Best beaches in Waikawa

2 ranked beaches in Waikawa, Southland

Ranked by the OnlyBeaches Index (OBI) — a 1-10 score blending water purity, conditions, crowd levels and vibe. Updated every 30 minutes.

All beaches in Waikawa

1
Curio Bay Beach
Iconic Catlins coast beach beside the fossil forest and frequent wildlife encounters.
7.0
2
Porpoise Bay Beach
Sheltered sandy bay known for swimming, surfing and possible dolphin sightings.
7.0

What makes Waikawa's beaches stand out?

Waikawa sits in Southland, New Zealand and is home to 2 ranked beaches on OnlyBeaches. Every beach here is scored by the OnlyBeaches Index — a 1-10 metric blending water purity, live conditions (waves, water temperature, wind), crowd intelligence and vibe.

Whether you're after the highest-scoring beach in Waikawa or a quieter hidden cove, the list above is refreshed every 30 minutes using live Stormglass and OpenWeather data.