain. Greater Wellington notes that stormwater can carry bacteria from animal waste and sometimes untreated sewage from overflows.
The lagoon is a working stretch of water as well as a swimming spot. Rowing clubs are based on its edge and waka tours run from the wharewaka next door, so keep clear of boats and watch for craft using the channel.
Check the depth before jumping in, as the water changes with the tide, and keep a close eye on children around the wharf edges.
Getting There and Facilities
Whairepo Lagoon is on the waterfront promenade, a few minutes’ walk from the CBD, between Frank Kitts Park and Te Papa. Toilets, showers and drinking water are within about 100 metres, and the Frank Kitts Park playground and parking are close by.
The Taranaki Street Wharf jump platform is a short walk away, and Oriental Bay beach is a short walk along the waterfront.
Where to Learn More
LAWA and Greater Wellington Regional Council: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result and the long-term grade for Whairepo Lagoon.
Tiaki Wai (formerly Wellington Water): water quality update for Whairepo Lagoon and the inner harbour, with advice for swimmers.
Greater Wellington Regional Council: swimming advice for the region, including what to do after heavy rain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim in Whairepo Lagoon?
Yes. The lagoon is a monitored swimming site and people swim there in summer. It has a Fair long-term grade, so check the latest LAWA result first and stay out for 48 hours after heavy rain.
What is the water quality like in Whairepo Lagoon?
The lagoon has a Fair LAWA long-term grade, based on summers 2020/21 to 2024/25. Of 100 tests between December 2019 and March 2025, 89% were suitable for swimming.
When is the lagoon tested?
Greater Wellington Regional Council samples Whairepo Lagoon weekly from November to March and publishes the results on LAWA.
What does Whairepo mean?
Whairepo is the Māori name for the eagle ray. The lagoon was officially given the name in December 2015, and eagle rays are sometimes seen in it.
Are there boats in the lagoon?
Yes. Rowing clubs are based beside the lagoon, and waka tours run from Te Wharewaka o Pōneke, so keep clear of boats when you swim.
Are there showers and toilets near Whairepo Lagoon?
Yes. Toilets, showers and drinking water are within about 100 metres of the lagoon on the waterfront.
Where is Whairepo Lagoon?
It is on the Wellington waterfront between Frank Kitts Park and Taranaki Street Wharf, a short walk from the CBD and Te Papa.
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