Last updated October 2026
Port Sandy Beach is a small sheltered beach on Breakwater Road in Ahuriri, right beside Napier Port and close to Napier Hill. Napier Port describes it as sheltered and shallow, which makes it a popular spot for families and local swimmers over summer.
Swimmers have their own zone inside a line of orange buoys, where only swimmers and non-motorised craft are allowed. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council tests the water every week from November to March, and the beach holds a Fair long-term grade on LAWA. There is parking on Breakwater Road, a shower on the grass verge and a cycleway running past.
Swimming Facts
Before you swim: Tested weekly Nov–Mar by Hawke's Bay Regional Council. Stay out for 48 hours after heavy rain. Latest result on LAWA
Today at Port Sandy Beach
Monday 26 OctoberWater quality track record
What the grades mean
Excellent and Good: rarely unsafe for swimming. Fair: usually fine, but avoid swimming after rain. Poor: often unsuitable, especially after rain, so check the latest result first.
Grades use LAWA’s method: the 95th percentile of routine enterococci results over the five summers from 2020/21 to 2024/25, with at least 50 tests (366 per 100 mL from 92 tests).
Practical Information
- Location
- Breakwater Road, Ahuriri, beside Napier Port
- Distance from Napier centre
- About 2 km
- Water
- Sea beach, tidal (nearest tide station: Napier)
- Swimming zone
- Inside the orange buoys: swimmers and non-motorised craft only
- Water quality
- Fair (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Testing
- Weekly from November to March by Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
- Facilities
- Shower on the grass verge, parking on Breakwater Road, toilets about 250 m away
- Dogs
- Welcome if kept under control (Napier Port)
- Cost
- Free
About Port Sandy Beach
Port Sandy Beach sits on the harbour side of Napier, between the Ahuriri waterfront and the port’s wharves. Napier Port and Hawke’s Bay Tourism both point visitors to it as a sheltered, shallow beach for a swim, and it is a favourite with locals on warm days.
The beach is owned by Napier Port, but the port keeps it open to the community. The port has set aside a swimming zone marked by orange buoys, put in a shower for rinsing off sand and salt, and asks visitors to take their litter home so the beach stays clean for the next group.
Part of the character of the place is its working neighbour. There is a lot of water traffic in and around the port, and the shipping channel beyond the swimming zone is marked by tall buoys. Boats and jet skis must keep to 5 knots until they are 200 metres from the shore, a line marked by a yellow buoy.
The beach is easy to reach from Ahuriri, and the cycleway passes right by along Breakwater Road, so a swim fits well with a ride or a walk around the waterfront.
Swimming and Water Quality at Port Sandy Beach
Swim inside the orange buoys. Napier Port allows only swimmers and non-motorised craft such as kayaks, paddle boards and surf training boats in this zone, which keeps powered boats away from people in the water.
Outside it, the area is busy with port traffic, so stay well clear of the shipping channel. Watch children closely in and out of the water.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council samples the water at Port Sandy Beach every week from November to March and shares the results on LAWA. The beach has a Fair LAWA long-term grade, based on 92 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25.
Of 112 tests between November 2019 and February 2025, 89% were suitable for swimming. A Fair grade means the water is usually fine, but swimming is best avoided after rain. It is a long-term record, not a guarantee for any given day.
Check the latest result on LAWA before you swim, and stay out of the water for at least 48 hours after heavy rain. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council advises waiting two to three days after heavy rain, even at places that usually have good water quality, because rain flushes debris and pollution from town and farmland into the water.
The council’s rule of toes is a handy check: if you cannot see your toes when standing knee-deep, the water is not at its best for a swim.
For longer swims, Napier Port suggests the ocean swimming circuit off Hardinge Road, a 2 km loop starting at Perfume Point and marked with yellow buoys.
Getting There and Facilities
Port Sandy Beach is on Breakwater Road, about 2 km from Napier’s city centre. There are several parking spaces close to the beach on Breakwater Road. Napier Port asks visitors not to use the port car parks near its main office, as they are in a busy working area and kept for port business.
Getting onto the sand means crossing Breakwater Road and the railway line. Use the designated crossing, look out for trains and trucks, and keep children close. Once there, the port’s shower is on the grass verge beside the beach, and public toilets are a short walk away.
Where to Learn More
LAWA and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result and the long-term water quality grade for Port Sandy Beach.
Napier Port: guidelines for the beach next to the port, including parking, the swimming zone, the rail crossing and rules for boats.
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council: how the council checks popular swimming spots each summer, with its advice on swimming after rain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Port Sandy Beach?
Yes. Napier Port has a marked swimming zone inside orange buoys, and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council tests the water weekly over summer. Check the latest result on LAWA before you swim, and stay out for at least 48 hours after heavy rain.
What is the water quality like at Port Sandy Beach?
Port Sandy Beach has a Fair LAWA long-term grade, based on summers 2020/21 to 2024/25. Of 112 tests between November 2019 and February 2025, 89% were suitable for swimming. Water quality can drop after rain.
When is the water tested?
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council samples the beach every week from November to March, and the results go onto LAWA.
Where is Port Sandy Beach?
It is on Breakwater Road in Ahuriri, right beside Napier Port, about 2 km from the city centre.
Are boats allowed near the swimming area?
Only swimmers and non-motorised craft such as kayaks, paddle boards and surf training boats may use the zone inside the orange buoys. Boats must keep to 5 knots within 200 metres of the shore.
Can I bring my dog?
Napier Port says dogs are welcome at the beach as long as they are kept under control at all times.
Where do I park?
Park in the spaces along Breakwater Road. The port car parks near the main office are reserved for port business, and you need to cross the road and railway line at the designated crossing to reach the beach.
Are there facilities at the beach?
Napier Port has put a shower on the grass verge for rinsing off, and public toilets are a short walk away. Ahuriri’s cafés and restaurants are close by.
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