Tapeka Beach

Tapeka Beach is accessed from a small parking area in the beach reserve adjacent to a boat launch ramp and is a west-facing sandy swimming beach. The south end of the beach is reserved for a water-ski access lane. A swimming pontoon is moored north of the boat ramp.

A small stream runs beside the grassy picnic area of the reserve and three very large historic Norfolk pines provide pleasant shade.

Location, Grade and Duration

Tapeka is "over the hill" less than 2 km north from Russell. Follow York Street into Flagstaff Road which turns into Tapeka Road and turn left to the beach when you reach the Tapeka settlement.

The immediate Tapeka beach itself is flat and easy to walk. With a little rock-hopping at most tides you can cross to an extended smaller stony beach south of the swimming beach.

South beyond that is a further larger, sandy beach but it is only accessible at very low tide around a rocky point or by the very athletic prepared to take a steep climb and precipitous descent which may be aided by dubious pieces of rope on the southern side.

At very low tide you can continue further south around rocky points to reach Waihihi Bay (see Fladgate Track).

At low tide you can also extend north of Tapeka Beach around the rocks to some pleasant secluded coves and good views of the Tapeka Navigation Light out on the seaward reef.

Restrictions

A good safe sandy beach for children but beware that it gets deep quite quickly.

There are public toilets and changing rooms beside the boat ramp.

There are no shops at Tapeka.

Dogs are not allowed on Tapeka Beach in summer between 9am and 6pm.

Interests

Swimming, fishing, picnicking, boat launch, boat moorings, water-skiing.

The three huge Norfolk pines were planted by the Stephenson family in the 1830s in honour of the three eldest Stephenson boys - Samuel, Edward and Henry. One of the sons later died, and so did the tree - but it was later replaced by a younger specimen.

History

The bay around the southern corner from the sandy beach was made famous in Earle's well known painting depicting his meeting with Hongi Hika. Augustus Earle was the first artist who spent some time in NZ painting the NZ scene. He lived for nine months in the Bay of Islands in 1827-28.

Near the three Norfolk pines on the beach reserve was a home built in the 1830s for Samuel Stephenson. He moved to Russell after the War of the North (when the flagstaff was felled).

Stephenson married Hira Moewaka by Maori rite in 1844 and by English rite in 1852. Hira took the English name of Ada Charlotte Macauliffe. Soon after the family shifted to Russell, their homestead became a girls' school. 'Prospect House' was run by a widow, Mrs Woolley, who trained three or four young girls at a time to be gentlewomen. The Stephenson house was finally demolished about 1908.

Murphy Shortland has researched early Maori Land Court records and discovered that the northern end of Tapeka beach was known as Kaiwaka. A battle between two local tribes occurred there in the 1800s but was forgotten until the Moerewa freezing works were extended in the 1940s. Sand was excavated from the beach and bones from the fight were uncovered.