Last updated October 2026
Bay View and Whirinaki share the long open beach either side of the Esk River mouth, about 10 km north of Napier. Bay View, to the south, is a Napier suburb strung along the shore beside SH2, and Whirinaki, to the north, is a small rural settlement in Hastings District.
Local anglers fish the beach at both ends, and there is roadside access at the end of Le Quesne Road on the Bay View side and at the end of Whirinaki Road to the north. This guide covers the open beach; the mouth itself has its own guide.
At a Glance
- Location
- Bay View and Whirinaki, about 10 km north of Napier on SH2
- Type
- Long open-coast beach of shingle and sand either side of the Esk mouth
- Water
- Hawke Bay (sea)
- Main species
- Ask at a Napier tackle shop for recent catches; sea-run trout near the Esk mouth from August to October
- Access
- Le Quesne Road end (Bay View) and Whirinaki Road end (Whirinaki)
- Parking
- Roadside at the road ends; plenty of room at the Whirinaki Road end
- Facilities
- None at the beach
- Tide port
- Napier (LINZ)
- Rules
- MPI Central; Fish & Game rules within 500 m of the Esk mouth
- Cost
- Free; no licence needed for sea fishing
- Low 12:03 am 0.4 m
- High 6:18 am 1.7 m
- Low 12:29 pm 0.4 m
- High 6:35 pm 1.6 m
Best times today: around 12:03 am, 6:18 am, 12:29 pm and 6:35 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 12:59 am and 12:35 pm (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best. Full 7-day Napier tides ›
Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
What to Expect
From above, the coast here is a long, straight beach of dark shingle and sand, with the houses of Bay View lined up behind it to the south and the Esk River looping through its flood plain behind the beach before reaching the sea.
Whirinaki, north of the mouth, has the Pan Pac timber and pulp mill, opened in 1973, and Contact Energy’s standby power station.
Pētane Marae near Whirinaki is a meeting place for the Ngāti Matepū and Ngāti Whakaari hapū of Ngāti Kahungunu. In Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023, the Esk overtopped its stopbanks and flooded the Whirinaki mill and the marae, and after the storm people were told to avoid Napier’s beaches while raw sewage was pumped to sea.
The beach faces straight out into Hawke Bay, so swell and wind direction decide whether it is fishable on the day.
How to Fish Bay View and Whirinaki
Where to fish
On the Bay View side, park at the end of Le Quesne Road and cast from the beach there, or walk north towards the Esk.
At Whirinaki, Whirinaki Road runs to the beach with plenty of parking for cars and boat trailers. Within 500 metres of the Esk mouth, Fish & Game’s freshwater rules apply; see our Esk River mouth fishing guide for the mouth itself.
What to catch
- Sea fish: local anglers rate Bay View as worth a cast. Ask at a Napier tackle shop what is being caught on the northern beaches.
- Sea-run brown trout: near the Esk mouth from August to October, under Fish & Game rules (licence, fly and spinner only).
Getting There and Facilities
- Bay View: from SH2, turn onto Franklin Road, then left onto Le Quesne Road. Park on the sea side at the road end.
- Whirinaki: follow SH2 north past the Esk bridge and take Whirinaki Road, a no-through road to the beach.
- Facilities: none at the beach. Bring water and everything you need.
- Dogs: on the Napier side, dogs must be on a lead unless in a signed off-lead area.
Rules and Safety
- Sea fishing follows MPI’s Central area rules. No licence is needed, and MPI lists no closures here.
- Within 500 metres of where the Esk meets the sea at low tide, the water is freshwater. Trout need a Fish & Game licence, and the lower Esk is fly and spinner only.
- This is an exposed open-coast beach. Check MetService’s marine forecast and do not wade out in a swell.
- Keep clear of the Esk mouth on big tides and after rain, when the river runs hard.
- MPI listed no shellfish biotoxin warnings when last checked, but check before you gather.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Gun City + Fishing Napier, 2 Pandora Road, Pandora: sea and surfcasting tackle on the way out of the city.
- Hunting & Fishing Napier, 170 to 180 Taradale Road: tackle, bait and Fish & Game licences.
Official Sources
MPI Central fishing rules: size limits, daily limits and closures for Hawke Bay.
Fish & Game: Northern Hawke’s Bay access points: access to the Esk mouth from Le Quesne Road.
Fish & Game Hawke’s Bay regulations: the freshwater rules near the Esk mouth.
Bay View and Whirinaki: Common Questions
Where can I fish at Bay View?
From the beach at the end of Le Quesne Road, off Franklin Road and SH2.
How do I get to the beach at Whirinaki?
Take Whirinaki Road, a no-through road off SH2 north of the Esk bridge. There is plenty of parking at the end.
Do I need a licence?
Not for sea fishing. Within 500 metres of the Esk mouth, trout need a Fish & Game licence.
Is there trout fishing nearby?
Yes. Sea-run brown trout come into the Esk mouth from August to October.
Are there toilets at the beach?
No. There are no facilities at either road end.
Was the area affected by Cyclone Gabrielle?
Yes. In February 2023 the Esk flooded the Whirinaki mill and Pētane Marae.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ).