Inventory of coastal areas of local or regional significance in the ...

Waverley Beach
Number: 67 GPS: 2649780E
6151295N
General description
A beach with unique landforms of caverns, ravines, blowholes and eroding stacks carved
into the cliffs by wave erosion. Eleven small peninsulas project 5-15 metres out to sea, and
one island has been formed. The cliff tops support mats of small native plants. A dynamic
coast with many unvegetated and unstable dunes, with much of the area continually being
eroded by wind and wave action. Waverley beach is approximately 8 km long with 13 metre
high cliffs. The low undulating dunes are on the cliff tops and extend inland. These dunes
are stable and the vegetation includes lupin, marram and kikuyu. Also, the nearby Lake
2, 8
Waikare and Lower Waikare are a significant natural area.
Location
5.5 km south of Waverley.
Land tenure
Site: - Crown Land: Foreshore (administered by the Department of
Conservation)
- District Land: Wairoa Recreation Reserve and Okahu Maori Reservation
(administered by the South Taranaki District Council)
Site access: - District Land: Wairoa Domain Recreation Reserves and Waipipi Road
(administered by the South Taranaki District Council)
Values
Amenity High - regionally important amenity values, outstanding natural
landscape 1
- eroding stacks, caverns and tunnels produce unique
1 2
landforms, and blow holes
Recreational High - walking, offroad vehicles, camping, boat ramp, fishing 5
Cultural/ Not known
Historical
Ecological/
Scientific
High - Ototuku Conservation Area, a remnant sand dune
- rare plant species (Leptinella dispersa rupestris) 5
- part of the South Taranaki uplifted marine terraces (which
forms a 20 km wide coastal strip from Hawera to Wanganui,
NZ’s most complete sequence of uplifted marine terraces) 4
- native herbfields on cliff tops 2
Public access
Excellent - Direct access via Waipipi Road from Waverley. There is no beach sign at the
main road.
148