Porangahau: Beach, Golf and Local History

Porangahau combines coastal activities with golf and traces of local culture. This offers different ways to plan a stay: time at the beach, a round on the links course, or an interest in the history of the town and its surroundings. There are also self-guided and guided activities, as well as wellness offerings. You can organise your trip around the themes that matter most to you.

Beach and golf

Te Paerahi (Pōrangahau Beach) is a long beach with golden sand. Surfing, swimming, surfcasting, fishing, diving and kite flying add to a day at the beach, along with other beach activities. The options range from activities in the water to flying a kite on the beach.

Porangahau Golf Course is on Beach Road and is part of the Porangahau Country Club complex. Its 9-hole links course offers sea views. The Country Club is also home to tennis, bowling, art and fishing clubs. The beach and golf offer different ways to shape your trip: Te Paerahi is known for its varied coastal activities, while the course offers golf with sea views.

Other coastlines nearby

Whangaehu Beach is 30 minutes south of Pōrangahau and is a remote, unspoilt coastal landscape. There are toilets and opportunities for freedom camping. Check road conditions and local facilities before setting out. This stretch of coast can be considered as a separate option alongside the long sandy beach at Te Paerahi.

Historic places

The Anglican St Michael’s Church is on Dundas Street, is a Category 2 historic place and is privately owned. Nearby, Porangahau Station Woolshed is at 497 Hunter Road. It is also a historic place, in this case Category 1, and is privately owned.

Pōrangahau War Memorial Hall has significant heritage values. It is at 15 Abercromby Street; the memorial plaques are behind the roller door. A sign for the longest place name is on Wimbledon Road near Pōrangahau. The hall, historic places and sign offer different points of interest for travellers who are also interested in history and culture.

Walks, tours and wellness

Nearby, Te Haerenga is a 5 km self-guided walk to Te Taumata. Access to Te Taumata, also known as the longest place name, includes walking across a rural farm with livestock. The actual site of the longest place name is on private land; permission is required to enter. Keep this in mind if you want to visit the site itself.

Porangahau Tours offers guided experiences in Porangahau that include local beaches and other significant sites. Confirm availability before travelling. Kurawaka Retreat Centre in Porangahau offers holistic wellness programmes; availability may vary. Check in advance which programmes are currently available. Compared with the self-guided walk, the guided experiences and wellness offerings provide other ways to shape your stay around particular themes.

Nearby, at 17 Beach Road in Porangahau Beach near the village of Porangahau, you’ll find Crafty Locals. The craft shop stocks locally made ceramics, quilts, glasswork, harakeke kete and pōtae, knitwear, woodwork, paintings and prints. The range may change.

Coastal landscape in the wider travel region

In the wider Central Hawke's Bay District, Te Angiangi Marine Reserve protects 446 hectares of coastline between Aramoana and Blackhead; it was established in 1997. At low tide, visitors can explore rock pools on the extensive tidal platform and may spot octopuses, crayfish, sea anemones and migratory wading birds. For trip planning, these are two distinct coastal attractions: the long sandy beach at Te Paerahi in Porangahau and the tidal platform in the wider district.

Discover more destinations: Fernhill, Waipawa, Eskdale, Waipukurau, Bridge Pa, Raukawa, Puketapu, Wallingford

See the wider travel guide: Hawkes Bay.