The north-facing sandy beach is accessible only via a 20-minute walking track from the end of Wharariki Road.

The road end is approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the nearest settlement, the small village of Pūponga.

[1] A camping ground is located along Wharariki Road, but the area surrounding the beach is devoid of any development.

[3] Wharariki Beach is perhaps best known for the Archway Islands, a small archipelago of four islands ranging from the beachside (part of the beach at low tide) to roughly 250 metres (820 ft) offshore.

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