The West Coast has a wide range of excellent swimming spots that cater to everyone’s needs. They range from gentle lagoon and lake shores, deep river pools, and high energy surf beaches. Many sites often include picnic and camping areas, bush walks, and toilets, making them a great place to visit with family and friends. We encourage you to get out there and enjoy them.
Water quality at West Coast swim spots is safe for the majority of summer. However, heavy rainfall always increases pathogen risks for all rivers, coastal beaches, and to a lesser extent lakes. People should consider this if they wish to swim during or shortly after wet weather. We recognise the importance of being well informed about swimmability. That is why we monitor the bacterial health of our main swimming spots during the warmer months of the year. This provides an indication on potential health risks at a site.
For the latest results go to the LAWA website. https://lawa.org.nz
