Waimea Bay
Waimea Bay
4.5
About
Waimea Bay is the deepest bay on Oahu’s North Shore and the birthplace of big-wave surfing, especially in winter. Between November to February, waves reach up to 40 feet in height, challenging even the most expert surfers. Even if you're not a fan of riding the waves, watching these pro surfers in action will get your heart racing too. Otherwise, visit during summer for the soft sand, arresting seaside views, and calmer waters—perfect for swimming, snorkeling, diving and even cliff-jumping. The wave conditions here fluctuate quickly, so look out for the colored flags before diving in. – Tripadvisor
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- May_EXLWinnipeg, Canada561 contributionsDon’t miss this BayWe made a pitstop at Waimea Bay Beach Park on our way to Haleiwa and spent a couple of hours there. Basically across from Waimea Valley. Wide soft sandy beach. Bathroom facility and lifeguard on site. No shade so bring an umbrella if you must. There are neat rock formations towards the south end of the beach that are pretty cool for photography. We went during winter so no rock jumping! It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area. It’s a nice beach to spend the day on.Visited February 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 5 April 2023
- Mike W3 contributionsPeaceful and quiet during off season.Show up early! I arrived at 10am and there was enough parking available. It is very pristinely kept. Only amenities are showers, bathroom, and picnic tables. Listen to the life guard’s instructions. They are to guard your life.Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 24 April 2023
- RichardFlorida23 contributionsVery nice beachThis is a very popular beautiful beach! First off, parking sucks. Drove around the small parking lot for 20 minutes waiting for someone to leave. Some people park along the highway and walk to it but that seemed dangerous. It was worth the wait. This beach has bathrooms, showers, and lifeguards. Water was crystal clear and gets deep quick. There is a huge rock structure many people jump off of. My teenage daughter tried it and loved it. This was one of my favorite beaches in Oahu. I would highly recommend checking it out.Visited June 2023Travelled with familyWritten 23 June 2023
- CanadaFamof4118 contributionsCalm clear watersClean sandy beach and sandy, clear blue calm water. If you can find parking this is the place to go; we arrived at 8:30 am on the 4th of July and all the lots were taken. Luckily managed to find $10 at the nearby Catholic church (which was also full by 9!)Visited July 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 4 July 2023
- JC614 contributionsAbsolutely BeautifulThis beach was absolutely beautiful. There were barely any crowds which was nice to escape from some of the other crowded beaches. Turquoise and blue waters, and I could literally just float in the water. Not ideal for small children given the waves, but for teens it’s great location. Had good facilities and three lifeguards on duty. We walked to Waimea waterfall earlier in day so was a great way to end the day. We got lucky with parking, but could see how that could be a problem for others. There is not really any food around this area so you definitely want to bring food if this is your location for the day. There is a food facility near the Waimea Valley at the entrance of the waterfall trail. Food there was pretty delicious and reasonably priced.Visited August 2023Travelled with familyWritten 16 August 2023
- baxter103Denver, Colorado85 contributionsExactly what one pictures when thinking of a Hawaiian beach.This was probably our favorite North Shore beach. Beautiful sandy beach in close proximity to a town. We jumped off of Black Rock (some of us anyway), sat in the sun, swam, and saw sea turtles. We visited multiple times. Unless you're early, parking is a bear so be prepared to hike a bit.Visited September 2022Travelled with familyWritten 19 August 2023
- islandlovingtwosomeLake Forest, California88 contributionsDon't Miss This Wonderful BeachThis is a lovely beach with great snorkeling. It's also fun to watch the crazies lining up to jump off the giant rock. The sand is soft and deep, maybe a little too soft. Snorkel to the left of the rock and you'll be in for a treat. A good variety and many schools of fish. The only negative about this beach is the parking. The parking lot is small and always seems to have a long line of cars waiting for a spot. There's limited parking on the street, which we were lucky enough to snag the last spot. If you can find parking, you're in for a treat.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 13 October 2023
- guavasorbetUnited States153 contributionsPostcard perfect beach on the North ShoreWaimea Bay Beach is a must-stop while exploring the North Shore! We weren't able to spend too much time there but what a stunning beach with its tan sand and vigorous aqua waves that were more for admiring than playing in. Lifeguards were on-duty. There were restrooms and a shower station for rinsing off sand. The parking lot was slammed; we were luckily able to snag a space and upon leaving, a car immediately swooped in to take ours.Visited October 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 4 November 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
1,301 reviews
Excellent
898
Very good
336
Average
52
Poor
6
Terrible
9
Emma
Christchurch, New Zealand89 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Love this beach! Not for swimming as a tourist but great for sitting having a picnic and watching Mother Nature at her best with epic pre winter swells and watching the surfers surf right until sunset!
Written 1 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John D
1 contribution
Feb 2024 • Couples
Listen please do not try to swim at this beach during winter im a great swimmer and seen some a couple locals in the water without a board I didn’t know they had fins on so I thought I would be ok I almost died there man those waves are so strong they pin you under water and just keep sucking u back in the scariest moment of my life. Please don’t do it man not worth it at all respect the ocean it’s so much more powerful than you think also I was yelling for help and the lifeguards did absolutely nothing they didn’t even bother to run down by the water even with my girlfriend yelling for help consider yourself on your own and also warned stay safe and don’t die on vacation 🙏😞
Written 11 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingSoccerLoon
Saint Paul, MN3,475 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
The entire North Shore remains a special place on Oahu. It's like stepping back in time. This in an incredible world class surfing area during the winter months. Waimea Bay is a nice beach although the setting is not as nice as Sunset Beach in my opinion. Parking can be challenging but we were able to find a spot in the lot when arriving around 10:15am on a weekday in March. There were chickens everywhere in the lot and near the beach which was fun. There are facilities including bathrooms, showers and changing rooms. No lounge chairs or umbrellas to rent. If you are staying on Oahu for more than a few days and will be headed to the beach often, it would be worthwhile to stop by a local Walmart or Target and pick up a couple inexpensive beach chairs and a cooler to use while here.
Written 10 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
guavasorbet
United States153 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
Waimea Bay Beach is a must-stop while exploring the North Shore! We weren't able to spend too much time there but what a stunning beach with its tan sand and vigorous aqua waves that were more for admiring than playing in. Lifeguards were on-duty. There were restrooms and a shower station for rinsing off sand. The parking lot was slammed; we were luckily able to snag a space and upon leaving, a car immediately swooped in to take ours.
Written 4 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
islandlovingtwosome
Lake Forest, CA88 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
This is a lovely beach with great snorkeling. It's also fun to watch the crazies lining up to jump off the giant rock. The sand is soft and deep, maybe a little too soft. Snorkel to the left of the rock and you'll be in for a treat. A good variety and many schools of fish. The only negative about this beach is the parking. The parking lot is small and always seems to have a long line of cars waiting for a spot. There's limited parking on the street, which we were lucky enough to snag the last spot. If you can find parking, you're in for a treat.
Written 13 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ariel W
3 contributions
May 2023 • Family
Saw wild dolphins. They swam right underneath us! Saw a turtle and loads of fish. This is more of a snorkeling beach than swim beach because the area is rocky and coraly. Also cliff jumping.
Written 10 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
baxter103
Denver, CO85 contributions
Sept 2022 • Family
This was probably our favorite North Shore beach. Beautiful sandy beach in close proximity to a town. We jumped off of Black Rock (some of us anyway), sat in the sun, swam, and saw sea turtles. We visited multiple times. Unless you're early, parking is a bear so be prepared to hike a bit.
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JC6
14 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
This beach was absolutely beautiful. There were barely any crowds which was nice to escape from some of the other crowded beaches. Turquoise and blue waters, and I could literally just float in the water. Not ideal for small children given the waves, but for teens it’s great location. Had good facilities and three lifeguards on duty. We walked to Waimea waterfall earlier in day so was a great way to end the day. We got lucky with parking, but could see how that could be a problem for others. There is not really any food around this area so you definitely want to bring food if this is your location for the day. There is a food facility near the Waimea Valley at the entrance of the waterfall trail. Food there was pretty delicious and reasonably priced.
Written 16 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CanadaFamof4
Ontario, Canada118 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Clean sandy beach and sandy, clear blue calm water. If you can find parking this is the place to go; we arrived at 8:30 am on the 4th of July and all the lots were taken. Luckily managed to find $10 at the nearby Catholic church (which was also full by 9!)
Written 5 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard
Florida23 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
This is a very popular beautiful beach! First off, parking sucks. Drove around the small parking lot for 20 minutes waiting for someone to leave. Some people park along the highway and walk to it but that seemed dangerous. It was worth the wait. This beach has bathrooms, showers, and lifeguards. Water was crystal clear and gets deep quick. There is a huge rock structure many people jump off of. My teenage daughter tried it and loved it. This was one of my favorite beaches in Oahu. I would highly recommend checking it out.
Written 24 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
466terrib
Gillette, WY20 contributions
Does it cost to go to Waimea Bay? Need reservations?
lahanson
Lake Benton, MN417 contributions
It doesn't cost anything to go to the beach at Waimea Bay. But there is limited parking spaces, so you want to get their early. If you are talking about Waimea Falls, that is inside of a botanical garden and you need pay to get in.
marieny524
Los Angeles, CA576 contributions
What is the difference between Waimea bay and Waimea valley?
AStriefler
Calgary, Canada1,316 contributions
Waimea Bay is the beach along the ocean Waimea Valley is inland with trees flowers and a waterfall
jerrychriswatson
Abbotsford, Canada14 contributions
hello - was wondering where you were staying on your trip and where did you get snorkel gear? thanks! - Jerry
superfinisher
Valparaiso, IN101 contributions
Hi Jerry.
We stayed at the Turtle Bay Resort. The snorkel gear is free for guest. You can rent snorkel gear in Pupukea. The is a small area of food trucks and rental shops.
Pamela Kay S
Edina, MN1 contribution
Is the beach swim able the last week of February or are the waves still big?
Aulani M
Stroud, UK268 contributions
It really depends. Usually it is still too risky even with small waves due to currents. If you are a very good surfer or athlete in swimming you could manage maybe. Always check to forecast/Magic Seaweed conditions. So many people have died swimming along the North Shore all the years I grew up there. Life is precious, no sense in risking it - especially if you are holidaying or visiting Paradise Hawaii!!!!!!! Have fun! Swim Waikiki instead if worried.
tabbyw
Ka'anapali, HI79 contributions
Is there a place to rent a bike nearby, park and ride the
North Shore Bike path?
la o
Midlothian, VA185 contributions
Sorry Tuttle bay is not that close by to Waimea but they have a lot going on
I saw more pedestrians that bicycles and you definitely need to be able to lock it up when you stop
Enjoy!
Hailey G
Redding, CA
When is the best time to jump of the rock?
mfheinonen
San Diego, CA637 contributions
High tide.
Hailey G
Redding, CA
Are the waves at the beach large in October?
Lisa F
Corpus Christi, TX387 contributions
November to March are the classic winter swells that people talk about. October is hit or miss but the 15-20 feet waves won’t show until later in the winter. You should be safe for swimming in October.
jandy23
Columbus, OH32 contributions
Does anyone know if the ladies bathrooms have outlets for hairdryers? I have some girls that would like a place to primp for evening activities after a day at the beach and hoping to save a trip back to hotel.
No there are no outlets.
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Claim your listingWAIMEA BAY: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Waimea Bay
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Waimea Bay:
- Circle Island North Shore Adventure Tour + Snorkeling (From $203.75)
- Oahu Grand Circle Island Audio Driving Tour (From $32.42)
- Oahu Unveiled: Tailored Luxury Private Island Tour (From $486.48)
- 8 Hour Circle Island Jeep Tour (From $445.94)
- Small Group North Shore Circle Island Tour Oahu (From $257.83)
- Hotels near Waimea Bay:
- (0.39 km) walking distance to 5 beaches, serene experience for 30 day or greater stay
- (1.73 km) Ke Iki Beach Bungalows
- (0.16 km) North Shore Paradise- Close to some of the BEST surfing
- (0.71 km) Waimea Point Oceanfront House - (with Air Conditioning)
- (0.71 km) *PERFECT GETAWAY IN PARADISE! - TROPICAL ISLAND LIVING IN PARADISE IS YOURS
- Restaurants near Waimea Bay:
- (0.35 km) Waimea Falls Grill
- (0.96 km) Foodland
- (1.08 km) Aji Limo Truck
- (1.23 km) Pupukea Grill
- (1.08 km) North Shore Shrimp Truck
- Attractions near Waimea Bay:
- (0.42 km) Oahu Private Tours
- (0.35 km) Waimea Valley
- (0.35 km) Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden
- (0.35 km) Blue Planet Adventure Company
- (1.04 km) Toa Luau