Last updated October 2026
Rarangi is a small settlement at the far north-east end of Cloudy Bay, reached from State Highway 1 at Tuamarina. Its long sand and gravel beach faces the open bay, with a DOC campsite right behind the beach and a rocky headland at the northern end.
Kahawai are the main catch along this coast, mostly on spinning lures. The beach is built from stones carried up the coast by the current, so expect unstable footing and a shore break.
At a Glance
- Location
- Rarangi Beach Road, Rarangi, north-east end of Cloudy Bay
- Water
- Te Koko-o-Kupe / Cloudy Bay, open to Cook Strait (sea)
- Main species
- Kahawai; paddle crabs are common along this coast
- Methods
- Spinning lures are the usual method for kahawai
- Suits
- Shore anglers comfortable on an exposed stony beach
- Getting there
- SH1 to Tuamarina, then Hunter Road, Pembers Road / Rarangi Road and Rarangi Beach Road
- Camping
- DOC Rarangi campsite beside the beach, book online
- Tide port
- Pukatea / Whites Bay (LINZ secondary port, from Wellington)
- Rules
- MPI Challenger; no licence needed for sea fishing
- Shops
- None at Rarangi; buy bait and supplies in Blenheim
- High about 4:07 am
- Low about 10:21 am
- High about 4:35 pm
- Low about 10:40 pm
Best times today: around 4:07 am, 10:21 am, 4:35 pm and 10:40 pm (2 hours either side of each tide change), and around 10:32 am and 10:54 pm (moon overhead and underfoot).
Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes best. Full 7-day Blenheim tides ›
Predictions only; actual tides vary with weather.
What You'll Find Here
Rarangi sits where Cloudy Bay ends against the hills below Mt Robertson. The name is often given as “place where the sun rises”. Land here was first subdivided for holiday sections in 1920, and today it has a DOC campground, a community hall, a playground and a golf course, but no shops.
The beach is made of stones that started as rock in the Awatere River and were carried north by ocean currents past Cape Campbell.
The Wairau River adds more gravel to a strong current running along the shore, and the beach at Rarangi is said to be growing by about a metre a year. You can see the effect of that current in the shape of the beach.
At the northern end a rocky headland rises toward Mt Robertson. A short DOC track of about 20 minutes leads from the end of the beach around the rocky point to Monkey Bay, with a lookout and signs explaining how the currents built Rarangi Beach.
North of the settlement there is a sea cave, and the Whites Bay Track climbs over the hills to the next bay.
How to Fish Rarangi
Where to stand
Walk out from the beach access paths onto the top of the stones and fish the open beach. The northern end, near the rocky headland and the start of the Monkey Bay walk, gives a change from plain beach. Stand well back on the stones and cast from there rather than chasing the water’s edge.
What to catch and what to use
- Kahawai: common along this coast. Local information for Cloudy Bay says most are caught on spinning lures, and the best surfcasting on the bay is toward the Wairau River mouth to the south.
- Paddle crabs: common along most of the coast, so check any bait you leave out.
- Ask locally: ask at a Blenheim tackle shop for what has been caught recently on the Cloudy Bay beaches and which lures are working.
Conditions
Rarangi faces the open waters of Cloudy Bay and Cook Strait, so wind and swell decide whether it is fishable. A calm or offshore day is the time to go. Moving water around the tide changes usually fishes better.
Getting There and Facilities
- Road: leave SH1 at Tuamarina onto Hunter Road, turn left onto Pembers Road / Rarangi Road, then keep left onto Rarangi Beach Road. DOC warns that severe weather has damaged roads in Marlborough, so check the Marlborough District Council road alerts before you go.
- Camping: DOC’s Rarangi campsite is right beside the beach, with about 40 sites, flush toilets and cold showers. The tap water is untreated, so boil it. When we checked in October 2026 DOC listed fees of $15 a night for adults, $7.50 for children aged 5 to 17 and free for under 5s, and the DOC Campsite Pass can be used. Book online, and well ahead for 1 December to 28 February and public holiday weekends.
- Dogs: allowed at the campsite on a leash.
- Fires: open fires are not allowed at any East Coast reserve. Use a portable stove.
- Supplies: there are no shops at Rarangi. Buy bait, ice and food in Blenheim.
- More to do: for the beach, Monkey Bay and the coastal walk, see our Rarangi Beach guide.
Rules and Safety
- Fishing rules: Rarangi is in MPI’s Challenger area. No licence is needed for sea fishing, but Challenger size and daily limits apply. Check them in the NZ Fishing Rules app before you keep fish.
- Set nets: set netting is banned in Cloudy Bay, as on the rest of the coast from Cape Jackson to the Clarence River.
- Scallops: the nearby Port Underwood scallop fishery has been closed since 15 July 2018.
- Shore break: the stony beach is unstable underfoot, and DOC’s notes on the Cloudy Bay coast say swimming is not advisable anywhere along it except Whites Bay. Do not wade out to cast, keep children well back from the water, and leave when the swell builds.
- Weather: strong, cold winds are common on this coast. Check the MetService marine forecast for Cook Strait before you go.
- Monkey Bay track: DOC warns of steep, unfenced drop-offs beside the track. Stay on it and supervise children.
- Wasps and spiders: wasps are a problem in late summer and autumn, and katipō spiders may be found in the foreshore.
Official Sources for Rarangi
MPI Challenger fishing rules: size and daily limits, the set net ban and closures for Cloudy Bay.
DOC: Rarangi Campsite: bookings, fees and directions.
DOC: Monkey Bay Walk: the short walk from the north end of the beach.
Common Questions
Where is Rarangi?
At the far north-east end of Cloudy Bay. Leave SH1 at Tuamarina and follow Hunter Road, Rarangi Road and Rarangi Beach Road.
What can you catch surfcasting at Rarangi?
Kahawai are the main catch along this coast, mostly on spinning lures. Ask at a Blenheim tackle shop for what has been caught recently.
Do I need a fishing licence?
No. You do not need a licence for sea fishing in New Zealand, but MPI’s Challenger size and daily limits apply.
Is Rarangi a good beach for swimming?
DOC’s notes on this coast say swimming is not advisable anywhere along it except Whites Bay. The stony beach is unstable, so take care at the water’s edge.
Can I camp at Rarangi?
Yes. DOC’s Rarangi campsite is beside the beach, with flush toilets and cold showers. Book online, especially in summer.
Can I take my dog?
Dogs are allowed at the Rarangi campsite on a leash.
Are there shops at Rarangi?
No. Buy bait, ice and food in Blenheim before you go.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Sources and data notes 1
- Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ), adjusted from Wellington using LINZ secondary port offsets.