Last updated October 2026
Plimmerton Beach is the seaside beach in Plimmerton, Porirua, a short stroll from Plimmerton railway station. Porirua City Council says it is very popular in summer, and lists it for swimming (particularly for families with young children), windsurfing and sunset walks. It is also one of the surf breaks listed in Greater Wellington Regional Council’s Natural Resources Plan, with three more listed breaks along the coast at Hongoeka Bay to the north-west.
Behind the beach once stood Te Rauparaha’s Taupō pā, where he was captured by a naval party. There is no surf patrol here that we could find, so treat the water with care.
Surf Facts
Surf today at Plimmerton Beach
Today at Plimmerton Beach
Monday 2 NovemberSurf breaks at Plimmerton Beach
4 breaks: a beach break, 2 points and a reefShowHide
Practical Information
- Location
- Plimmerton, Porirua City
- Getting there
- A short walk from Plimmerton railway station
- Surf breaks
- Plimmerton (beach and reef breaks); Pā Point, Hongoeka Bay and Titches at Hongoeka Bay to the north-west
- Windsurfing
- Dedicated area at the southern end of the beach
- Lifeguards
- No patrol found at Plimmerton; Titahi Bay is Porirua’s lifeguarded beach in summer
- Water testing
- Porirua’s beaches are tested weekly from November to March
- Dogs
- Porirua restricts dogs on some beaches at set times of the year; check the council’s dog walking rules and the signs
- Cost
- Free
About Plimmerton Beach
Plimmerton is a seaside suburb in the north of Porirua City, and its beach is a short stroll from the railway station. Porirua City Council describes it as very popular in summer and good on quieter days too, for a walk along the sand, watching the sunset, or fish and chips from the local chippy.
The council lists the beach for swimming, particularly for families with young children, and for windsurfing, with a dedicated windsurfing area at the southern end. Like all of Porirua’s beaches, the water is tested every week from November to March.
Greater Wellington Regional Council’s Natural Resources Plan lists Plimmerton as a significant surf break in its Schedule K. North-west along the coast, the same schedule lists three more breaks at Hongoeka Bay: Pā Point, the Hongoeka Bay beach break and Titches, off Te Rewarewa Point. The plan’s policy on significant surf breaks (Policy P51) applies to all of them.
Hongoeka is an active Ngāti Toa marae and community, and there is housing in the bay itself. If you visit the Hongoeka breaks, remember you are on the doorstep of the people who live there.
Surfing at Plimmerton and Hongoeka Bay
Schedule K describes the Plimmerton break as beach and reef breaks, both left and right hand, and gives its skill level as beginner to expert. That is a planning record of who surfs there, not a safety rating, and the beach has no surf patrol that we could find. The schedule records rides of up to about 60 metres.
The Hongoeka Bay breaks are a step up. Schedule K lists Pā Point as a right-hand point break for competent to expert surfers, with rides of up to about 330 metres, and Titches, off Te Rewarewa Point, as a right-hand point reef break for experts only.
The Hongoeka Bay beach break is gravel, with left and right handers, and its listed skill level is all. The Surf Facts box on this page shows each break’s direction, swell window and offshore wind.
Swimming and Water Safety
Porirua City Council’s beaches guide mentions surf lifeguards only at Titahi Bay, which is patrolled over summer, and we could not find a patrol at Plimmerton.
If you want to swim between the flags, Titahi Bay is the place. At Plimmerton, swim with someone else, keep children within arm’s reach, and keep well clear of the windsurfing area and anyone surfing the reef.
The council tests Porirua’s beaches weekly from November to March. Check the latest result on LAWA before you swim.
Taupō Pā and Te Rauparaha
Te Rauparaha’s Taupō pā stood behind the beach, between where the Plimmerton fire station and the pavilion are today, according to NZHistory (Manatū Taonga).
As Governor George Grey tightened his hold on Ngāti Toa, Te Rauparaha was captured at the pā soon after dawn on 23 July 1846 by a naval party from HMS Calliope. He was held for two years, first on the ship and then in Auckland, and died not long after being returned to his people at Ōtaki.
A carved pou marking the capture stands outside 5 Motuhara Road, Plimmerton.
Where to Learn More
Greater Wellington: Operative Natural Resources Plan: Schedule K lists the region’s significant surf breaks, including Plimmerton and the three Hongoeka Bay breaks.
Porirua City Council: beaches: the council’s guide to Porirua’s beaches, water testing and the lifeguarded beach at Titahi Bay.
NZHistory: Te Rauparaha’s Taupō pā: the 1844 painting of the pā at Plimmerton and the story of Te Rauparaha’s capture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Plimmerton Beach?
Yes. Porirua City Council lists it for swimming, particularly for families with young children. There is no surf patrol that we could find, so swim with someone, keep children close and check the latest water quality result before you go.
Is Plimmerton Beach patrolled by lifeguards?
We could not find a patrol at Plimmerton. Porirua City Council’s beaches guide names Titahi Bay as the beach with surf lifeguards over summer.
What kind of surf break is Plimmerton?
Greater Wellington’s Natural Resources Plan describes it as beach and reef breaks, with both left and right handers, and records rides of up to about 60 metres.
Is Plimmerton good for beginner surfers?
Greater Wellington’s Schedule K gives the Plimmerton break a skill level of beginner to expert. That is a planning record, not a safety rating, and there is no patrol, so learn with an instructor or someone experienced.
What are the surf breaks at Hongoeka Bay?
Schedule K lists three: Pā Point, a right-hand point break for competent to expert surfers; the Hongoeka Bay gravel beach break, with left and right handers; and Titches, a right-hand point reef break off Te Rewarewa Point for experts only.
Can you windsurf at Plimmerton?
Yes. Porirua City Council says the beach has a dedicated windsurfing area at its southern end.
How do you get to Plimmerton Beach?
The beach is a short stroll from Plimmerton railway station, according to Porirua City Council.
What is the history of Plimmerton Beach?
Te Rauparaha’s Taupō pā stood behind the beach, and he was captured there on 23 July 1846. A carved pou outside 5 Motuhara Road marks the capture.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 2
- Today at Plimmerton Beach: Tides: LINZ, CC BY 4.0, times for Karehana Bay adjusted from Port Taranaki using LINZ offsets; the curve shows the shape of the tide, not local heights; predictions only. Sea temperature: NASA JPL MUR satellite data for 29 Oct, via Tideteller.
- Surf Facts: Breaks, type and skill level: Greater Wellington Regional Council surf break layer (CC BY 4.0). The way each break faces, the swell that can reach it and its offshore wind are worked out from the LINZ coastline (CC BY 4.0); positions checked on LINZ aerial photos. Legal access: Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa, Outdoor Access Commission, from LINZ and DOC data (CC BY 4.0). Tracks: Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa National Tracks Dataset (pilot), from council and DOC data.