Waipu & Bream Bay

Introducing Waipu & Bream Bay

Generations of Kiwi kids have giggled over the name ‘Waipu’; the makers of Imodium missed a golden opportunity by failing to adopt it as their product’s brand name for the NZ market. Be that as it may, Waipu and neighbouring Waipu Cove are bonny wee places.

The original 940 British settlers came from Scotland via Nova Scotia (Canada) between 1853 and 1860. These dour Scots at least had the good sense to eschew frigid Otago, where so many of their kindred settled, for sunnier northern climes. Their story comes to life through holograms, a short film and interactive displays at the Waipu Museum (09-432 0746; 36 The Centre; adult/child $8/3; 9.30am-4.30pm). Only 10% of current residents are direct descendants, but there’s a big get-together on 1 January every year, when the Highland Games (09-432 1514; www.highlandgames.co.nz; adult/child $15/5), established in 1871, take place in Caledonian Park.

Bream Bay has miles of blissfully deserted beach, blighted only slightly by a giant oil refinery at the north end. At Uretiti, a stretch of beach near a super Department of Conservation (DOC) campsite (SH1; adult/child $7/3.50) is officially designated as ‘clothing optional’. New Year’s Eve celebrations here are a blast, with the crowd evenly split between regular Kiwi families, hardcore European nudists and the gay party crowd.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009