Last updated November 2026
Bell Block Beach is the beach at the end of Mangati Road in Bell Block, about 9 kilometres north-east of central New Plymouth. It is the northern end of the New Plymouth Coastal Walkway, with a reserve, picnic area and toilet block behind the sand.
Taranaki Regional Council includes it in the beaches it tests every week over summer, and New Plymouth District Council describes the monitored sites as popular swimming and fishing spots.
The beach holds a Fair long-term grade on LAWA, which means the water is usually fine for swimming but can be affected after rain. It also makes a natural turnaround point for a walk or ride along the coast.
Practical Information
- Location
- End of Mangati Road, Bell Block, New Plymouth
- Distance from New Plymouth
- About 9 km north-east of the city centre
- Water
- Open sea beach, tidal (nearest tide station: Waitara River Entrance)
- Water quality
- Fair (LAWA long-term grade, summers 2020/21 to 2024/25)
- Testing
- Weekly from November to March by Taranaki Regional Council, west of the Mangati Stream
- Dogs
- On a leash on the beach and reserve from 1 August to 1 April, during the bird breeding season (NPDC Dog Control Bylaw)
- Facilities nearby
- Toilet block and picnic area at the reserve, beach access ramp
Swimming Facts
Today at Bell Block Beach
Sunday 15 NovemberWater quality track record
Stay out of the water for 48 hours after heavy rain.What the grades mean
Excellent and Good: rarely unsafe for swimming. Fair: usually fine, but avoid swimming after rain. Poor: often unsuitable, especially after rain, so check the latest result first.
Grades use LAWA’s method: the 95th percentile of routine enterococci results over the five summers from 2021/22 to 2025/26, with at least 50 tests (343 per 100 mL from 106 tests).
About Bell Block Beach
Bell Block is a town on State Highway 3 on the north-eastern edge of New Plymouth, with New Plymouth Airport immediately to its north-east. The beach lies at the end of Mangati Road, close to the mouth of the Mangati Stream.
The foreshore, beach and reserve run from a toilet block and picnic area on the western side to a beach access ramp on the eastern side.
The beach is linked to the city by the New Plymouth Coastal Walkway. The walkway was extended to Bell Block in 2014, which made it possible to walk or cycle all the way from Bell Block into central New Plymouth.
The council and four hapū, Manukorihi, Otaraua, Pukerangiora and Puketapu, have designed Te Pae o te Rangi, a 9.7-kilometre shared pathway extension from Mangati at Bell Block to Otupaiia (Marine Park) in Waitara, which will take the coastal path to almost 23 kilometres.
The land at Bell Block was bought from Puketapu in 1848 by Dillon Bell. Disagreements over the sale contributed to the First Taranaki War, and settlers built a blockhouse here in 1860. Muru Raupatu marae in Bell Block is a meeting place for the Puketapu hapū.
Offshore, Mangatai (Bell Block Reef) is listed as a regionally significant surf break in the Taranaki Regional Council’s Coastal Plan. The beach is also used for fishing and walking, and the dog rules reflect that shorebirds nest along this part of the coast.
Swimming and Water Quality at Bell Block Beach
Taranaki Regional Council samples Bell Block Beach, west of the Mangati Stream, every week from November to the end of March and posts the results on LAWA, usually by the Thursday evening after sampling. The beach has a Fair LAWA long-term grade, based on 84 routine tests over the summers of 2020/21 to 2024/25.
Across 104 tests between November 2019 and March 2025, 83% were suitable for swimming. A Fair grade means the water is usually fine but is more likely to be affected after rain, when runoff from streams and land can reach the sea.
Check the latest result on LAWA before you swim, and stay out of the water for at least 48 hours after heavy rain. New Plymouth District Council advises waiting at least three days after heavy or prolonged rainfall, even at sites that generally have good water quality, and its Can I Swim map also shows any wastewater overflow warnings.
This is an open sea beach on the North Taranaki coast, and conditions can change quickly with the swell and wind.
The district’s surf life saving clubs patrol city beaches such as Fitzroy and East End over summer, so if you are not a confident surf swimmer, those patrolled beaches are a better choice. At Bell Block, swim with someone else, stay within your depth and keep away from the stream mouth after rain.
Getting There and Walks Nearby
Drive to Bell Block and follow Mangati Road to its end, where there is access to the reserve and beach. You can also walk or cycle out along the Coastal Walkway from New Plymouth, which ends at Bell Block Beach, making a swim a good reward at the end of the path.
Keep dogs on a leash on the beach and reserve between 1 August and 1 April. During the nesting season the council can also bring in temporary dog bans on nearby beaches, such as Waiwhakaiho east of the river mouth, to protect nesting dotterels and oystercatchers, so check the council’s Walking Your Dog page for any temporary bans before you go.
From locals
Is there a surf break at Bell Block Beach?
Is there easy parking near the beach at the end of Mangati Road, even on a sunny weekend?
No answers yet. If you know, a local would love to hear it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you swim at Bell Block Beach?
Yes. Bell Block Beach is one of the beaches Taranaki Regional Council tests weekly over summer for swimming. Check LAWA before you swim, stay out for at least 48 hours after heavy rain, and choose a patrolled beach if you are not confident in surf.
What is the water quality like at Bell Block Beach?
The beach has a Fair LAWA long-term grade for summers 2020/21 to 2024/25. Of 104 tests between November 2019 and March 2025, 83% were suitable for swimming, so it is usually fine but best avoided after rain.
When is the water tested?
Taranaki Regional Council samples the beach weekly from November to the end of March, and results usually appear on LAWA by the Thursday evening.
Where is Bell Block Beach?
At the end of Mangati Road in Bell Block, about 9 kilometres north-east of central New Plymouth, beside the mouth of the Mangati Stream.
Can I walk to Bell Block Beach from New Plymouth?
Yes. The New Plymouth Coastal Walkway runs from the city to Bell Block Beach, and an extension towards Waitara has been designed.
Are dogs allowed on Bell Block Beach?
Yes, but they must be on a leash on the beach and reserve from 1 August to 1 April, during the bird breeding season.
What facilities are at Bell Block Beach?
There is a toilet block and picnic area at the reserve on the western side, and a beach access ramp on the eastern side.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Related links 3
- LAWA and Taranaki Regional Council: the latest “Can I Swim Here?” result and long-term grade for Bell Block Beach.
- New Plymouth District Council: map of monitored swimming sites, rain advice and current wastewater overflow warnings.
- New Plymouth District Council: the Te Pae o te Rangi project extending the Coastal Walkway from Bell Block to Waitara.
Sources and data notes 2
- Today at Bell Block Beach: Tides: LINZ, CC BY 4.0; predictions only.
- Water quality track record: Water quality: © LAWA and partner organisations (Taranaki Regional Council), licensed under CC BY 4.0, results to March 2026; latest results on LAWA.