Last updated October 2026
Waiake is a small East Coast Bays Auckland suburb, a short drive from Long Bay — sheltered Waiake Beach, established residential streets, and a quiet local-community character that’s distinctly less touristy than the busier southern East Coast Bays.
Official Suburb Facts
- Population (2023 Census)
- About 1,520, about the same as 2018
- Land area
- 0.52 km² (52 ha)
- Location
- 15.9 km north of central Auckland
- Council
- Auckland Council
- Neighbouring suburbs
- Torbay, Browns Bay
- Ward or local board
- Hibiscus and Bays Local Board
- Getting there
- East Coast Road and SH1 motorway access; buses on East Coast Road
- Nearby landmarks
- Waiake Beach, Long Bay Regional Park
Who Lives in Waiake
About 1,520 residents in 550 households. From the 2023 Census, with the New Zealand figure alongside for comparison.
About Waiake
Waiake is a small upper-East Coast Bays Auckland suburb — with Long Bay close by to the north and sheltered Waiake Beach as the central recreational feature.
The suburb has a strong local community character built around the beach and the local primary school, with residents tending to know each other and treating the beach as a community gathering space rather than a tourist destination.
Waiake Beach
Waiake Beach is a small sheltered sand cove between rocky headlands — quiet family swimming with calm Hauraki Gulf conditions.
Distinguishes itself from the more famous Long Bay (a regional park drawing visitors from across Auckland) by being primarily a local community beach rather than a destination. The intimate scale and sheltered position make it ideal for families wanting consistent quiet beach access.
Walking Distance to Long Bay
Waiake is walking distance from the much larger Long Bay Regional Park beach — Auckland’s most-visited regional park.
The combination of having both a quiet local beach (Waiake) and a major destination beach (Long Bay) within easy walking range gives Waiake residents unusual beach choice flexibility — quiet local swim in the morning, larger Long Bay outing in the afternoon if wanted.
Near Waiake
Just outside Waiake, within 10 km of its centre, nearest first.
Places
Businesses
Where to Learn More
Safeswim — Waiake Beach — real-time water quality monitoring.
Auckland Council — Long Bay Regional Park — nearby regional park.
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board — local government area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Waiake?
Upper East Coast Bays, North Shore Auckland, near Long Bay.
What’s Waiake Beach like?
Small sheltered sand cove between rocky headlands — quiet local community swimming beach.
Is Long Bay walking distance?
Yes — Long Bay Regional Park (Auckland’s most-visited regional park) is walking distance north.
What’s the character?
Quiet local community-feel beachside residential — distinctly less touristy than southern East Coast Bays.
How do I get to Waiake?
Waiake is reached by East Coast Road and SH1 motorway access, with buses running on East Coast Road.
Which local board covers Waiake?
Waiake is in the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board.
For more East Coast Bays see Auckland Suburbs — including Torbay immediately south.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Explore Auckland only lists suburbs officially recognised by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), and Waiake is one of them. Suburb boundary: LINZ, CC BY 4.0.