The small Waipapakauri Creek crosses SH1 just to the east, flowing north to reach the broad mudflats of Rangaunu Harbour.

Waipapakauri is located close to Ninety Mile Beach and has long beek known for shellfish harvesting.

The settlement was the site of an airforce base, RNZAF Station Waipapakauri, during World War II.

[7] Noted people connected with Waipapakauri include former All Blacks Percy Erceg (who was born in the settlement), Peter Jones (who spent his last years there), former MP John Carter is a resident of Waipapakauri and Edward Te Whiu, 82nd person to be judicially executed in New Zealand.

Waipapakauri was an important location for the late 19th/early 20th century kauri gum digging trade.

In the 1910s, the lower quality chip gum found at the southern half of the Aupōuri Peninsula greatly increased in value.

[8] The SA1 statistical area which includes Waipapakauri covers 9.63 km2 (3.72 sq mi).